When new drivers think about parking maneuvers, parallel parking often gets all the attention, but there’s another, often-underestimated move that is just as important for safe and confident driving: reverse stall parking. Many drivers avoid the reverse parking maneuver, choosing to pull straight into a stall instead. However, this means you will have to back out when you leave, which can be risky with limited visibility, especially if there are pedestrians and children nearby. The right training and practice can build reverse stall parking into a simple and routine skill.
This blog will take you through some reverse stall parking tips, why this maneuver is important, and if you’ll need to perform it for the ICBC road test in British Columbia!
How do you complete a reverse stall park?
Let's start with the basics: breaking down the reverse stall park itself. The key to a successful reverse stall park is to look at the maneuver as a simple, repeatable process. This method is consistent with what many driving professionals recommend. It is often referred to as the “swing out” or "two-car length" method.
Step 1: Position and Align
Start by driving past the parking spot you want to enter, signalling your intentions as you line up. Position your vehicle so you are about two metres away from the parked cars and your rear tires are aligned with the front bumper of the car next to your desired stall. Before you begin to reverse, do a full 360-degree check of your surroundings, checking for any obstacles, moving vehicles, or pedestrians.
Step 2: Turn and Centre
When it is safe to proceed, begin reversing slowly while turning your steering wheel fully in the direction of the parking spot. Continue your checks as you go, looking out your rear window and using your mirrors and shoulder checks to ensure you are clear of any obstacles. As your vehicle begins to straighten and line up with the centre of the stall, start to straighten your front wheels. You should be able to make minor adjustments as you enter the stall, but ensure these are small adjustments so you don’t find yourself having to overcorrect an adjustment.
Step 3: Finish and Secure
Continue reversing slowly into the stall, straightening your wheels completely once your vehicle is centred. Use your side mirrors to ensure you are well within the painted lines. Once you are in a good position, stop, apply the parking brake, and put the vehicle in park.
What are some common mistakes when reverse stall parking?
Now that you know the steps, it's important to be aware of the common pitfalls. Even with practice, it’s easy to fall into bad habits. Here are some of the most common mistakes drivers make and why they are unsafe.
Inadequate Observation Checks: Failing to do a full check of your surroundings is a major safety risk. This includes checking over both shoulders as well as turning to look directly out the rear window. The mirrors and rear-view camera only show a limited field of view; you need to turn your body to truly see what’s behind you.
Overcorrecting Steering: Over-steering is a common mistake that can lead to being too close to the car next to you, a curb, or a wall. While maneuvering, focus on making small, smooth adjustments and avoid dry steering, as this can make it difficult to feel the vehicle's turning radius and can be hard on the tires. Instead, make your steering inputs while the vehicle is in slow, steady motion. This precision prevents the need for multiple, jerky back-and-forth corrections, which is essential for safety and efficiency.
Crossing the Lines: While a small deviation might be excusable, parking over the painted lines can create problems in a real-world scenario and should be avoided when possible. This can block a neighboring vehicle from opening their door or even make a spot inaccessible to a larger vehicle. The key is to use your side mirrors as a guide throughout the entire maneuver to ensure you stay centered and well within the lines.
Relying Solely on the Rear-View Camera: While a great tool, the camera should be used to support your observations, not replace them. Relying on it alone can cause you to miss pedestrians or cyclists that are not in its field of view.
How is reverse stall parking evaluated on the ICBC road test?
The ICBC road test does include reverse stall parking, and those common mistakes are precisely what a road test examiner is looking for. On the ICBC road test, your examiner may ask you to reverse park into a stall at a specific location, whether it's an angled, perpendicular, or even a tight stall between two vehicles. They are watching for more than just the final result; they are evaluating the safe habits that make for a skilled driver. Key elements they evaluate include:
Observation: They will be looking for a full, 360-degree check of your surroundings. This isn't just a single glance, but a continuous series of checks, including turning and looking directly out of the rear window while also checking over both shoulders, to ensure the path is clear of pedestrians, cyclists, or other vehicles. While you can use your rear-view camera as a tool, similar to a mirror, it should never be your sole source of information.
Control: They want to see smooth, slow, and steady movement. This includes the ability to modulate the brake and accelerator for precise speed control, rather than making sudden, jerky movements. Erratic steering or sudden braking suggests a lack of control and can be a sign of poor planning.
Accuracy: The goal is to park your vehicle squarely within the designated stall. This means placing it neatly between the painted lines on both sides and avoiding contact with the curb at the rear of the stall. While a small miscalculation might be understandable, it's vital to aim for precision to ensure you don't block other vehicles or risk an unsafe situation. Contact with another vehicle, object, or pedestrian is a serious safety concern that must be avoided.
Why should I reverse stall park after I pass the road test?
Mastering this skill for your road test is one thing, but the benefits of a reverse stall park extend far beyond the pressure of an exam. Why should you continue to reverse park every day, long after you've passed the test? Let’s look at some benefits for performing a reverse stall park in everyday driving.
A well-executed reverse park requires spatial awareness, precision, and an excellent grasp of your vehicle’s turning radius. It’s a foundational skill that helps you build the confidence needed to handle a variety of situations, whether you’re navigating a tight spot on a busy street or simply pulling into a parking stall at a supermarket.
Increased Visibility: By backing into a parking stall, you put yourself in a position to drive forward when you leave. This is far safer than backing out, which often involves navigating blind spots and relying on a rear-view camera or mirrors alone to see cross-traffic or pedestrians. When you back in, you have a clear, full view of the surrounding area as you approach the stall, allowing you to confirm it’s safe to reverse before you even begin the maneuver.
Safety in Tight Spaces: A reverse park allows you to place your vehicle with far more accuracy than a forward park. You can make subtle adjustments as you go, ensuring you stay well within the lines and avoid hitting neighbouring vehicles. This is especially useful in a crowded parkade, like the ones you might find near the Sevenoaks Shopping Centre in Abbotsford or Guildford Shopping Centre in Surrey.
Easier Maneuverability: The front wheels of a car don't turn as sharply as its rear wheels, and this allows you to make a much tighter turn when reversing. Those tight spots that seem impossible to get to when you're pulling in nose-first will be much easier when reverse stall parking.
Adapting to Traffic: A busy parking lot can be a chaotic place. If the lane is blocked by cross-traffic or a vehicle waiting for a different spot, being able to reverse into an empty stall can help you get out of the way and keep the traffic flowing.
Driving with Confidence: Knowing you can confidently and safely perform this move in any situation reduces parking anxiety. It frees you from the worry of finding the "perfect" spot and empowers you to handle real-world challenges with ease.
Should I take lessons to practice reverse stall parking?
Mastering any driving skill, especially a precise one like reverse stall parking, takes practice. Many drivers find that dedicating time to what we call "slow skills" can make a world of difference. These are fundamental maneuvers like slow-speed steering, precise braking, and consistent acceleration.
You can easily practice these skills on your own in a quiet, low-traffic environment, such as an empty school parking lot on a weekend or a community center lot after business hours. Try practicing a gradual acceleration and braking, or gently steering the car as you drive forward and backward, turning the wheel to get a feel for the vehicle's response. You can also practice reversing slowly in a straight line, then try turning gently while reversing. Repetition is key. By focusing on these basics, you'll build the muscle memory and feel for your vehicle that is essential for all types of parking and low-speed navigation.
While self-practice is invaluable, professional instruction can accelerate your progress. Our Instructors, for example, will start in a quiet, low-traffic environment to help you get the hang of it. An Instructor provides immediate, personalized feedback on your technique, helping you pinpoint and correct bad habits before they become ingrained. They can guide you through tricky real-world situations and provide the kind of nuanced advice that only comes from years of experience. Working with an Instructor turns a stressful maneuver into a simple, second-nature skill.
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Ultimately, mastering reverse stall parking is not about memorizing a set of steps for a test. It’s a foundational skill for becoming a more confident, prepared, and safe driver. By consistently practising your "slow skills" (things like smooth acceleration, gentle braking, and precise steering), you will build the muscle memory and awareness needed to make reverse parking second nature.
Whether you choose to perfect these skills on your own or with the personalised guidance of a professional Instructor, the effort you put in now will pay dividends every time you get behind the wheel. Learning to park with precision and confidence isn't just a win for your road test, it’s a win for your everyday driving.
For more on different parking types and skills, check out our other blogs: Parking Types & When to Use Them and Why Parallel Parking Is Still One of the Most Tested ICBC Skills.