How to Park Head-First into a Parking Space?

[AllisonFitz]

When approaching from the lane, try to stay as close to the right side as possible. This helps in making a wide left turn. Once you spot the target parking space, steer left to bring the right front of your vehicle as close as possible to the car on the right while turning into the space. Turning too early may cause the left side of your car to scrape against the left vehicle's bumper, making it impossible to enter smoothly. The first key point is the distance between your car's right front bumper and the body of the vehicle on the right. The second reference is the distance between the left side of your car and the corner of the left vehicle's bumper. Now the car is partially in the space but at an angle, with the front tilted to the right and the rear to the left. Since there's no room ahead to adjust, the best option is to reverse out and attempt the maneuver again to find a method that allows for a straight, one-time entry.

[ReedLee]

I remember when I first started learning to park, I always ended up crooked when pulling in head-first. Later, I figured out a method: first turn on the indicator to alert cars behind, align the car body parallel to the parking space lines, maintaining about a meter distance. After checking the rearview mirror to ensure safety, turn the steering wheel fully toward the parking space and proceed at a steady speed. When the rearview mirror passes the center line of the parking space, immediately straighten the steering wheel and continue moving forward. Gently press the brake when you see the rear line of the parking space through the windshield—this is when the front wheels should be right on the parking line. Keep the steering wheel steady throughout, maintain a speed of 3-5 km/h for safety, and while the reversing camera is helpful, don’t rely on it completely. Practicing in an open area to get a feel for it is crucial.

[MacGriffin]

The key to parking head-first lies in judging three reference points. When turning the steering wheel fully left to enter the parking space, focus on the relationship between the left A-pillar and the parking line. The optimal moment to straighten the wheels is when the A-pillar aligns with the left boundary of the parking space. After straightening the vehicle, glide forward half a car length, maintaining at least half a meter buffer space between your front bumper and the car ahead. Always check the parking space width beforehand - avoid attempting spaces narrower than 2.5 meters. I once scratched my mirror rushing into a tight mall spot, so now I always choose corner spaces with more room. Beginners should practice right-side parking first, as the left side has larger blind spots and is more challenging to maneuver.

[MacTravis]

Last time I tried parking my friend's sedan head-first into a space, I found smaller cars are actually harder to park. Due to their short wheelbase and highly responsive steering, they're prone to oversteering. My approach involves three steps: First, drive completely past the target parking space. Then, turn the steering wheel fully to the right and reverse at a 45-degree angle. When the car's nose aligns with the space, immediately move forward to adjust the direction. This method proves much more precise than driving straight in. Adjust your mirrors to see the rear wheel positions, and when the parking sensor beeps rapidly, it means you're within 30cm of an obstacle - that's when you must stop. Pay extra attention during rain as ground reflections can distort parking line visibility; rolling down the window for visual confirmation is recommended.

[Carole]

When parking an SUV head-first, be mindful of the larger blind spots due to the higher vantage point. I prefer adjusting the seat upright beforehand and holding the steering wheel at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions, starting minor steering adjustments about five meters before the parking space. Keep the steering wheel movement within half a turn when entering, as angling the vehicle diagonally saves the most space. The key is to watch the intersection point between the lower right corner of the windshield and the right line of the parking space—this reference point is more accurate than relying solely on side mirrors. After parking, always tilt the side mirrors downward to check if the tires are aligned properly. Once, my tire grazed a curb and nearly blew out, so now I always leave extra space for tire movement during parking. For wider vehicles, choosing an end parking spot is safer.