Will points be deducted if the car body is tilted during reverse parking?
4 Answers
Points will not be deducted if the car body is tilted during reverse parking, as long as the car body does not press or exceed the garage boundary lines. If the car body is tilted but the closer side is not less than 10 centimeters, it will pass. If it is less than 10 centimeters, there is a high chance it will be scanned as crossing the line, making it very unlikely to pass. During reverse parking, when the rear wheels enter the garage, if one side of the car is wider while reversing, steer slightly in that direction to make adjustments. The best time for fine adjustments is between when the car body enters the garage and when it comes to a complete stop inside. Seizing this opportunity can partially solve the issue of the car body being tilted inside the garage. When the front line of the garage aligns with the front edge of the hood, the rear wheels should be parallel to the exit line. At this point, turn the steering wheel fully to the left. Once the car is parallel to the garage, straighten the steering wheel and drive forward to the left garage sensor line, which should be the same as the starting position for reverse parking on the right side. Precautions for reverse parking: First, maintain a steady speed and control the clutch well, ensuring the car speed is stable without sudden acceleration or deceleration. Second, accurately identify the reference points, as there are many points to remember during reverse parking. Third, turn the steering wheel quickly when the car reaches the corresponding point. Finally, make fine adjustments when the car is almost fully parked to ensure the car body is straight. Also, adjust the seat and mirrors properly.
During the reverse parking test, whether a tilted car body results in point deductions depends on the chain reaction caused by the degree of tilt. When I was taking my driving test, the instructor repeatedly emphasized that minor tilting alone doesn't directly lead to point deductions. However, if the rear of the car brushes against the boundary line or the tires cross the line, it's an immediate 100-point deduction and a fail. Additionally, if the entire car body isn't completely inside the parking space after stopping, points will definitely be deducted. Excessive tilt may lead the examiner to judge it as not following the prescribed route. The most dangerous aspect is that tilting makes it hard to see the corner of the parking space in the mirrors, doubling the chance of crossing the line. It's recommended to leave half a turn of the steering wheel for flexible minor adjustments—if the rear tilts to one side, steer 15 degrees in the opposite direction. I've seen many students fail because their tilted car body crossed the line. It's better to reverse a couple more times to get the angle right.
A couple of days ago, I accompanied my cousin to his driving test. He didn't fail even though his car was tilted at a 30-degree angle during the reverse parking. However, the examiner said it was just luck. There are two strict rules in the test: First, no part of the car is allowed to cross the parking space lines, as tilting can easily cause the rear or side mirrors to touch the lines. Second, the car must be parked precisely in the center of the space, with a maximum deviation of 30 cm both horizontally and vertically. A tilted car body might result in a 10-point deduction for wheels not being straightened or trigger a system timeout. During the actual test, a slightly crooked front is acceptable, but the rear must maintain a safe distance. In my cousin's case, the left wheel was 20 cm from the edge, and the examiner warned that just 5 cm more would have triggered the radar sensor. It's crucial to record practice sessions with a phone to review the angles.
Scenarios for deducting points due to slanted car body during reverse parking. During the test, if the tires do not cross the line and the car is fully parked, a slight angle deviation may not result in point deduction. However, if the rear of the car crosses the line, 100 points will be deducted, and if the front crosses the line, 100 points will also be deducted. In daily driving, a slanted car body is not a big issue, but the test requires the wheels to be straightened and the deviation between the car body and the parking line to be less than 15 degrees. The test system scans points at the front and rear wheels and the bumper, so it is recommended to develop the habit of checking parallelism using the left and right rearview mirrors. When reversing, if the bottom line of the rearview mirror just overlaps with the parking line, it indicates the correct angle. I have seen people use the raised points on the windshield wipers to align with the parking corner, but this method fails completely on rainy days.
