- The Savvy Promise
Despite there being parking assist technology that has been introduced the fear of scraping against someone else’s car or hearing an expensive bump is real. You are not alone. We have five tips to help you overcome Parallel-o-phobia.
Breathe and take it slow
A survey conducted by Compare The Market found that 55% of respondents would rather park up to 10 minutes away to avoid parallel parking. While 38% drove past an empty space until an easier parking space came up. Next time you are confronted by the taunting space between two cars, breathe. Take your time and don’t succumb to the pressure from other drives who want you to speed it up. Rushing the process can cost you greatly.
Be conscious of how you get in
The parking space could be getting smaller making things a bit difficult. However, it’s not the getting in that could be your biggest nightmare, but more of the getting out. Take control of your fear by parking in reverse. Take it slow. Do a check on your mirrors and turn on your indicator. Now begin to reverse slowly. Even if you are moving at a pace of a glacier, that’s ok. Ensure that the middle of your vehicle is aligned with the bumper of the other car.
Practice
36% of drivers who were surveyed by Compare The Market said that they need at least two goes at a parking space before they got it right. It might sound strange to practice for a parking space, but it can help you especially when you go shopping during peak hours. You can take on an empty car park. To make it feel more realistic, you can add a few props that won’t damage your car. Practice for a good hour, and be for you know you have mastered parallel parking like a G.
Make use of Technology
If just the though of imagining yourself doing parallel parking makes you want to curl up in a corner and contemplate the meaning of life, have no fear. Parking assist technology was designed with you in mind. If your car has a self-parking mode, make use of it. If you not too confident in terms of using it then your dealer can assist you by giving you a demonstration.
Be considerate
Now that you have mustered the courage to do parallel parking like a pro, be considerate of other drivers who might share the same angst that you had. Leave enough parking space for other drivers, and make sure that you park in a manner that doesn’t let them want to swing a right hook at you.
Did you find this page helpful?
This guide provides general information and does not consider your individual needs, finances or objectives. We do not make any recommendation or suggestion about which product is best for you based on your specific situation and we do not compare all companies in the market, or all products offered by all companies. It’s always important to consider whether professional financial, legal or taxation advice is appropriate for you before choosing or purchasing a financial product.
The content on our website is produced by experts in the field of finance and reviewed as part of our editorial guidelines. We endeavour to keep all information across our site updated with accurate information.
Approval for car loans is always subject to our lender’s terms, conditions and qualification criteria. Lenders will undertake a credit check in line with responsible lending obligations to help determine whether you’re in a position to take on the loan you’re applying for.
The interest rate, comparison rate, fees and monthly repayments will depend on factors specific to your profile, such as your financial situation, as well others, such as the loan’s size and your chosen repayment term. Costs such as broker fees, redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, aren’t included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts may result in a different comparison rate.