How to Find the Reference Points for Right Reverse Parking?

[GarrettLee]

Align the left rearview mirror with the right starting line, and match the angle between the right rear window center pillar and the parking space boundary line. Observe the left rearview mirror and the parking space boundary line. When the lower edge of the left rearview mirror aligns with the parking space boundary line, press the clutch and brake to stop, completing the right reverse parking maneuver.

[OliveRose]

I've been a driving instructor at a driving school for over ten years, and I've trained at least a thousand students. The method for finding the right reverse parking points is actually quite simple: First, drive the car to the starting line and stop straight, then shift into reverse and slowly back up. When the lower edge of the left rearview mirror just touches the yellow dashed line, quickly turn the steering wheel all the way to the right. Keep an eye on the right rearview mirror to ensure the car body and the corner of the parking space maintain a two-finger width distance for safety. If the distance is too close, turn the steering wheel back half a turn to adjust the angle. Once the rear of the car enters the parking space, immediately look at the left rearview mirror, and as soon as the corner of the parking space appears, straighten the steering wheel. Finally, adjust the car body to ensure equal distance on both sides. Remember to keep the speed slow and the steering quick. Practicing about twenty more times will help you get the hang of it.

[DiRiley]

Honestly, I rely entirely on the rearview mirrors for reverse parking. When backing into the right spot, I keep a close eye on the right mirror and start turning the wheel as soon as the first corner of the parking space appears. How much to turn depends on the distance between the car body and the corner—about 30 centimeters is ideal, roughly the width of two adult palms. If the gap keeps narrowing, I quickly adjust the steering to avoid crossing the line. Once the rear enters, I immediately turn to check the left side; when the rear wheel touches the dashed line in the mirror, it's time to straighten the wheel. Finally, I make a couple of forward and backward adjustments to align the car, ensuring the wheels are within the solid line area of the parking space.

[Juliet]

As a fresh license holder last week, I’d like to share my firsthand experience. During practice, the instructor repeatedly emphasized three key points: the timing to turn the steering wheel fully should be when the rearview mirror frame touches the upper edge of the dashed line; judging the car entering the parking space requires observing a 30-degree angle between the car body and the parking space corner in the right rearview mirror; and counting the moment the parking space corner appears in the left rearview mirror when straightening the wheels. Personally, I found slowing down the speed most practical—turning the wheel half a turn when the parking space corner first appears in the rearview mirror, then gradually adjusting as the car reverses, which makes control easier. Memorizing the positions of the ground yellow lines and the hood reference points before the test is also crucial.

[VonTyler]

When I was preparing for the Subject 2 driving test, I studied the patterns of different test sites. In regular test sites, the reference points for right reverse parking are basically fixed: stop immediately when the front edge of the hood touches the yellow line; turn the steering wheel fully when the lower edge of the left rearview mirror meets the cement seam; maintain a distance of about one hand span (approximately 15 cm) between the car body and the corner of the parking space. When the rear wheels approach the corner of the space, remember to observe the trajectory of the wheels. The critical point when the wheels are about to touch the line is the last chance for adjustment. It is recommended to wear thin-soled shoes to better feel the vibration of the clutch pedal, which is extremely helpful for controlling the speed.