How to Align the Starting Position for Reverse Parking?

[SanJude]

Keep one side of the vehicle about 1.5–1.8 meters away from the sideline. Turn the steering wheel fully to the left and reverse, observing the lower edge of the rearview mirror aligning with the yellow line. When starting to reverse, move straight back until the lower edge of the left rearview mirror aligns with the road width line, then turn the steering wheel fully to the left, causing the vehicle to move left. Reverse about 30 centimeters with the steering wheel fully turned to the left. While reversing to the left, observe the distance between the vehicle body and the parking line, as well as the driving path, through the left rearview mirror.

[JadeAnn]

As an experienced driver who often teaches others to drive, I've found that the key to aligning the starting position for reverse parking is to use reference points effectively. The first step is to drive the car to a position parallel to the parking space and observe the alignment line of the parking space corner in the rearview mirror: generally, when the rearview mirror shows the rear corner of the parking space roughly aligned with your car's rear, that's the starting position. The car body should be as parallel as possible to the parking space lines to ensure a straight reverse. Many people tend to be too far forward or backward, causing the angle to be off and making it difficult to enter. I recommend beginners practice in an empty parking lot first, repeatedly adjusting points to get a feel for it. This is a must-know point in exams, and examiners usually check the car's parallelism. In daily life, parking safely is crucial to avoid scraping neighboring cars or walls, and sufficient distance should be left for larger vehicles. Remember, if the starting point is off, the entire reverse parking process will be problematic, requiring more observation and patient position adjustments.

[Elias]

I remember when I first got my driver's license, aligning the starting position for reverse parking gave me a headache for a long time. Through trial and error, I developed my own method: before parking, I first assess the size of the parking space and maintain an appropriate distance between the front of the car and the front end of the parking space—usually aligning the driver's seat with the center line of the space before starting to reverse. Then, I use the rearview mirror to check if the rear of the car is parallel to the side line of the parking space. If not, I make slight adjustments by moving forward or backward. Initially, I often parked crookedly, but later I realized that a tilted car body makes reversing difficult, so I practiced diligently, trying a few times every day in the garage. From my mistakes, I learned one thing: slowing down makes it easier to control. Now, after a year of driving, this technique has helped me avoid many collisions, especially when parking in tight spaces. Getting the starting position right makes parking much smoother, and I share this experience to help new drivers avoid unnecessary detours.

[ElainaDella]

For daily commuting parking, I've developed a simple method to align the starting point for reverse parking. When driving into a garage or roadside spot, just stop when the rear of the car is about one car length away from the back of the parking space. The key is to keep the car body centered and aligned with the parking space's center line, avoiding any tilt. I often use the left door handle as a reference point, aligning it with the rear wheel or pillar of the neighboring car. In tight spaces, adjust the angle first to prevent scraping. With practice, you'll get the hang of it—no need to stress over minor details. This technique in daily life improves parking efficiency, saving time and hassle.