Rules of the road
Lesson 8 · Parking

Which way do you turn your wheels parking downhill?

Short answer

Toward the curb. If your car rolls, the front tire will catch on the curb. Set the parking brake too.

Watch it play out

How to do it

  1. Pull close to the curb.
  2. Turn the wheels toward the curb.
  3. Let the car roll forward gently until the tire rests against the curb.
  4. Set the parking brake and put the car in park.

Why the rule works this way

The curb acts as a block. With the wheels turned in, gravity pushes the car into the curb, not into the street.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving the wheels straight on a steep hill.
  • Forgetting the parking brake.
In VirginiaDownhill with a curb: wheels right, toward the curb. See all Virginia rules

Questions people ask

What if there is no curb?

Turn the wheels toward the edge of the road so the car rolls away from traffic.