Parking rules

Parking looks simple, but where you leave a vehicle can create real danger or block the road for everyone else. A badly parked car can obstruct a fire engine, hide a child stepping out, or push a cyclist into traffic. The rules cover both places where parking is never allowed and places where it is allowed only at certain times, and the theory test checks that you know the difference.

Where parking is always prohibited

Some places are off limits no matter what, because a parked car there endangers or obstructs others. Do not park at or near a bend, on the brow of a hill, or within 5 metres of a junction, because a parked vehicle hides the view for everyone approaching. Keep clear of pedestrian crossings and bus stops, stay out of cycle lanes during their hours of operation, and never park on a footpath, which forces people, including wheelchair users and parents with buggies, out into the road. The simple test is whether your car would make the road less safe or harder to use for anyone else.

Yellow line markings

Yellow lines along the edge of the road tell you the parking restrictions. A double yellow line means no parking at any time. A single yellow line means restrictions apply during the times shown on a nearby sign, and outside those hours parking may be allowed. Because single yellow rules depend on the sign, always read it rather than assume. These lines are there to keep traffic moving on busy stretches, so treat them as a clear instruction.

Paid and permit parking

In towns and cities much parking is controlled by disc parking or pay and display, and you must buy and display valid time. Overstaying or failing to pay leads to a fine. Disabled parking bays are reserved for people who hold a valid disabled parking permit, and parking in one without a permit is both an offence and an act that takes a needed space from someone who depends on it.

Clearways and loading restrictions

Some streets are clearways, where stopping is banned during the hours shown so that traffic keeps flowing at busy times, and you must not stop there even briefly to wait for someone. Loading bays and loading restrictions control where and when goods can be loaded or unloaded, and they are not general parking spaces. As with yellow lines, the detail is on the sign, so read it before you leave the car. When in doubt, find a proper parking space rather than risk blocking a route that needs to stay clear.

Parking with consideration

Beyond the specific rules, good parking is considerate parking. Leave room for other vehicles to pass, do not block driveways or dropped kerbs, and park in the direction of traffic where required. Switch off the engine, and never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running. A few seconds of thought when you stop saves other people a great deal of trouble. To test yourself on parking and the wider rules of the road, work through our Legal Matters and Rules of the Road practice.