How to Steer the Wheel When Reversing into a Parking Space?
2 Answers
The steps for steering the wheel when reversing into a parking space are: 1. If entering from the left, steer the wheel to the left in advance. If the left side is narrow, delay steering to the left; 2. If entering from the right, delay steering to the right. If the left side is narrow, steer to the right in advance; 3. Park the car next to the parking line and align the left rearview mirror with the left line of the parking space; 4. Turn the wheel fully to the right. When the car body forms a suitable angle with the parking space, stop the car; 5. Straighten the wheels and reverse slowly. Reversing into a parking space is a key assessment point in the driver's test, mainly evaluating the driver's ability to maneuver the car in a confined space.
Backing into a parking space takes practice. When I first got my license, I was all thumbs too. The key is learning to adjust the steering wheel by watching the rearview mirrors—steer toward the side where the rear is drifting. For example, if the parking space is on the right, first turn the steering wheel all the way to the right while reversing, then quickly straighten it to the left when the corner of the space appears in the left mirror. Once the car body is parallel to the parking lines, straighten the wheel immediately, ensuring the distances on both sides look even in the mirrors. If the car isn’t straight, don’t panic—just remember to slightly adjust the wheel toward the wider side. Beginners should roll down the window to check the tire position for better visibility; with practice, mirrors alone will suffice. Always start slow—it’s better to oversteer by half a turn than to understeer.
