|
|
Post by bc2ca on Jul 8, 2018 0:44:52 GMT
We were shocked to discover parallel parking was no longer a tested skill when our kids were learning to drive in California. Is it still tested in your state/province/country?
|
|
|
|
Post by SockMonkey on Jul 8, 2018 0:47:51 GMT
I didn't answer, but I didn't have to parallel park when I took my driving test a lot of years ago. A LOT of years ago (aka 1991). I did have to demonstrate how to "park uphill" in flat ass suburban Illinois.  |
|
Sue
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,266 
Location: SE of Portland, Oregon
|
Post by Sue on Jul 8, 2018 0:50:47 GMT
I got my license 55 years ago!! and we had to parallel park back then. Now... I really have no idea if it's required or not.
|
|
johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,687
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
|
Post by johnnysmom on Jul 8, 2018 0:56:37 GMT
Yes. I had to 20+ years ago in Ohio (and I failed it the first time  ). And ds had to last year in Michigan. |
|
|
|
Post by AussieMeg on Jul 8, 2018 1:01:09 GMT
I just asked DD (she got her licence 2.5 years ago) and she said that these days you have to do either a three point turn or parallel park. She had to do a three point turn - I think she got off easy!! When I went for my licence 30+ years ago we had to do both.
But then again, she had to do 120 hours of supervised driving before she could sit her test, whereas I just had to pass the test - there were no set number of hours.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:36:26 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2018 1:06:23 GMT
Our DVM office has a practice test area for parallel parking. It is really fun to go watch people practice there!
|
|
|
|
Post by alsomsknit on Jul 8, 2018 1:09:14 GMT
My friend’s son had to parallel park for his driver’s test 3 years ago.
|
|
purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,955
|
Post by purplebee on Jul 8, 2018 1:11:06 GMT
Didn't answer the poll, but I did in 1971 when I took my driver's test on NY. Don't think I've parallel parked since!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jul 8, 2018 1:18:27 GMT
Yes. It is required in South Carolina. I have a 16 y/o who had to do it to get his license last year.
And by the way, I can parallel park like a boss. I learned to perfect my parallel parking skills while in college by parallel parking on a circular driveway in front of my dorm. I've been good at it ever since.
|
|
|
|
Post by melanell on Jul 8, 2018 1:20:14 GMT
Yes, I just double-checked and it is still part of the test here. I, personally, HATE to parallel park and will do almost anything to avoid it.  My first car was a beast to parallel park and I just developed such a hatred for it, that how ever many cars later, I still avoid it. |
|
|
|
Post by just PEAchy on Jul 8, 2018 1:21:22 GMT
I got my license back in 1978 in IL. I did not have to parallel park. My son got his license 2 years ago here in IN and he did have to parallel park.
|
|
twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,248
|
Post by twinsmomfla99 on Jul 8, 2018 1:29:38 GMT
My girls got their licenses in the past two years and it was tested. However, you got multiple tries during one test session. When I took my test almost 40 years ago, if you hit the curb it was an automatic fail.
|
|
|
|
Post by Linda on Jul 8, 2018 1:30:13 GMT
Dh did when he got his license back in 88 or so in RI. And when he moved to FL - and had to take another road test, the examiner JUST had him parallel park and then passed him - she said it was a 'courtesy' to out-of-state drivers.
DS didn't have to for his test in 2010 (FL) - DD hasn't taken hers yet but I doubt it.
|
|
|
|
Post by medennis4 on Jul 8, 2018 1:33:25 GMT
I got my license in CA back in 1976. I had to parallel park on a street by the DMV. In Michigan and Minnesota I've only had to take and pass written tests. I believe my DD had to parallel park for her license here in MN.
|
|
|
|
Post by Outspoken on Jul 8, 2018 1:49:20 GMT
I didn’t answer your poll. But, 33 years ago in Alabama, I did not. Last year in FL my son did not. This year in FL my daughter did. Both of my kids had to do a 3 Point turn. My son took his driving course/road test through a private company. My daughter took her driving course/road test through the county. I’m thinking this was the difference for my 2 not having to both parallel park.
edited to say that when we moved to FL 6.5 years ago, neither DH or I had to take any sort of road test.
|
|
|
|
Post by candygurl on Jul 8, 2018 1:53:25 GMT
I went to a driving school, practiced 2x and gave never had to parallel park. Some cases, I could have, but I’m not very good at that so I just decided to park farther away and walk. Also, don’t live in the city so it’s rarely a problem for me.
|
|
Peal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,524
Jun 25, 2014 22:45:40 GMT
|
Post by Peal on Jul 8, 2018 1:54:20 GMT
My oldest got his license in TX. He had to parallel park before they left the DMV parking lot. If you failed that, they didn't even continue the test. My middle son just got his license in UT, yes he had to parallel park.
|
|
|
|
Post by littlemama on Jul 8, 2018 2:09:53 GMT
Yep, i had to 30 some years ago and ds had to 4 years ago. That being said NO ONE correctly parallel parks here. If you are in the rare area where it is necessary and you pull up past the parking spot, the driver behind you is going to swoop into that spot, so that is generally whay everyone does
|
|
|
|
Post by gale w on Jul 8, 2018 2:13:58 GMT
My kids had to parallel park.
|
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Jul 8, 2018 2:18:55 GMT
I did not in 92. Ds dis not last year
|
|
FurryP
Prolific Pea
To pea or not to pea...
Posts: 7,797
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
|
Post by FurryP on Jul 8, 2018 2:21:55 GMT
I can't parallel park very well, but the other day the parents of the young girl across the street were having her practice in a very tight spot. She did it ONE try! So proud of her. I don't even know her.  |
|
|
|
Post by ntsf on Jul 8, 2018 2:30:13 GMT
I had to do it 40 yrs ago in WA state.. did it in a suburban with no power steering and a stick shift. I can park like this easily, and even on the wrong side of the street. with the new cameras and sensors, I would think it would be easy peasy.
|
|
|
|
Post by Darcy Collins on Jul 8, 2018 2:37:09 GMT
CA hasn't required parallel parking for at least 30 years when my eldest sibling obtained their license. My car apparently parks itself, but I've never actually tried it. I do find it much, much easier with a backup camera than in the old days.
|
|
MerryMom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,615
|
Post by MerryMom on Jul 8, 2018 2:45:02 GMT
In Ohio, in 1978, was the first time we did a maneuverability test instead of parallel parking.
|
|
milocat
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,899
Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
|
Post by milocat on Jul 8, 2018 2:52:26 GMT
My DD was supposed to but she took her test in our small town and they didn't pass a car to park on the driving route. So she didn't have to. She was so excited and relieved! She had a couple points docked and would have failed if she failed the parallel parking. I had to in 1993. Also took my test in Alberta.
|
|
|
|
Post by gmcwife1 on Jul 8, 2018 2:55:58 GMT
Yes it was part of the test when I got my license and when dd just got hers a couple years ago.
|
|
|
|
Post by chaosisapony on Jul 8, 2018 2:57:49 GMT
Got my license in 2001 in California. No parallel parking required. My DMV tester did ask me if I wanted to try it though. Pretty sure my response was "Ummm... I'm good thanks."
|
|
|
|
Post by monklady123 on Jul 8, 2018 3:10:07 GMT
Virginia, no not required.
Also, I took my test originally in Pennsylvania about 100 years ago and it was not required.
Then I retook the test in DC many years later (because my original license was long expired from lack of use) and it wasn't required there either.
|
|
sweetandsour
Full Member
Posts: 227
Jun 30, 2014 17:43:52 GMT
|
Post by sweetandsour on Jul 8, 2018 3:10:27 GMT
Yes, we do here in MB. My nephew got his license last week and parallel parking was the first thing you were tested on. If you failed that, you did not continue with the remainder of the road test.
|
|
|
|
Post by nnnsmom on Jul 8, 2018 3:32:48 GMT
Yes it is here in TX. Someone told us that you could now “opt out” of it, but they took 20 points off for it. We didn’t ask if that was true or not.
We took our boys to the DPS office after hours and had them practice PP. By the second trip they could do it perfectly. They did have it easier than we did back in the day, since now they have back up cameras!
|
|
). And ds had to last year in Michigan. 
My first car was a beast to parallel park and I just developed such a hatred for it, that how ever many cars later, I still avoid it. 
