Should the front wheels cross the stop line during parallel parking?
3 Answers
During parallel parking, the front wheels must not cross the stop line. According to the regulations of Subject 2 driving test, crossing the line with the vehicle body will result in a deduction of 100 points, leading to test failure. The Subject 2 test for automatic transmission vehicles includes four items: reverse parking, parallel parking, curve driving, and straight-line driving. Manual transmission vehicles have an additional item: hill start. Subject 2 is also known as the small road test. If you fail, you can retake it immediately. If you fail again, you can reschedule the test after 10 days. Deduction items for reverse parking: Exceeding 210 seconds for the task (major deduction), not following the designated route sequence (100-point deduction), failing to drive both front wheels over the control line before reversing (100-point deduction), stopping for more than 2 seconds (5 points per occurrence), failing to park properly (100-point deduction), and vehicle body crossing the line (100-point deduction). Subject 2 techniques: Right-angle turn: When driving straight, turn the steering wheel fully once the front hood covers the yellow line. Hill start and stop: Align the right side of the double-digit number on the hood or its centerline with the right edge line, keeping the tire track within 30 cm of the right edge. Use the wiper joint to align with the test pole and brake when aligned. Curve driving: After entering the curve, watch the left or right front corner of the car to follow the inner tangent of the curve, smoothly transitioning through blind spots for left or right turns, then follow the inner arc. Parallel parking: Brake when the camera bracket in front of the garage aligns with the lock button on the front door, then fully turn the steering wheel right and shift to reverse. Reverse parking: Ensure to turn the steering wheel fully left before exiting the parking space, then immediately turn it fully after passing the sensor line.
As someone who just got my driver's license, my instructor repeatedly emphasized during parallel parking practice that the front wheels must never cross the stop line, or it would result in immediate disqualification during the test. The stop line marks the front boundary of the parking space—crossing it means failing to park within the designated area, so the wheels must stay strictly just behind the line. During practice, I had to reverse slowly and adjust multiple times, using reference points like aligning the side mirrors with the line. Crossing the line not only means failing the test but also increases the risk of scraping other vehicles, especially in poor lighting at night. Now when parking, I always estimate the distance in advance, control the speed while reversing, and ensure the front wheels gently touch but never cross the line. Developing this habit has made my parking more stable, and I no longer worry about traffic violation fines.
I've been driving for over a decade, and parallel parking has become second nature to me. Regarding whether the front wheels cross the stop line, my advice is to avoid it whenever possible, as crossing the line could result in a traffic ticket from the police or upset pedestrians. However, in practice, occasionally having half the wheel over isn't a big deal—as long as the parking space is large enough and doesn't obstruct traffic, you can simply readjust your position. I use the steering wheel in coordination with the car's turning to align the front wheels with the line before stopping. When parking, I prioritize convenience, such as finding an empty spot to practice parking and using the reverse radar to assist with positioning. This technique is straightforward and easy to learn, making it quick for new drivers to pick up.
