Parking Rules Study Guide

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Curb Color Meanings

Painted curbs indicate parking regulations and restrictions. Understanding curb colors is essential for legal parking.

Red Curb

No Parking or Stopping

Used for fire lanes, fire hydrants, and emergency zones. Stopping is only allowed for emergencies. Violations can result in towing.

Yellow Curb

Loading Zone Only

Commercial loading and unloading only. Typically limited to 5-30 minutes. Passenger loading/unloading may be allowed. Check posted signs for time limits.

White Curb

Passenger Loading Only

For picking up or dropping off passengers only. Usually limited to 3-5 minutes. Driver must remain in vehicle or nearby. Not for parking.

Green Curb

Limited Time Parking

Short-term parking allowed, typically 10-30 minutes. Check posted signs for exact time limit and hours of operation. Often used near businesses.

Blue Curb

Handicapped Parking Only

Reserved for vehicles displaying valid handicapped placards or license plates. Heavy fines for unauthorized parking ($250-$1,000). May be towed.

Note: Curb color meanings can vary slightly by state and municipality. Always check posted signs for specific regulations and time limits.

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Distance Restrictions

Legal parking requires maintaining specific distances from various objects and locations. These measurements are commonly tested on the DMV exam.

Do Not Park Within:

15 feet

Fire hydrant — Blocks access for firefighters in emergencies

20 feet

Crosswalk or intersection — Obstructs pedestrian visibility and right-of-way

30 feet

Stop sign, yield sign, or traffic signal — Blocks view for other drivers

50 feet

Railroad crossing — Prevents blocking tracks in case of stalling

20 feet

Fire station driveway — Allows emergency vehicle egress

3 feet

Driveway — Allows property owners access

Additional Restrictions

Double parking — Never park in a lane of traffic or next to another parked vehicle.
Sidewalks — Never park on sidewalks. Blocking pedestrian access is illegal.
Bridges and tunnels — Parking is prohibited on most bridges, overpasses, and in tunnels.
Highway or freeway — Parking on freeways is illegal except in designated emergencies.
Bike lanes — Never park in or block bicycle lanes.
Bus stops — Parking in bus zones is prohibited (typically marked with yellow curb or signs).

Important: These distances may vary by state. Some states use 10 feet for fire hydrants while others use 15 feet. Study your state's specific handbook.

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Parallel Parking

Parallel parking is a critical skill tested on most DMV driving exams. Proper technique ensures safe, legal parking on streets with limited space.

Step-by-Step Technique

Find a space
Locate a space at least 1.5 times the length of your vehicle (about 6 feet longer than your car). Signal your intention to park.
Pull alongside
Pull up alongside the vehicle in front of the space. Align your vehicle about 2 feet (60 cm) from the parked car, mirrors aligned.
Reverse and turn
Put vehicle in reverse. Check mirrors and blind spots. Turn steering wheel fully to the right (toward curb) and slowly reverse.
Straighten when at 45°
When your vehicle is at a 45-degree angle to the curb, straighten your wheels and continue reversing straight back.
Turn away from curb
As your front bumper clears the vehicle ahead, turn steering wheel fully left (away from curb) and continue reversing.
Straighten and adjust
Straighten wheels when parallel to curb. Move forward or backward to center your vehicle in the space. Turn off engine and set parking brake.

Key Points

Your vehicle should be 6-12 inches from the curb (about one tire width)
Wheels should be straight and parallel to the curb
Leave equal space between front and rear vehicles
On hills, turn wheels appropriately (see hill parking below)
Always use your parking brake, especially on hills

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Starting too far from the vehicle ahead (should be about 2 feet)
Turning the wheel too early or too late
Parking too far from or too close to the curb
Hitting the curb with your tires
Parking at an angle instead of parallel
Taking too many attempts (practice makes perfect!)

DMV Test Tip: Most states allow 3 attempts during the driving test. You cannot hit the curb or other vehicles. Practice in a safe area with cones before your test.

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Hill Parking

Parking on hills requires special wheel positioning to prevent your vehicle from rolling into traffic if the parking brake fails.

Wheel Positioning Rules

Downhill with Curb

Turn wheels RIGHT (toward curb)

If the brake fails, the vehicle will roll into the curb instead of traffic.

Uphill with Curb

Turn wheels LEFT (away from curb)

If the brake fails, the vehicle will roll back into the curb.

Uphill or Downhill (No Curb)

Turn wheels RIGHT (toward shoulder)

Vehicle will roll off the road instead of into traffic if brake fails.

Additional Hill Parking Requirements

Always engage parking brake — Essential on any hill, regardless of wheel position.
Use lowest gear (manual) or Park (automatic) — Provides additional security against rolling.
Test before leaving — Let vehicle roll slightly against wheels to ensure they're properly set.
Avoid steep hills when possible — Some hills are too steep for safe parking.

Critical: Improper hill parking can cause your vehicle to roll into traffic, potentially causing serious accidents. This is a common DMV test question.

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Handicapped Parking

Handicapped parking spaces are legally protected and come with severe penalties for misuse.

Legal Requirements

Must display valid handicapped placard or license plate
Placard must be hanging from rearview mirror (not in window or dashboard)
Placard or plate must belong to driver or passenger in vehicle
Vehicle must have person with disability present when parked
Cannot use someone else's placard, even with permission

Penalties for Violations

Fines

$250-$1,000 for first offense, higher for repeat violations

Towing

Vehicle may be towed at owner's expense ($200-$500+)

Community Service

Court may require community service hours with disability organizations

Criminal Charges

Fraudulent use of placard can result in misdemeanor charges

Accessibility Requirements

Van-accessible spaces — Wider spaces with diagonal striping for wheelchair lifts. Available to all handicapped vehicles but prioritize for vans.
Access aisles — Striped areas next to handicapped spaces must remain clear. Never park in access aisles.
Signage — Blue international symbol of access sign must be posted. Spaces without proper signage may not be enforceable.

Remember: Handicapped parking isn't just illegal when misused — it denies access to people who genuinely need it. Respect these spaces.

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Parking Lot Safety

Parking lots have unique hazards and rules that differ from street parking. Careful attention prevents accidents.

Safe Parking Lot Practices

Drive slowly — Speed limit is typically 5-15 mph. Pedestrians have right-of-way.
Watch for pedestrians — People often walk between cars and may not see approaching vehicles.
Use turn signals — Signal before turning into aisles or parking spaces.
Park between lines — Center your vehicle in the space. Don't take up multiple spaces.
Pull through when possible — Easier and safer to exit by pulling forward rather than backing.
Reverse carefully — Check mirrors, use backup camera if available, and turn around to look behind you.
Avoid backing up across traffic lanes — Back into space or pull through to avoid this dangerous maneuver.

Right-of-Way in Parking Lots

Pedestrians

Always have right-of-way. Yield and wait for them to pass.

Through Lanes

Vehicles in through lanes have right-of-way over vehicles entering from parking spaces.

Exiting Spaces

Yield to traffic in aisles before backing out of a space.

Stop Signs

Obey stop signs and directional arrows even in private lots.

Before Leaving Your Vehicle

Turn off engine and remove keys
Set parking brake
Put transmission in Park (automatic) or first gear (manual)
Turn off headlights (unless auto-off feature)
Take valuables or lock them in trunk
Lock all doors
Note your parking location

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Sample Practice Questions

Test your knowledge with these sample parking questions. The full quiz contains many more questions across all parking topics.

Question 1

You cannot park within how many feet of a fire hydrant?

A) 5 feet
B) 10 feet
C) 15 feet
D) 20 feet

Answer: C — You must not park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. This ensures firefighters have access in emergencies. Violations can result in tickets and towing.

Question 2

When parking uphill on a street with a curb, you should turn your wheels:

A) Toward the curb (right)
B) Away from the curb (left)
C) Straight ahead
D) It doesn't matter

Answer: B — When parking uphill with a curb, turn your wheels away from the curb (left). If the brake fails, the vehicle will roll back into the curb instead of into traffic.

Question 3

A white painted curb means:

A) No parking at any time
B) Passenger loading and unloading only
C) Limited time parking
D) Handicapped parking only

Answer: B — A white curb indicates passenger loading and unloading only. This is typically limited to a few minutes and the driver must remain with or near the vehicle.

Question 4

You are parking downhill on a street with a curb. You should:

A) Turn your wheels away from the curb
B) Turn your wheels toward the curb
C) Leave your wheels straight
D) Only engage the parking brake

Answer: B — When parking downhill, turn your wheels toward the curb (right). If the parking brake fails, the vehicle will roll into the curb rather than into traffic. Always set the parking brake as well.