🅿️ 5 Pro Tips to Nail Parking Maneuvers in Your ICBC Burnaby Road Test

Parking maneuvers in your ICBC Burnaby Road Test are one of the most critical skills to get right—especially if you want to pass on your first attempt. At Task Driving Academy, we specialize in helping learners master every aspect of the ICBC road test, including the challenging parking segments that occur at ICBC Burnaby (3880 Lougheed Highway).

Below, we share 5 pro tips that will help you nail your parking maneuvers confidently and avoid common mistakes that lead to point deductions—or worse, failure.


✅ 1. Understand What Parking Maneuvers You’ll Be Tested On

The ICBC Burnaby road test typically includes:

  • Parallel Parking
  • Hill Parking
  • Curbside Parking & Stopping
  • Backing into a Parking Stall (Class 7 tests)

Examiners are looking for control, observation, and accuracy. You don’t need to be perfect—but you must show that you’re safe, aware of your surroundings, and in control of the vehicle.


✅ 2. Practice Parallel Parking Like a Pro

Parallel parking is one of the most feared maneuvers in any ICBC test, especially around Burnaby’s busy streets. Here’s how to get it right:

  • Align your vehicle parallel to the parked car ahead
  • Reverse slowly while turning your wheel fully toward the curb
  • Straighten out midway and back in smoothly
  • Leave no more than 30 cm from the curb

⚠️ Tip: Practicing this skill around quieter areas near Lougheed Hwy or side streets close to the ICBC centre can make a big difference.


✅ 3. Perfect Your Hill Parking

Whether uphill or downhill, hill parking shows that you understand gravity, brake safety, and wheel direction:

  • Uphill with a curb: Turn wheels away from the curb
  • Uphill without a curb or downhill with/without a curb: Turn wheels toward the curb or edge

Always use your parking brake, even on automatic vehicles.


Parking maneuvers in your ICBC Burnaby Road Test

✅ 4. Use Proper Observation and Mirror Checks

Examiners aren’t just judging your steering—they’re watching how you scan your surroundings:

  • Mirror-check before and during every maneuver
  • Shoulder-check blind spots before reversing or turning the wheel
  • Look both ways when backing out, even in parking lots

Task Driving Academy emphasizes building observation habits that impress examiners.


✅ 5. Stay Calm and Take Your Time

During the Burnaby road test, many students rush through parking, fearing they’re taking too long. The reality is: ICBC examiners prefer safe and smooth over fast and risky.

  • Take a deep breath before starting
  • Adjust your mirrors beforehand
  • If needed, correct and reposition—you won’t fail for a small adjustment!

To boost your confidence, practice parking near:

  • Lougheed Hwy side streets (away from traffic)
  • Madison Ave and Gilmore Ave for hill parking
  • Parking lots near Brentwood Town Centre (ideal for stall reverses)

Being familiar with the roads around ICBC Burnaby helps reduce test anxiety.


📞 Why Choose Task Driving Academy?

At Task Driving Academy, we specialize in preparing students for the ICBC Burnaby road test, especially for the trickier aspects like parking. Our instructors are familiar with the routes, traffic patterns, and expectations of the examiners at:

  • ICBC Burnaby Licensing Centre – 3880 Lougheed Hwy
  • ICBC Point Grey Testing Centre
  • ICBC Kingsway Claim Centre
  • ICBC Richmond Licensing Centre

🗓️ Book your lesson today and let’s get your parking game strong!


🙋‍♂️ FAQs About Parking in the ICBC Burnaby Road Test

Q: Can I touch the curb during parallel parking?
A: Lightly touching the curb is not an automatic fail, but hitting it hard or mounting it may be.

Q: Do I have to turn off the engine when hill parking on the test?
A: No. You only need to set the parking brake and turn the wheels correctly.

Q: How long should my vehicle be from the curb after parking?
A: Ideally, within 30 cm (1 foot) of the curb.