T Parking: Reversing into a Side Opening or Bay

"T parking" is what many learners call the test of reversing into a side opening: you drive past a narrow opening on your left or right, then reverse into it so that the car ends up straight in the "stem" of a T. It is part of the official driving test: the Central Motor Vehicles Rules require the candidate to reverse "into a limited opening either to the right or left under control and with reasonable accuracy". The same skill lets you reverse into a parking bay at right angles to the road or the kerb, which is the safest way to park in a car park.

What the law says about reversing

• Driving test: Rule 15(3) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules lists the skills tested, including reversing into a limited opening to the right or left with control and accuracy, and turning the vehicle round using forward and reverse gears;
• on public roads: Regulation 18 of the Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017 allows reversing only for the distance and time reasonably needed, and only if it does not endanger or unduly inconvenience others. You must never reverse onto a public road (for example out of a gate) or into a road marked ONE WAY (Rule 10); and
• so on real roads, reverse off a road into a quiet side opening, driveway or bay, and drive out forwards later.

Reversing into an opening on your left (the T)

1. Drive past. Check mirrors, signal if needed, and drive slowly past the opening, keeping about one metre from the left edge. Stop when the back of your car is about one car length past the opening.
2. Look and select reverse. Select reverse. Look all around, including over both shoulders and into the opening, for pedestrians, two-wheelers and vehicles.
3. Reverse straight. Reverse slowly, looking mainly through the rear window and the left mirror, until the back of your car reaches the near corner of the opening (on a test track, the first pole).
4. Steer left. Turn the steering wheel to the left, about one to one and a half turns, and keep the car moving slowly. The back of the car turns into the opening. The front swings out to the right: check for traffic.
5. Follow the corner. Watch the left mirror and keep the car about the same distance from the corner or kerb. Steer a little more or less as needed.
6. Straighten. When the car is nearly in line with the opening, take off the steering lock so the wheels are straight, and reverse straight back into the stem of the T.
7. Stop. Stop well inside the opening, or where the examiner or the line on the track shows. Handbrake on.

Reversing into an opening on your right is the same, steering right, but you see much less of the corner from the driver's seat. Look over your right shoulder and use the right mirror, and be extra careful about traffic.

Reversing into a parking bay

1. drive past the bay, steering slightly away from it, and stop when your car is about one and a half bays past and at a slight angle;
2. look all around, select reverse and reverse slowly, steering fully towards the bay;
3. use both door mirrors to keep the car between the bay lines; straighten the wheels as the car becomes parallel with the lines; and
4. stop with the front of the car inside the bay line. Driving out forwards later gives you a clear view of pedestrians and traffic (Rule 10).

Turning round (three-point turn)

The test also asks you to turn the car to face the other way using forward and reverse gears. Choose a quiet, wide road where it is allowed, away from bends and junctions:

1. pull up on the left. Check all around, signal right if needed, then move forward slowly, steering fully right, and stop before the far kerb;
2. select reverse, look all around, and reverse slowly, steering fully left, stopping before the kerb behind you; and
3. select first gear, look again, and drive forward, steering as needed, to the left side of the road.

Give way to anyone who comes along. If the road is busy, find a side road or roundabout to turn instead.

Common mistakes

Remember