To prevent your car rolling backwards while parking on a hill, make sure you turn your tires appropriately, shift into first gear, and apply the parking break.

Written by Rochelle Miller-Hernandez

Reviewed by Carrie Adkins

Updated on Apr 14, 2022

Table of Contents

How to park your car on an incline
Turn your tires
Shift into first gear or park
Set the parking brake
Exiting a parking space on a hill

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Parking on a hill heightens the risk of an uncomfortable backwards role. However, there are a few things you can do to lower the chances of this happening.

You may be intimidated the first few times you park on a decline or incline, but with practice it will come naturally. There are a few particulars to watch for, just as there are for parking in any space, whether

parallel

, street, or angled parking.

So, here's how it works, with a little help from

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How to park your car on an incline

Turn your tires

Before turning off your car’s ignition, make sure to turn your

tires

. If you are parked facing downhill, turn your front wheels so they are facing the curb or the side of the road. If you are parked facing uphill, turn them so they are facing away from the curb or in the direction that would force the car to roll onto the side of the road.

By doing this, you're ensuring that if your parking brake malfunctions, your car will not roll into the roadway.

MORE:

How to get started on a hill

Shift into first gear or park

Once you are done pulling your car properly into the parking space, make sure to shift into first gear. If you are driving an automatic transmission, shift into park. You increase your chances of rolling if you leave your car in a neutral position.

Many cars with automatic transmissions will not let you remove your key if your gear is not in the park position.

MORE: How to find city parking

Set the parking brake

Set your parking or emergency brake. Doing so greatly reduces your car’s risk of rolling when parked on a decline or incline.

It's not fool-proof, so make sure you still place your car in first gear or in the park position. Some people have been known to use tire chocks if they are going to be parked on a hill for an extended period of time.

Tip The use of the chocks should never replace the use of the parking brake.

Exiting a parking space on a hill

Always apply your regular brake before taking your car out of first gear or park. Then release your parking or emergency brake. With your foot on your brake, you can start the car. This will prevent it from rolling while you get ready to exit your parking space. Since it is harder for other cars to see you moving when you are parked on a hill, make sure you look carefully for oncoming cars.

Use your mirrors as well as turn your head to look. Make sure no one is behind your car because if you are not used to parking on hills you may slide back an inch or three when pulling out.

When you park on a hill, you should use extra caution and safety measures. It may seem tedious at the time, but these precautions can save injury and damages to other people and vehicles.

And if something does happen to go awry, you can always lean on your

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