Getting Yourself Into A Tight Jam! The Lost Art Of Parallel Parking? Remember gripping the steering wheel with sweaty palms during your driver’s test, trying to pull off the perfect parallel park? You weren’t alone — it’s been one of the most dreaded parts of the test for decades. And now, with so many cars that can park themselves, you might be thinking: do I even need to know how to do that anymore? Fair question. But here’s the truth: even in a world of smart sensors and auto-assist features, knowing how to parallel park is still a skill that matters — a lot. Why We Still Care About Parallel Parking Let’s start with the basics. Parallel parking is more than just a rite of passage — it’s something you’ll probably have to do eventually, especially if you drive in cities, visit older neighborhoods, or ever need to squeeze into a street spot during a big event. Not every space will be wide open. And not every car — or situation — will support auto-park technology. Also, let’s not forget the legal stuff. In many states, if you park more than 12 inches from the curb, you can actually get a ticket. Minnesota, for example, enforces this rule pretty strictly. Even with a valid handicapped placard, drivers have been cited for parking just a few inches too far from the curb. It’s not just about looks — it’s about safety and traffic flow. A Quick Look Back: Where Parallel Parking Came From Parallel parking became a thing back in the 1920s and 30s, as more people started driving and cities needed ways to organize curb space. It was way more efficient than angled parking, especially on narrow streets. By the mid-1900s, it was baked into driver’s tests across the country. Fast forward to today, and parking tech has changed the game. Sensors, backup cameras, and full-on automatic parking systems are now available in everything from compact cars to luxury SUVs. But even with all that, the skill hasn’t disappeared completely — and it’s still being taught (and tested) in many states. What If Your Car Could Park Itself? Here’s where it gets cool. Lots of cars — both new and used — now offer some form of automatic or assisted parking. That means the car does most (or all) of the work, and you get a stress-free parking experience, even in tight spots. New Cars with Self-Parking Features (2024–2025) Make Model Parking Feature Ford Escape, F-150, Explorer Active Park Assist 2.0 Toyota Prius, RAV4 Advanced Park Hyundai Sonata, IONIQ 5 Remote Smart Parking Assist Tesla Model 3, Y, S, X Autopark (with FSD) BMW 5 Series, X5 Parking Assistant Plus Mercedes-Benz E-Class, S-Class Active Parking Assist Used Cars with Parallel Parking Tech (2015–2023) If you’re shopping for a pre-owned ride, good news — this feature has been around for a while. Here are just a few options that may include it (depending on trim level): Make Model Years Feature Name Ford Fusion, Escape, Explorer 2015–2022 Active Park Assist Lincoln MKZ, MKC, Continental 2016–2020 Enhanced Park Assist Volkswagen Golf, Passat, Tiguan 2015–2021 Park Assist BMW 5 Series, 7 Series, X5 2016–2023 Parking Assistant Mercedes-Benz C-Class, E-Class, GLE 2015–2023 Active Parking Assist Chevrolet Malibu, Equinox, Tahoe 2016–2022 Automatic Parking Assist Cadillac CTS, XT5, CT6 2015–2021 Automatic Parking Assist Toyota Prius, Avalon, RAV4 2016–2022 Intelligent Parking Assist Lexus LS, RX, NX 2015–2022 Advanced Parking Guidance System Volvo S90, XC60, XC90 2017–2023 Park Assist Pilot Note: These features are typically available on higher trim levels or as part of optional packages. Always check the vehicle’s specific equipment list. Just Like Learning to Ride a Bike Parallel parking might not be something you do every day — especially if your car can do it for you — but it's still a skill worth having in your back pocket. Like learning to ride a bike, it might take practice at first, but once you've got it, it sticks. You may go months without needing it. Then suddenly you're downtown, traffic’s heavy, and the only open space is a tight one between two cars. That’s when the muscle memory kicks in — and you’re glad you learned it the old-school way. Master it once, and it’ll stick with you for life — whether your next car parks itself or not. . Posted 07/02/2025 in Car Buying Tips