What is the appropriate distance to leave on both sides when reversing into a parking space?
2 Answers
It is best to maintain a distance of 20cm between the side lines and the car body when reversing into a parking space. Below are the detailed explanations: Introduction: The optimal distance between the parking space corner and the car body is 20cm when reversing into a parking space. However, there is an error when observing the distance between the car body and the parking space corner through the rearview mirror. Estimating the distance between the rear wheel contact point and the parking space corner via the rearview mirror may differ from the actual distance, so regular practice is needed to master this error. Scoring for reversing into a parking space in Subject 2: Failing to follow the specified route or sequence results in disqualification; the car body crossing the line results in disqualification; failing to properly reverse into the parking space results in disqualification; stopping midway results in disqualification.
Having driven for many years, I find it most appropriate to leave 40 to 50 centimeters on both sides when reversing into a parking space. This is because standard parking spaces are about 2.5 meters wide, and leaving this amount of space allows you room to adjust the steering wheel and avoid hitting adjacent vehicles. During my early days as a beginner practicing in parking lots, I discovered that leaving 50 centimeters is the safest approach, combined with checking the side mirrors to ensure the car body is parallel to the lines to prevent scratches. For larger vehicles like SUVs, you should leave even more space—starting from 50 centimeters. In narrow or small garages, it's best to stop first, assess the position, and then proceed. Urban shopping mall underground parking lots often have blind spots, and visibility can be poor during rain or at night, so leaving more than 50 centimeters is safer and also makes it easier to open doors and retrieve luggage. With more practice, you'll master it—don’t rush into the spot; patience and adjustments are key. In short, this distance balances practicality and safety.
