Should You Reverse into the Parking Space from the Left or Right First?
2 Answers
When reversing into a parking space, you should first reverse into the right space, then the left space. Here are the techniques for reversing into a parking space: 1. Reversing from the starting point into the garage: After the car enters the garage, the driver should look back at the left rearview mirror. When the entire left boundary line of the garage appears, immediately straighten the steering wheel. Stop the car when the left door handle is level with the garage's bottom line as seen in the left rearview mirror. 2. Driving from the garage to the turnaround point: Shift the car into 1st gear and drive out of the garage. When the hood of the car approaches the road boundary line, turn the steering wheel to the extreme left position, then stop when the car is straight. 3. Reversing from the turnaround point into the garage: Shift the car into reverse gear. Keep the steering wheel in the extreme left position and reverse backward. The driver should carefully observe the left rearview mirror and adjust the direction to guide the rear of the car into the garage. After the car enters the garage, the driver should observe the right rearview mirror. When the entire right boundary line of the garage appears, immediately straighten the steering wheel. Then, shift focus to the left rearview mirror and stop the car when the left door handle is level with the garage's bottom line.
When I was learning to drive, the instructor emphasized backing into the right-side parking space first because the right-side view is generally clearer and has fewer blind spots. I remember the first time I tried backing into the left-side space on my own, I didn’t get the angle right and almost scraped the car next to me. Luckily, the rearview mirror was adjusted properly, and I managed to back in slowly without any issues. During practice, it’s best to find an open area to get familiar with steering wheel movements—left-side parking is slightly more challenging, so beginners are better off practicing right-side parking first. In the driving test, right-side parking is also prioritized, and the examiner focuses on standard procedures. Don’t overthink it; nerves can easily lead to mistakes. Regularly checking tire pressure and rearview mirror adjustments also helps a lot—safety should always come first.
