What is the angle at which you should have your vehicle when starting to parallel park?

When starting to parallel park, the ideal angle at which to position your vehicle is approximately 45°. This angle allows for a balanced approach that provides sufficient clearance from the car parked in front and ensures you have a good line of sight when maneuvering into the parking space.

Having your vehicle at this angle helps in effectively aligning with the curb while enabling you to back into the space without putting too much strain on steering. It creates a more manageable turning radius, which is essential when trying to fit your vehicle into a space that may be tight or limited in room.

Choosing a narrower angle, like 30°, might make it difficult to maneuver into the space properly, whereas a wider angle, such as 60°, could lead to an inefficient use of space and difficulty in aligning the vehicle parallel to the curb once you are inside the parking area. The 45° starting angle strikes the right balance for most vehicles and parking scenarios.