Volkswagen Golf Owners Manual: Parking

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings 

Please adhere to relevant legislation when stopping and parking your vehicle.

Stopping the vehicle

The steps should only be carried out in the specified order.

• Stop the vehicle on a suitable surface  .

• Depress and hold the brake pedal until the engine has stopped.

• Switch on the electronic parking brake   .

• With an automatic gearbox, move the selector lever to position P  .

• Switch off the engine and take your foot off the brake pedal.

• Remove the vehicle key from the ignition lock.

• Turn the steering wheel slightly if necessary to engage the steering lock mechanism.

• With a manual gearbox, select 1st gear for flat ground and uphill inclines, or reverse gear for downhill inclines, and then release the clutch.

• Please ensure that all occupants, in particular children, leave the vehicle.

• Take all vehicle keys with you when you leave the vehicle.

• Lock the vehicle.

Additional points for ascending and descending inclines

Before switching off the engine, turn the steering wheel so that the front wheels will roll against the kerb if the parked vehicle starts to move.

• When facing downhill, turn the wheels so that they face the kerb.

• When facing uphill, turn the wheels so that they face the centre of the road.

WARNING

The components of the exhaust system become very hot. This can cause fires and serious injuries.

• Never park the vehicle where parts of the exhaust system can come into contact with any inflammable material underneath the vehicle, e.g. leaves, dry grass, spilt fuel.

WARNING

Exiting the vehicle incorrectly when the selector lever is not in position P (in an automatic gearbox) can cause the vehicle to roll away. This can cause accidents and serious injuries.

• When exiting the vehicle, always move the selector lever to position P, switch on the electronic parking brake, and pay attention to the warning messages in the instrument cluster display at all times.

NOTICE

• To avoid unintentional movement when parking the vehicle, first switch on the electronic parking brake and then remove your foot from the brake pedal.

• Always take care when driving in car parks with protruding kerbstones or bollards. Objects that protrude from the ground can damage the bumper and other components when parking the vehicle. In order to avoid any damage, stop the vehicle before the wheels can touch the bollards or kerbs.

• Drive carefully through dips in the road, over driveways, ramps, kerbstones and other objects. Low-lying vehicle components such as the bumper, spoiler and parts of the running gear, engine or exhaust system could be damaged.