Are the reference points the same for right-side and left-side reverse parking?
2 Answers
There are both similarities and differences in the reference points for right-side and left-side reverse parking. Common issues during reverse parking are as follows: 1. How to correct if steering too early: If you steer too early, the distance between the car body and the right front corner of the parking space will be less than 30 cm. If it's slightly less than 30 cm, you can turn the steering wheel back half a turn; if you're about to hit the corner, you need to straighten the steering wheel. 2. How to correct if steering too late: Keep the steering wheel fully turned while entering the parking space, and when the car body is parallel to the side line, still do not straighten the steering wheel; let the car enter the space diagonally, which will create distance between the car and the left side line; after creating enough distance, straighten the steering wheel and adjust slightly to align the car body. 3. How to correct if the car body is tilted: Use the left and right rearview mirrors to determine which side the car body is leaning towards. The principle of adjustment is to steer in the opposite direction of where the rear of the car is leaning.
When I first learned reverse parking, I thought the reference points for left and right sides were interchangeable, since the instructor made them sound similar. But during practice, I realized the big difference. Left-side reverse parking was straightforward—just lean a bit to clearly see the corner of the parking space and the reference points in the rearview mirror, completing the maneuver smoothly. However, right-side reverse parking was a headache, with the right-side visibility as narrow as if it were blocked. I always had to focus early on the rearview mirror to adjust the car's rear position. This difference stems from sitting on the left side while driving, where the car's structure blocks the rear-right view, naturally requiring some offset in reference points. For this reason, I practiced right-side reverse parking every day until I got the hang of it. Now, I advise beginners not to fear the monotony—start by exploring their personal reference points with the mirror.