
Keep the middle of the bottom of the left rearview mirror aligned with the yellow line while driving, and maintain a distance of 1-2 fingers' width between the door edge and the yellow line. Shift into reverse gear, turn on the right turn signal, and let the vehicle move straight back. When you see the starting line in front of the lower edge of the left rearview mirror, turn the steering wheel fully to the right and continue reversing. Observe the distance between the right rear wheel and the corner of the parking space through the right rearview mirror, aiming to keep it around 30cm. After reversing into the parking space, continue to use the rearview mirror to judge the distance between the car body and the parking lines. Once you confirm that the car body is parallel to the parking lines, straighten the steering wheel.

When I was learning to drive a C2 automatic transmission car, my instructor taught me a mnemonic: Drive forward until the front of the car is about one meter away from the edge of the parking space and stop straight, then straighten the steering wheel and start reversing. At this point, keep your eyes fixed on the right rearview mirror without blinking. As soon as you see the right corner of the garage appear in the mirror, immediately turn the steering wheel all the way to the right, and the rear of the car will head straight into the garage. Continue reversing slowly while glancing at the left rearview mirror. When the left garage line is completely parallel to the car body, quickly straighten the steering wheel to let the car go straight in. If the car is slightly off, make small adjustments to the left or right with the steering wheel to correct the position. Don’t rush to accelerate; keep the speed steady. Once the front of the car crosses the stop line, pull the handbrake. I practiced this mnemonic over a dozen times before getting the hang of it. At first, I was so nervous that my palms were sweaty, but with more practice, I got the feel for it. Reversing in an automatic car is a bit easier—the key is to develop the habit of checking the mirrors and not just memorizing the steps mechanically.

Having driven automatic transmission cars for over a decade, I never use mnemonics for reverse parking—I rely on mirror intuition. Simply put: First drive past the parking space and stop, aligning the side of your car with the garage entrance. Shift into reverse and slowly back up while scanning the right mirror. When the rear wheel is about to touch the edge of the space, quickly turn the steering wheel right to enter the spot, continuously checking the left side for alignment. If there’s any deviation, make small steering adjustments to correct. Don’t rush—stay steady. This method is especially practical in tight parking spots, and I often help neighbors practice it. Safety first: always check surroundings to avoid hitting poles or other cars. Remember, the steering wheel is flexible—with a few tries, you’ll smoothly park in one go.

When teaching driving, I tell students a rhyme: Stop at the starting position with the steering wheel straight, shift into reverse and slowly back up. Look at the right rearview mirror, wait until the garage corner disappears from view, then immediately turn the steering wheel one and a half turns to the right. Continue reversing, switch to looking at the left rearview mirror, and as soon as the entire garage line is parallel to the car body, straighten the steering wheel and back up straight. If the position is not correct, make slight adjustments to straighten the car. Finally, stop steadily, pull the handbrake, and control the distance. Go slow and don't rush; beginners are most afraid of speed as it's easy to make mistakes. I emphasize safety by observing sidewalks or obstacles. Practice this rhyme more, and the exam pass rate will be high, making actual driving easier too.


