Test yourself
‘No Stopping’ and ‘No Parking’ are not the same thing
The most useful thing to understand— before any sign or distance— is the legal difference between stopping and parking. In the Australian Road Rules, to "stop" means to bring your vehicle to rest and stay stationary, even for a moment (other than to give way). To "park" means to stop and either leave the vehicle or stay longer than you need to set down or pick up. That single distinction decides what every sign actually lets you do.
A No Stopping sign, or a solid yellow edge line along the kerb, means exactly that: you must not stop there for any reason, not even to let a passenger jump out. A No Parking sign is gentler. It lets you stop for up to two minutes to drop off or pick up passengers or goods, but you must stay within three metres of your vehicle the whole time— the moment you walk further away, or overstay, you are legally "parked" and breaking the rule. This is why you can pause at the school gate under a No Parking sign but not under No Stopping. Learn this pair first and half the signs on the road start explaining themselves.
The places you must never stop, even with no sign
Many no-go zones apply by default— there is no sign because the rule is assumed. You must not stop within 20 metres of an intersection controlled by traffic lights, or within 10 metres of one without lights, measured from the nearest point of the cross street. The exceptions are narrow: a parking sign that permits it, or a continuous dividing line or median between you and the intersection.
You must not stop on or near a pedestrian, children’s or marked foot crossing— broadly, keep clear for about 20 metres before and 10 metres after— or within 20 metres of a level crossing, on a clearway, in a bus zone, or across a bus stop. Footpaths, nature strips, shared paths, painted islands and dividing strips are off limits in built-up areas: parking two wheels up on the verge is a genuine offence, not a grey area. You must not block a driveway or a footpath access, even for "just a minute," and you must not double-park (stop alongside a vehicle already parked at the kerb). Keep clear of fire hydrants, and never use a marked accessible (disabled) bay without a valid permit displayed. Because exact distances near hydrants, bus stops and crossings— and the rules about your own driveway— vary between states, confirm the specifics with your state road authority.
How to park at the kerb correctly (what the test checks)
When you do park, the road rule sets out how. Face the same direction as the traffic on your side— never park pointing against the flow on a two-way street, which is a common test fault. Position the car parallel to and as close as practicable to the far left kerb (the far right on a one-way street), so you are not sticking out into the lane.
Leave at least one metre of space in front of and behind any car you park between, so everyone can get out. On a road without a continuous dividing line or median, you must leave at least three metres of clear road beside your vehicle so traffic can pass— if you can’t, the space is too tight to park in legally. Where the road is marked for angle parking, follow the angle shown and put the front of your car to the kerb unless a sign says rear-to-kerb.
On a driving test, examiners watch the direction of travel, how close and straight you finish to the kerb, whether you left the required gaps, and whether you signalled and checked blind spots moving in and out. A tidy, legal park is usually worth more than a fast one.
Signs, coloured lines and time limits
Beyond the yes/no signs, most parking is governed by time and permit signs. A "P" with a number (for example "1P") means you may park, but only for that many hours; "1/4P" means 15 minutes. The times and days printed underneath say when the limit applies— outside those hours the restriction usually lifts, but read every line, because one sign can stack several conditions. An arrow shows which way along the kerb the sign controls; two arrows pointing away from the pole mean it applies in both directions from there.
Coloured kerb lines carry meaning too: a continuous yellow edge line means no stopping at any time. Special zones— loading zones, bus zones, taxi zones, mail zones, works zones and permit-holder areas— reserve the kerb for a specific user, so stopping there in an ordinary car is an offence even when the space is empty. Ticket and meter bays need a valid, displayed ticket. Because sign wording, ticketing and the size of any fine or demerit points differ between councils and states, always confirm the local rules and current penalties with your state or territory road authority rather than assuming they match the last place you parked.
Common mistakes learners make
- Parking facing the wrong way— pointing against oncoming traffic on a quiet two-way street is illegal even when it feels harmless, and it fails you on test day.
- Assuming "No Parking" means "No Stopping." You may actually pause up to two minutes under a No Parking sign to drop off or pick up, as long as you stay within three metres of the car.
- Waiting "just for a second" too close to an intersection— the 20-metre (lights) and 10-metre (no lights) rule applies even where there is no sign at all.
- Blocking a driveway or footpath access briefly— obstructing access is an offence even for a minute, including across your own driveway if it blocks the footpath.
- Parking two wheels up on the nature strip or footpath because the kerb is full— that is prohibited in built-up areas, not a grey area.
- Missing a continuous yellow edge line (no stopping at any time) or stopping within 20 metres of a bus stop.
- On the test: finishing too far from the kerb, at an angle, or without leaving a one-metre gap to the cars front and rear.
Check the official source before you rely on this
Rules and pass requirements are set by each state and territory road authority and can change. Always confirm the current details with the official source for your state — Transport for NSW, VicRoads (Victoria), Queensland Transport, or the equivalent authority where you live. This page is a free study guide, not a substitute for the official handbook.
Last verified 4 September 2026 against the Australian Road Rules and your state road authority. Rules, fees and figures change. Always confirm current details with your state road authority before you rely on them.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How close to an intersection can I park?
- Under the Australian Road Rules you must not stop within 20 metres of an intersection with traffic lights, or within 10 metres of one without lights, measured from the nearest point of the cross street. You can only stop closer if a parking sign permits it, or there is a continuous dividing line or median between you and the intersection.
- Can I park facing the opposite direction to the traffic?
- No. You must park in the same direction as the traffic on your side of the road, with your left wheels toward the left kerb on a two-way street. Parking against the flow so your headlights face oncoming cars is an offence and a frequent driving-test fault.
- Can I park with two wheels up on the nature strip or footpath if the kerb is full?
- Generally no. The road rule prohibits stopping on a footpath, nature strip, shared path, painted island or dividing strip in a built-up area, even partly. A few states have narrow local exceptions, so confirm with your state road authority, but as a default treat the verge as off limits.