Driving a Bigger Car - any tips

[Cat2024]

Though I am a pretty experienced driver, I am a bit unconfident parking a bigger car. Any tips received gratefully! Tia.

Could you practice with someone in a quiet supermarket carpark or something?

I have to ask the obvious question. Why did you get a bigger car if you will struggle to park it? The amount of poor parking I see of big vehicles that mean I can’t use the space next to them is unreal.

Don't buy a car that you can't drive or park. Pro tip.

Use your wing mirrors, not your rear view mirror.

Lots of practice in a quiet carpark, when I bought our camper van I’d never driven a van before, nevermind parked one. So I spen quite a bit of time going to quite carparks to park, then I started parking in spaces with a car one side and the other empty, and then with a car either side. It took about 2-3 weeks to become as confident parking the van as I was parking our car. Parallel parking was harder to practice due to where we lived, but I’m fine with that now as well.

Do you mean parking in a space in a car park or parallel parking?

I'm very good at the former In a confined space like a multi-storey car park, it's much easier to reverse in and I always do that (but I go in forwards in a supermarket car park except when I need easy access to the boot).

The main problem is fitting in spaces next to other cars that have been parked badly. Many parking spaces haven't been widened to reflect the fact that cars are generally wider than they were 20 years ago, so if the cars on either side aren't straight or are close to the lines it can be impossible to get in ( or rather you can get the car in but not be able to open to the door to get out)!

I'm not always very good at parallel parking. But obviously the bigger the car, the bigger the discs you will need!

Book a driving lesson to focus on parking.

You'll get used to it. Just practice. I've been driving a small car with reversing camera for the past few months and I know when I get my big one with just sensors next week, I'll mess up most manoeuvres for the first few days. I'm a good driver and an excellent Parker but it is what it is.

Llandudley · Today 07:28

Book a driving lesson to focus on parking.

Oh that's a good idea. And as others have said, practice in a supermarket car park. Perhaps find a quiet street with few cars and practice parallel there, pretending that you are slotting between cars.

Thanks very much - I didn’t expect to get that many replies on this one! I will definitely practise a lot in a quiet car park and get my reference points for this car. @RiceRiceMaybe i will need park considerately as hâte bad parking like you do!! But it is likely to take me a few attempts!

Have you tried yet? I worried when we got a bigger car but actually it was fine, and I'm not a confident parker at all. Ten times easier if there's a reversing camera!

Choose your space. I drive a big car so try to park further away from eg the supermarket entrance, not just because it's easier for me, but also it's not as anti-social to smaller cars who might be parked next to me.
I also consider that although there might be no cars parked next to or behind me at the time I arrive, there might be when I want to leave, so how difficult is it going to be if I'm quite boxed in? 99% of the time I will reverse into a space so I can drive straight out with no hassle.

What car is it?

How big?

Just did my first drive and it was ok. I need to be a bit more confident in myself. It has a reversing camera which is helpful and just going to pick my space carefully, use the mirrors more etc… will also get some practice in in an emptier car park. I live in a busy area traffic wise which adds to the slight anxiety… thanks, all.

Good for you!