Parallel parking is scary. And not just to beginners - many experienced drivers never fully conquer their fears. But it is a very useful procedure to know: parallel parking is a big part of your driving test, and being able to do it will pay off more than a couple of times throughout your life. And you'll look so cool as you easily maneuver your car into that small parking spot! It doesn't matter if you've already tried and failed or if you're a complete novice: with the right attitude and effort, you'll be P-parking like a professional in no time!

In case you weren't too sure, parallel parking is a method of parking where you park in line with the curb, in a straight line with other cars in front of and behind you. This is most commonly used in large cities where there are too many cars and not enough parking lots. It's also a part of the drivers test in most states, so it's a must-know. Some states, like Ohio, employ a maneuverability test - which is essentially parallel parking with traffic cones instead of other cars - so the same rules apply.

If you feel intimidated, don't be! Start simple, and work your way up as you become more comfortable and confident in your abilities. Each person learns on their own timeline, so don't tell yourself that you haven't "got it" or that your hand-eye coordination stinks - you CAN do it. Keep practicing and the procedure eventually will become second nature. It does take time, but gets a little easier with every session. Before you know it, you'll be maneuvering like a pro!

Got it? These are the guidelines for parallel parking:

1. Find a space that's a few feet longer than your car that you feel confident about parking inside.

2. Use your turn signal and drive up next to the car that's in front of the space so that you are 2-3 feet away from it. Align your car's back bumper with theirs.

3. Look into your side and rear-view mirrors, then check over your shoulder to make sure there are no cars approaching you from behind. Once it's clear, hit the brake and put your car in reverse.

4. Slowly release the brake. As soon as the car begins to reverse, steer your wheel all the way towards the direction of the curb; now the back of your car should be at an angle towards the curb as it rolls backwards. (If you feel you need to re-adjust your angle or that you want to start over, just drive forward and begin again.)

5. When your car's rear is inside the space, spin the steering wheel all the way in the other direction to straighten your wheels.

6. You're pretty much centered once you're no more than 12 inches from the curb and parallel to it. If you need to, drive forward slightly to adjust your wheels. Now you're parked!

You'll have to adapt these rules to your situation, of course - the more space you have to park, the simpler it will be.. and vice versa. Also, there are variables like how sharply you'll need to steer your wheel to get the correct angle, which all depends on your unique vehicle.

But back to basics: to build your confidence, you'll need to start slowly and work your way up. Of course you'll be nervous if you begin with trying to parallel park on a busy street! Here's how we recommend starting; once you've mastered one level, move on up to the next:

- Try parking beside an empty curb in a quiet parking lot or street.

- Next, parallel park behind ONE car.

- Look for two parked vehicles that are far enough apart where you feel comfortable parking in between them. (Find a street that's not too busy for this)

- Look for cars parked closer & closer together and practice entering the space. When you're able to do it in spots that are about one and a half times your car's length, you've reached your goal!

Though it may seem hard at first, you can and will be among the many drivers who parallel park without a sweat. All it takes is a little effort. So what's your excuse? Go out and master the maneuver of parallel parking!