How to Exit the Parking Space Without Scraping the Adjacent Vehicle?

[CameronDella]

Turning the steering wheel to full lock should be fine. There's a reference point: when you see the wheel, maintain at least 3 meters from it; when you see the bumper, keep 1 meter; and when you see the license plate, it's about... you can try it out~ When you reverse into the parking space, you might often encounter the phenomenon where the left side is too wide while the right side is too narrow. This indicates that you turned the steering wheel to full lock too early at the starting line. The correct timing is to turn the steering wheel to full lock right at the moment when the left rearview mirror aligns with the starting line. This is the first point. The second point is, after reversing into the parking space and noticing the right side is too narrow, you should adjust the steering wheel to the left (adjust towards the wider side), and vice versa. When the rear of the car is centered, immediately straighten the steering wheel. This way, the issue of one side being wider than the other won't occur. Exiting the parking space is similar to making a sharp turn. If there's still space behind before exiting, you can reverse further to position the car as close to the right side of the parking space as possible. Then, shift into drive and move forward. When you feel that half of the car body has passed the parking space line (the driver has already exited the parking space line), you can turn the steering wheel to full lock left and observe the distance between your car body and other vehicles through the left rearview mirror. If this distance is too close, straighten the steering wheel and move forward until the rear wheels pass, then turn the steering wheel to full lock again. If you cannot continue forward due to obstacles ahead, straighten the steering wheel, shift into reverse, and back up. Then, turn the steering wheel to the right to increase the distance and repeat this process to adjust the car's position for a successful exit. Especially in parking lots, if there's a vehicle in front of the parking space exit, here's how to avoid scraping the front car when exiting: when you see the upper edge of the rear bumper of the front car, the distance is approximately 1m. When you see the lower edge of the rear bumper, the distance is about 2m. When you see the lower edge of the rear tire, the distance is roughly 3m.

[OBeau]

After driving for over a decade, my biggest fear is scraping other cars when exiting narrow parking spaces. There are three key steps: First, adjust the rearview mirrors to see the wheel positions of adjacent vehicles on both sides. Then, turn the steering wheel all the way in the exit direction—for example, if there's a car on the right, turn left fully and inch out slowly. As the car moves diagonally, watch the rearview mirrors and stop when the distance from the adjacent car's front bumper is about a hand's width apart, ensuring the rear doesn't swipe it. Pay extra attention to SUVs or vans, as their longer rear overhang creates bigger blind spots. Once, I scraped someone's bumper in the rain due to poor visibility, so now I always roll down the window to listen for sounds when exiting. If unsure, it's better to reverse a few more times than force your way out.

[DelConnor]

As a new driver who just got my license, I was also terrified last month when I got sandwiched between two cars in a mall parking lot. Later, I figured out a simple but safe method: first reverse half a meter to create space, then quickly turn the steering wheel to the opposite direction as far as it goes—for example, if there's an obstacle on the right, turn sharply to the left. This trick helps the front of the car quickly swing out to avoid scraping the rear. Remember to keep the window open to listen for sounds; the reversing camera only shows what's behind you, while the sides rely on your ears. Once, there was a sports car parked next to me, and I had to ask a security guard to guide me out. Now, before exiting a parking spot, I always walk around the car to check the wheel positions and ground markings to gauge the distance.

[LeFaith]

The experienced driver at home taught me that watching the ground line is the most reliable method. When exiting the parking space, don't rush to turn the steering wheel all the way at once; start with a quarter turn to test the angle. Pay close attention to whether the wheels of the neighboring car are parallel to yours, and maintain a half-palm width distance between your tires and the parking line for safety. Remember to adjust the driver's seat higher for better visibility—once, my seat was too low, and I almost scraped the rearview mirror of a pickup truck on the right. Be extra cautious with long-wheelbase vehicles like commercial vans; it's best to reverse until your car's rear aligns with the adjacent car before turning. If you're unsure, shift into reverse and back up a bit to try again—it's much better than paying for bodywork repairs.

[DeMary]

Having run an auto repair shop for five years, I've seen countless cases of scratches during parking lot exits. My advice: first, turn on the 360-degree camera (if unavailable, attach small convex mirrors to the side mirrors), focusing particularly on the distance between the front wheels and adjacent vehicles. Steer the wheel slowly and steadily, and when the front of the car extends outward, pay attention to the height difference between the hood and the neighboring car's rear—SUVs are prone to scraping sedan roofs. The most hazardous situations occur during rain or at night; once, a client scratched a Bentley in a dimly lit garage. I make it a habit to honk twice before exiting to alert surroundings and check blind spots for pedestrians. Less experienced drivers can install rubber bumper guards as a temporary solution.