How to Park Head-First into a Parking Space?
2 Answers
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.
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.
