How to Park on a Hill in Ontario

Last updated: October 14, 2026

When you park on a slope, which way you turn your front wheels decides where the car goes if the brakes ever fail: into the curb, or into traffic. There are four cases to learn, and one simple rule that covers them all.

Practise it: the Hill Parking route Park in four spots on a hill, uphill and downhill, with and without a curb, and pick the right wheel direction each time. (This route comes with a Pro pass.)

Drive the route

Which way to turn your wheels

Parked facing	Turn your front wheels	Why
Uphill, with a curb	Left, away from the curb	If the car rolls back, the back of the front tire catches on the curb.
Uphill, no curb	Right, sharply, toward the shoulder	If the car rolls back, it goes off the road instead of into traffic.
Downhill, with a curb	Right, toward the curb	If the car rolls forward, the front tire runs into the curb.
Downhill, no curb	Right, toward the shoulder	If the car rolls forward, it goes off the road, away from traffic.

The easy way to remember it

Uphill with a curb is the only time you turn left. In every other case, turn your wheels right, toward the edge of the road. The idea is always the same: if the car moves, it should end up against the curb or off the road, never rolling out into traffic.

Never leave your wheels straight on a hill. If the brakes fail, a car with straight wheels rolls straight down the road.

Step by step

Check your mirrors and blind spot, signal right and slow down gradually.
Pull in close and parallel to the curb or the edge of the road, without blocking a driveway or entrance.
Stop, and turn your front wheels the right way for the slope (see the table above).
With a curb, let the car creep a few centimetres so the tire rests gently against the curb. Then set the parking brake firmly.
Shift into park (in a manual, into first gear facing uphill or reverse facing downhill), turn off the engine, take the key and lock up.

Pulling back out

Start the engine, keep your foot on the brake and release the parking brake. Straighten the wheels, signal left, and check your mirrors and your left blind spot. Pull out smoothly when there's a safe gap. Facing uphill, you may need a little more gas to keep from rolling back.

Common mistakes

Turning left on a downhill. Downhill is always right, toward the curb.
Turning toward the curb uphill. With a curb, uphill is the one exception: wheels left.
Forgetting the parking brake. The wheels are a backup, not a replacement for the brake.
Parking too far from the curb. If you're too far out, the tire can't catch on it.
Parking where you shouldn't. Don't park on a curve or hill where other drivers can't see you from at least 125 m away in both directions.

Hill parking on your tests

Wheel direction on a hill is a classic question in the rules section of the G1 knowledge test. On the road, the same idea applies during a roadside stop: if you stop on a hill, turn your wheels so the car would roll into the curb. You can read the official rules in the parking chapter of the Official MTO Driver's Handbook.

In Ontario Roadie's Hill Parking route, you pull into each spot, stop close to the curb or road edge, and then choose which way to turn your wheels. Pick wrong and the game explains why, then lets you choose again.

Frequently asked questions

Which way do you turn your wheels when parking uphill with a curb?

Turn your front wheels to the left, away from the curb. If the car starts to roll back, the back of the front tire catches against the curb and stops it.

Which way do you turn your wheels when parking downhill?

Turn your front wheels to the right, toward the curb or the right shoulder. If the car rolls forward, it rolls into the curb or off the road, away from traffic.

Which way do you turn your wheels uphill with no curb?

Turn your front wheels sharply to the right. If the car rolls back, it rolls off the road onto the shoulder instead of into traffic.

Do I still need the parking brake if my wheels are turned?

Yes. Always set the parking brake and put the car in park (or in gear, in a manual) when you park on a hill. Turning the wheels is a backup in case the brakes fail, not a replacement for them.

Is hill parking on the G1 test?

It can be. Which way to turn your wheels on a hill is a classic rules-of-the-road question, and it is in the parking section of the Official MTO Driver's Handbook.

Four spots, four rules. Try the Hill Parking route and see if you get all four right the first time.