What does it mean when the vehicle body touches the parking space boundary line while driving?
3 Answers
It means that during the parking maneuver, the wheels have crossed the boundary line, resulting in test failure and requiring a retake. Below is more information about parallel parking: 1. Introduction: Parallel parking is a component of the second subject in the driver's license test. It is an increasingly common scenario in urban areas where many streets have designated parking spaces along the sides, known as 'parallel parking spaces.' 2. Operation requirements: The driver must maneuver the vehicle into the right-side parking space without the wheels touching the lane boundary lines or the parking space boundary lines. 3. Test criteria: If the vehicle body crosses the line after stopping in the parking space, 100 points are deducted. If the wheels touch the lane boundary lines while driving, 10 points are deducted. Failure to park within the space results in a 100-point deduction. Not activating the left turn signal when starting deducts 10 points. Stopping midway deducts 100 points.
I've encountered this issue quite a few times. Basically, it means when you're reversing or driving into a parking space, the side of your car scrapes against the white lines of the parking spot or the curb. In simple terms, you didn't park straight and misjudged the position and distance. Often, it's because you turned the steering wheel too late or didn't get the right angle when checking the mirrors, causing the car body not to enter the space parallel. For new drivers, this is quite common—no need to panic—but be aware that frequent scraping can scratch the paint, and prolonged wheel contact with the lines can accelerate wear. I recommend stopping more often to check your surroundings while parking, not just focusing on moving forward. This helps develop good habits, ensuring safety and saving your paint.
Scraping the parking line with the car body is a direct sign of improper parking. I often see this when helping friends move their cars—it ultimately comes down to the driver's inaccurate perception of the vehicle's dimensions, especially with SUVs or larger vehicles that require more space when turning. Hitting the line indicates the turning radius was too tight, either because the steering wheel was turned too sharply (excessive wheel angle) or the entry angle was too straight without proper directional adjustment. A friendly reminder: frequently scraping the line doesn’t just damage tires; the undercarriage could also hit the curb. Here’s a practical adjustment—when reversing into a spot, if you feel close to the line, quickly counter-steer halfway to create more clearance at the rear. Safety first.
