Will Points Be Deducted for an Unaligned Car Body During Reverse Parking?
3 Answers
No points will be deducted. As long as the car body does not cross the lines during reverse parking, no points will be deducted. Whether the car body is straight or tilted does not affect the test results. Scoring criteria for reverse parking: Failure to follow the prescribed route sequence, 100 points deducted; car body crossing the line, 100 points deducted; failure to complete the reverse parking, 100 points deducted; before reversing, if both front wheels do not pass the control line, 100 points deducted; exceeding the 210-second time limit for the task, 100 points deducted; pausing for more than 2 seconds, 5 points deducted each time. Reverse parking tips: After getting in the car, first adjust the seat's position and the backrest to a comfortable angle to ensure free movement of the steering wheel and a clear view of the car's hood. Adjust the left and right rearview mirrors so that the car body appears in about one-third of the mirror, with the rear door handles visible at the top edge of the mirror.
As a driving instructor who has trained thousands of students, I can definitively say that having an unaligned car body during reverse parking will result in point deductions, but it's not as severe as one might think. In our Category 2 driving test, having the car body cross the line results in an immediate 100-point deduction, but an unaligned car body is different. As long as the left and right spacing doesn't exceed 30 centimeters, it typically only deducts 10 points. The most crucial thing during the test is not to cross the line! Remember these three points: if you turn the steering wheel too late, adjust quickly; turning too early is actually easier to correct; check the position of the parking space corner in the rearview mirror—if the two sides are asymmetrical, add half a turn; finally, when straightening, focus on the distance between the rear door handle and the parking space line. During practice, always develop the habit of checking the rearview mirror after parking—many people only realize the car is crooked after coming to a complete stop.
I just passed Subject 2 last month, so I totally understand this dilemma. During the test, being slightly off does incur penalties, but don't panic—as long as you don't touch the lines, there's hope! The test site instructor told me the key lies in minor adjustments after entering the bay: if the rear is leaning left, steer slightly right; if leaning right, steer slightly left—just a small turn of the wheel is enough. During my test, my car was tilted about 15 degrees, and the examiner deducted 10 points. My advice is to check both side mirrors more often before stopping to compare the width—the yellow lines on the ground are great references in the mirrors. Usually, take photos of your reversing trajectory with your phone; angle deviations become super clear that way.
