Where should the car be positioned at the beginning of parallel parking?

[AlexandraFitz]

When starting parallel parking, the vehicle should be driven to about two-thirds of the length of the adjacent vehicle's rear. Here is an introduction to the relevant content: 1. Test requirements: The requirement for parallel parking in the test is for the driver to park the vehicle into the right-side parking space without the wheels touching the lane boundary or the parking space boundary. 2. Subject 2 assessment content and requirements: The five assessment items are reversing into a garage, parallel parking, stopping and starting on a slope, turning at a right angle, and driving on a curve. Subject 2 requires 26 class hours, of which 2 are theoretical knowledge, so in practice, it is 24 class hours.

[SanMargaret]

When I first learned to drive, my instructor taught me to find the precise position before parallel parking. First, keep parallel to the front car with a lateral distance of about half a meter, so that the right rear door handle of the front car is visible in the rearview mirror—this is the most suitable position. When parking, it's best to align your right rearview mirror with the left rearview mirror of the front car, allowing the steering wheel to turn to its maximum extent when reversing. Be careful not to get too close and scratch the front car, or stay too far away, making the rear wheels unable to reach the curb. I suggest beginners roll down the window to observe the distance before parking, as rain or nighttime conditions can easily lead to misjudgment in the rearview mirror. The hardest part of parallel parking is finding this golden starting and stopping point. During practice, using cardboard boxes to simulate cars for a better feel is safer.

[OBrody]

After 10 years of driving, I've summarized a practical technique: Before parallel parking, always check the parking space length to ensure your vehicle can fully fit. Typically, position your car parallel to the target space's front vehicle, maintaining about 50cm clearance from the right-side car. From the driver's seat, the right-side vehicle's rear wheel should align with the lower-middle section of your right rearview mirror. When reversing, turn the steering wheel fully right, allowing the rear to smoothly slide into the center of the space. If no reference vehicle is present, keeping 40-60cm distance from the curb is ideal. Getting the positioning right makes the entire process surprisingly smooth.

[LeoRose]

The most frustrating part of practicing parallel parking during the driving test is the starting position. You must stop 30 to 50 centimeters away from the side line in front of the parking space, with the car body perfectly aligned. This position is actually easy to locate: when you see the rear wheel just pass the front corner of the parking space in the right-side mirror, you can stop. When parking normally, remember to stop your car about two meters in front of the target parking space, maintaining a horizontal distance of about two foot lengths from the vehicle in front. Many cars now come with a 360-degree camera system, and aligning the guide lines with the lower edge of the rear bumper of the front car is the most reliable method. Remember, the initial position is the key to successfully parking into the space.

[Pete]

Parking skills largely depend on the accuracy of the initial position, a trick well-known to experienced drivers. Drive your car parallel to the car in front, maintaining a distance where you can fully open your door without touching the other car. Then, observe the right rearview mirror and stop when your car's B-pillar aligns with the rear of the car in front. Be careful not to stop too far beyond the car in front, as this will require repeated adjustments and become troublesome. If parking in an empty roadside spot without a reference car, keeping the car body about one foot away from the curb is ideal. It's crucial to frequently turn your head to observe the surroundings before parking, especially to watch out for passing electric scooters to ensure safe operation.

[McMartin]

When positioning your vehicle initially, ensure three key points: first, maintain a lateral distance of about half a meter from the car in front on the right; second, do not obstruct the normal passage of vehicles behind; third, the parking direction must be absolutely parallel. I usually stop when the edge of the dashboard aligns with the bottom of the front car's license plate, as this provides the clearest view when reversing. In summer, pay special attention to whether there are hot exhaust ports on the ground before parking, and in winter, be careful to avoid blind spots caused by snow accumulation on the mirrors. Friends with automatic parking systems should not rely entirely on the system either—if the initial position deviation is too large, the system may fail. These lessons were learned after a few scratches.