Parking and manoeuvres on the BC road test
ICBC's road test lists parking manoeuvres such as the parallel park and stall parking, forwards and in reverse. The examiner is looking for a safe, smooth and controlled park.
Touching the curb in a parking manoeuvre is not a fail, but a clean finish shows control. A backup camera may be used, along with your mirrors and shoulder checks, never instead of them. This is from ICBC's Learn to Drive Smart and its road test guide; below is how to practise it, in our own words.
Source: ICBC, "Learn to Drive Smart" and "What to expect on your road test".
Parallel park
Pull up beside the car in front, then reverse into the space behind it in one smooth, controlled move.
What is marked
- Smooth, slow and under control
- Mirrors and shoulder checks every time you reverse
- Straight and a sensible distance from the curb
- Not relying on the backup camera alone
What the examiner wants
A safe, smooth and controlled park. Touching the curb in a parking manoeuvre is not a fail, but a clean finish shows control.
Cameras
A backup camera is allowed. Use it as well as your mirrors and a look over your shoulder, never instead of them.
Reverse stall park
Drive past your stall, then reverse in so the car ends straight inside the lines.
What is marked
- Straight inside the lines
- Shoulder checks before and while you reverse
- Slow speed and smooth steering
- Not relying on the backup camera alone
Forward or reverse
The road test can ask for stall parking forwards or in reverse. Learn both: you are marked on control and observation.
Forward stall park
Turn in from the aisle and drive forward into the stall so the car finishes square inside the lines.
What is marked
- Square and inside the lines
- Checking for people and cars behind and beside you
- Slow speed and smooth steering
- Stopping before you reach the end of the stall
What to watch
The tight spot is the car beside your stall. Take a wide swing, turn in late and watch the corner of that car.
Angle park
Turn in gently from the aisle and finish straight inside an angled stall.
What is marked
- Straight inside the angled lines
- Checking for traffic in the aisle both ways
- Slow speed and smooth steering
- Shoulder checks before you move
Why angle parking
The road test can include angle parking. You only turn part of the way, so start the turn gently and straighten as the lines come beside you.
Hill park
Park on a slope close to the curb, with the wheels turned the safe way and the parking brake on.
What is marked
- Close to the curb and straight along it
- Parking brake on
- Wheels turned the safe way for the slope
- Mirrors and shoulder checks before moving
Wheels on a hill
Facing uphill with a curb, turn the wheels away from the curb. Facing downhill, turn them towards it. With no curb, turn them towards the edge of the road.
Hill start
Pull away on an uphill slope without rolling back: check all round, signal, release the brake and go.
What is marked
- No roll-back
- Mirrors and a shoulder check before moving off
- A signal before pulling out
- A smooth, controlled start
Starting on a hill
Starting on a hill is on the list of Class 7 manoeuvres. Check, signal, bring the engine up, then release the brake smoothly.
Three-point turn
Turn the car round to face the other way, using forward and reverse, without touching the curb.
What is marked
- Looking both ways before each move
- Shoulder checks when you reverse
- No contact with the curb
- Finishing on the right side, facing the other way
Two-point turns too
Your road test may ask for a two-point turn as well: you turn round by backing into or out of a driveway or side road. The checks are the same: look both ways, then look over your shoulder.
Practise it in the app
Every exercise above is a guided drill in the PassRank app, with the British Columbia marking points. It is practice, not an official test: the examiner decides on the day.
Questions
- Is touching the curb a fail on the BC road test?
- Not in a parking manoeuvre, according to ICBC. A clean finish still shows control, so practise to finish straight and a sensible distance from the curb.
- Can I use the backup camera on the BC road test?
- Yes, but not alone. Use your mirrors and a look over your shoulder as well.