How to Determine if the Car Body is Straight When Reversing into a Parking Space?
2 Answers
To determine if the car body is straight when reversing into a parking space, which means whether the steering wheel is straightened, follow these methods: 1. During the reversing process, position your head at the center of the car's width and visually align the midpoint of the rear of the car with the midpoint of the garage base. If you notice the rear of the car gradually deviating to one side, it indicates that the steering wheel is not straightened. 2. If the rear of the car has entered the garage but the front has not, and the rear leans toward one side of the boundary line, the reason is that the steering wheel was turned back too early or too quickly. 3. If the rear of the car has entered the garage but the front has not, and the rear leans toward the center line, the reason is that the steering wheel was turned back too late or too slowly.
Determining whether the car is straight when reversing into a parking space is one of the most challenging skills for beginners to master. The key is to observe the parking lines through the rearview mirrors: if the lines on both sides appear symmetrical in the mirrors, the car is straight. If one side appears wider and the other narrower, it means the car is tilted. Adjust the steering wheel slowly while reversing to correct the position—no need to rush. You can also check if the distance between the tires and the lines is equal or observe consistent side references through the windows. Practice is essential—find an empty parking lot and repeat the process several times to develop a feel for the car. When the car is straight, you’ll feel balanced in the driver’s seat with no tilt, and the steering wheel will naturally return to center. A safety tip is to confirm there are no people or obstacles around before reversing and operate at low speed to minimize collision risks. Follow these steps, and soon you’ll be able to handle any parking lot with ease.
