A parked vehicle must stay out of traffic's way and be visible to cars from either direction. Montana sets exact no-parking distances — expect several on the test.
Every time you park
- Park in a designated area if possible
- Set the parking brake; leave a manual in gear or an automatic in park
- Check traffic before opening your door, and get out on the curb side if you can
- Never leave the keys in the car; lock the doors
- Pulling out, signal and look both ways for vehicles, bikes and pedestrians
Maximum distance from the curb or shoulder when parked
Handbook p. 54 ↗Know the rule
If you must park on the roadway, park as far from traffic as possible — close to the curb, or with no curb, as close as practicable to the edge of the shoulder.
Handbook p. 54 ↗Know the rule
A vehicle parked on a roadway or shoulder in darkness must show front and rear lights visible for 500 feet; headlights, if on, must be dimmed.
Handbook p. 55 ↗Parallel parking
- Signal your intent to park
- Pull parallel to the car ahead of the space, at least two feet away, rear bumpers even
- Back slowly until your front is even with its front door, turn sharply right, back to a 45° angle
- When your front passes its rear, turn sharply left, then gradually, while backing in
- Straighten your wheels and pull forward in the space
Parking on a hill
| Situation | Turn your wheels |
|---|---|
| Facing downhill, with a curb | Toward the curb |
| Facing uphill, with a curb | Away from the curb |
| Facing uphill, no curb | Away from the street |
Colored curbs
| Curb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| White | Stop only to pick up or drop off passengers |
| Yellow | Stop only to load or unload; stay with the car |
| Red | Don't stop, stand or park |
Don't park within
| Distance | Of |
|---|---|
| 15 feet | A fire hydrant |
| 20 feet | A crosswalk or sidewalk at an intersection |
| 30 feet | A traffic signal, stop sign or yield sign |
| 50 feet | A railroad crossing |
| 20 feet | A fire station driveway, same side of the street |
| 75 feet | A fire station driveway, other side of the street |
Never park
- In an intersection, or on railroad tracks
- On a bridge or elevated structure, or in a tunnel or underpass
- On the wrong side of the street, or double-parked beside a parked vehicle
- Blocking a driveway, alley, private road or curb ramp
- In a construction area where your vehicle will block traffic
- In a handicapped space without a handicap plate, tag or sticker
Put it into practice
You park facing downhill on a street with a curb. Turn your wheels toward the curb and set the parking brake, so if the car starts to roll, the curb stops it instead of it rolling into traffic.