Men claim to be most confident parallel parkers in Australia

Over half (57%) of Australia’s drivers report feeling stressed or anxious about parallel parking, with women and younger drivers feeling it most, according to survey data from Budget Direct .

According to the data, 60% of drivers find themselves cosying up to the kerbside at least once a week, with almost one in ten (9%) saying they parallel park every day. 

However, reported anxiety levels while parallel parking revealed a divide between the sexes. 

The survey reveals that 35% of women say they usually or always feel stressed or anxious while parking – twice as many as the men surveyed (16%). 

Men typically claim to have the most confidence in their parallel parking skills, according to Budget Direct. Of those surveyed, 65% of men claim to be very or extremely confident, whereas only 34% of women feel the same way.

Infographic outlining the different attitudes of men and women towards confidence while parking.

The more you do it, the easier it gets 

The survey found a link between the age of a driver and their anxieties about reversing into a spot. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, older generations of drivers typically reported more confidence when parking. After all, practice makes perfect.

Only 8% of the Silent Generation find parallel parking an anxious affair, followed by 17% of Baby Boomers. On the other hand, a third (33%) of Gen Y and almost two in five (37%) of Gen Z drivers always or usually do.

The pinnacle of ‘parallelophobia’

But it appears that almost everyone, regardless of gender or age, gets sweaty palms at the prospect of having to park on a busy road while holding up traffic. 

Only 8% of survey respondents say they feel ‘extremely comfortable’ in a situation like that, instead preferring to avoid it entirely.  

Budget Direct found Australians’ biggest parking pet peeve is dealing with traffic (61%), followed by: 

  • Judging space/estimating distance (50%) 
  • Aligning the vehicle and getting the timing right on turns (49%) 
  • Getting back out of a tight park or being parked in (34%) 
  • Maintaining visibility in larger vehicles (24%).
A car parked on top of another car in a spectacular display of a failed parallel park.
It's unlikely you'll ever bungle a reverse park as badly as this guy...

Evidently, there’s a lot of pressure out there when it comes to parking. The last thing you want to do is scratch up someone else’s (or your own) vehicle while simply trying to park. 

While there’s assisted parking tech out there, like reversing cameras or self-parking features, not everyone has the luxury of the latest gizmos. 

So, one way of alleviating the stress of parking could be as straightforward as making sure your car insurance covers you for dings and scrapes that might happen to your own car while trying to park. 

Confidence in your abilities may come with age, but having comprehensive car insurance could, at the very least, save you some cash in the event of a parallel parking mishap. Knowing that you have cover might take the pressure off your next park. 

Compare comprehensive car insurance here to find the latest deals across a range of policies, or check out the best car insurance in Australia for Mozo Experts Choice Award-winning providers.

Car insurance comparisons on Mozo - last updated 18 February 2025

Search promoted car insurance below. Advertiser disclosure Important information on terms, conditions and sub-limits.
  • Comprehensive Car Insurance

    Yes costs extra

    Agreed or Market

    $400 - $2,500

    Optional Extra

    Making sure your car insurance is about where you’re at right now could save you lots. Start a quote with Youi today and see what you could save.

    Compare
    Details
  • Mozo Expert Choice Badge
    Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance

    Yes costs extra

    Agreed or Market

    $550 - $1,900 (varies by state)

    Optional Extra

    Get award winning Car Insurance. Save 15% ^ on your first year’s premium when you purchase a new policy online. Budget Direct offers tailor-made cover, new-for-old replacement, 24/7 claims, a highly-rated claims service, and get a hire car following a theft.

    Compare
    Details
  • Comprehensive Car Insurance

    Yes costs extra

    Agreed or Market

    $500 - $2,300

    Optional Extra

    Compare
    Details
  • Mozo Expert Choice Badge
    Comprehensive Car Insurance

    Yes

    Agreed

    $800 flat excess fee

    No

    No additional excess for young drivers, lodge a claim 24/7 and zero cancellation fees. Hire car is included up to $80 per day for up to 21 days; cover for one tow to our nearest authorised repairer, following a covered incident. No excess on your first covered windscreen, sunroof, and window glass damage once per insurance period. List multiple cars and drivers under the one policy as long as they fit the underwriting criteria (excludes Safe ’n Save policies).

    Compare
    Details

* Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.

^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Car Insurance Awards