Can park assist be turned off?
Yes. In most modern vehicles, Park Assist can be disabled if you don’t want it to intervene when parking. The exact steps depend on the brand and model, but you’ll typically find a physical toggle or a setting in the infotainment system to switch it off.
What Park Assist is and why you might want to turn it off
Park Assist is an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) that uses sensors and cameras to help you park, and in some configurations may even steer the vehicle into a spot. Some drivers find it valuable in tight spaces or for parallel parking, while others prefer full manual control or want to avoid occasional misinterpretations of sensor data in complex environments.
Common ways to disable Park Assist
Most vehicles offer a straightforward way to disable the feature. The methods below cover the most common approaches across many brands. If your car has a different interface, consult the owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s support site.
- Physical button: Press the Park Assist button on the center console (often labeled with a P and radar symbol) to toggle the feature off. The indicator light on the dash usually turns off when disabled.
- Infotainment settings: Open Settings or Vehicle Settings, navigate to Parking/Driver Assistance, and set Park Assist to Off or Disabled.
- Voice command: In some systems, you can say a command like "Turn off Parking Assist" or "Disable Park Assist." Availability varies by model and software version.
- Automatic behavior: In many cars, Park Assist will remain off after you turn the car off or after you switch off the feature in a session. In some models, it may re-enable under certain conditions (e.g., after startup or depending on mode).
If you rely on the system for certain parking tasks but want to avoid unintentional interference, these options let you tailor the level of assistance to your comfort.
Brand-specific notes on turning Park Assist off
Ford
In models with Ford Co-Pilot360, you’ll usually find a Park Assist button on or near the center console. Pressing it toggles the system off, and the dash indicator confirms the change. Some vehicles also allow disabling via Settings > Vehicle > Park Assist in the touchscreen.
BMW
BMW Parking Assistant can be deactivated by pressing the Parking Assist button; the cockpit indicator will show off. In iDrive 8/9, you can also disable it via Settings > Driver Assistance > Parking Assistant, Off.
Mercedes-Benz
Active Parking Assist can typically be turned off by pressing the Park Assist button (or the P button on the console). In MBUX, you can also disable it through Settings > Driver Assistance > Park Assist or Parking Aid.
Volvo
Volvo’s Park Assist (Park Assist Pilot) is commonly toggled with the Park Assist button or via Settings > Car > Driver Assistance > Park Assist. The system can be left off when you prefer manual parking.
Toyota and Lexus
Toyota’s Parking Support or Lexus Parking Assist is usually controlled through the infotainment settings or the dedicated parking button. Look under Settings > Vehicle > Parking to turn it Off.
Tesla
Tesla vehicles with Autopark can be disabled in the Autopilot/Driver Assistance settings, turning off Autopark. You can also leave Autopark off between sessions if you prefer to park manually.
Troubleshooting and caveats
Not all systems behave identically. Some cars won’t let you completely disable Park Assist in certain drive modes or may leave certain warnings active even when Park Assist is off. If you cannot disable it via the standard interfaces, consult the owner’s manual, contact the dealer, or check the latest software updates for your model.
Summary
Park Assist can typically be turned off in most modern vehicles using a physical toggle, an infotainment setting, or a voice command. The exact steps depend on the make, model, and software version. If in doubt, refer to your owner’s manual or contact your dealer for model-specific instructions.
