Learning to drive into a box in reverse - parking instructions


July 23, 2014 764126

In this article we will look at what has changed in the exercise of entering a box in reverse since September 1, 2021 and how to perform it correctly in the traffic police exam.

Now this exercise is called “Moving and maneuvering in reverse, entering the box in reverse . Just like in the new parallel parking, you must not only reverse into the designated space (“box”), but also drive out of the exercise, and only then will it be completed.

There are also other changes, namely:

  • execution time is limited to two minutes;
  • must be performed by engaging reverse gear once;
  • instead of racks there are cones;
  • marking is required.

Some of the dimensions of the exercise have also changed, which makes it a little more difficult to perform. Now the exercise of driving into a box is closer to parking in reverse into a parking lot in the yard or at a store, which significantly increases its practical value.

The essence of the boxing exercise at the race track

It is necessary to study what changes are in effect from 2021. Entering a box in reverse is also called maneuvering and reversing.

The second change is that in the parking lot you not only need to enter correctly without catching anything, but also exit just as successfully. Only in this case will this exercise be considered completed.

Other changes that make up its essence include:

  • presence of mandatory markings,
  • This is done only when reverse gear is engaged once,
  • time limit - only 120 seconds are given,
  • instead of racks, cones are used,
  • The car is now parked closer to the parking lot, which complicates the task and increases the application value.

The main purpose of this exercise is to teach drivers how to drive into a parking space, garage, or between two cars. The bottom line is that often there may not be enough space for free entry, and therefore driving in reverse will be more effective than driving forward.

Let's celebrate! During the test, the person taking the exam shows the inspector the acquired skills without causing damage to his or her nearby car or garage walls.

The essence of the exercise necessarily includes observing the dimensions of the garage or race track. The main ones are considered to be:

  • length of the base vehicle – 4400mm, width – 1800mm:
  • box length – 5400mm,
  • its width is 2800 mm.

If the racetrack has a box of this size, it is possible to pass the exercise in the exam on a car with a length of 4100 mm.

Common errors

When practicing entry, a novice driver crosses the marking line, which in reality means damage to the vehicle. Another common inaccuracy is that the doors are located too close to one of the sides after the entrance. This is due to the fact that either the driver did not get there, or moved slightly when reversing. Also, the car should not stop while driving. The engine will stall for only two reasons:

  • existing malfunction;
  • The driver takes his foot off the clutch pedal due to nervousness.


When conducting training on a race track, it is easier to master parking, since the available limiters help develop your eye. At first, when actually entering the garage, you need to stop often and check the distance of the rear bumper to the wall of the garage structure. When the car is delivered, you can find a point as a guide and stop when you are on the same line with it.

How to drive into the garage correctly - stages of the exercise

It is not always the case that when a driver successfully passes an exam or even receives a long-awaited license, he or she can complete it in his or her own garage without any problems. It may take time to work through.

To do this correctly, you should:

  1. Drive the mirrored right side up to the garage wall as close as possible and turn the steering wheel to the left. At this time, the driver looks in the right mirror, because the distance between the right side of the car and the garage wall can be only 150mm.
  2. After this, the reverse dimensions are turned on, and smooth movement is carried out towards the garage. It is worth noting that in the case of comparing the back door with a garage entrance gate, you need to unscrew the steering wheel.
  3. Then the movement continues. If the car is in the correct position, the driver aligns the wheels and continues moving to the desired position.
  4. The final stage is to set the car to neutral gear speed and secure it with the handbrake.

Exercise garage in driving school

Graduates of automotive training schools spend many hours in a special area intended for training. They are called autodromes. Future drivers train on them how to enter a garage and perform other complex maneuvers. In general, at the site, future drivers learn the skill of driving a car.

While studying at a driving school, students receive theoretical knowledge. Practice subsequently driving on roads without accidents, taught with the help of a driving instructor. Day after day, over the course of long training, course participants acquire skills that allow them to successfully pass exams for traffic police officers and obtain the coveted rights.

Step-by-step instructions for entering the box

It is immediately important to take into account that it is somewhat more difficult to enter a garage than a box at a race track. This is due to the fact that there will be tools, boxes and other obstacles in the garage. The car owner must take this into account so as not to bump into it and damage the paintwork or tires.

So, step by step execution:

  • the inspector gives the command to drive from the starting line, and the driver carries it out,
  • then movement is carried out “in a straight line” parallel to line BE,
  • at this moment it is necessary to maintain a distance: it should be no more than 50cm from BE,
  • then, visually from the driver, the CD line will be located on the opposite wall. When this line becomes visible, you should stop,
  • Some drivers, when performing such exercises, greatly increase steering resources, but in most cases it is recommended to stop,
  • It is better to pass an existing landmark slightly than not to reach it. In addition, it is recommended to remember that if the visual “CD” line is aligned with the driver’s shoulder, then while driving, when turning the wheels, the car will press against it, which can be corrected by turning the wheels in a different direction. When comparing this line, for example, with the front wheels, which are turned all the way, the car will approach the opposite wall of the box, which makes the exercise more complicated: you won’t be able to engage reverse gear once,
  • Next, turn the steering wheel to the left. It is worth noting that with a car with power steering, this must be done as carefully as possible, without pressing the steering wheel all the way, otherwise the power steering pump will be broken,
  • then a stop is made without crossing the long limit line of cones (AF), the steering wheel is turned to the right, and the movement begins backwards. Movement is controlled by monitoring the right mirror,
  • After aligning the car parallel to the “CD”, stop it, align the wheels and continue driving in reverse. When approaching the control broken line and crossing it, immediately stop the vehicle and raise the handbrake in neutral gear,
  • Then the inspector demands to leave. It is important to remember here that maximum twisting of the steering wheel to the left is permissible only after comparing the goal line with the center of the front door windows, otherwise there is a risk of knocking off the cone or crossing the markings with the left wheel,
  • The exercise ends after crossing the stop line (“AB”) and stopping the vehicle.

Garage autodrome step by step according to the new rules 2021

It is important to stop the car correctly before the dotted line at the start of the exercise. The vehicle must be at a distance of half a meter (+/-20 cm) from the entry line into the box. This will make it easier to pass the exercise “Entering the garage” in reverse. The movement should be carried out parallel to the entry into the box. At the moment when the far boundary line of the garage is level with the middle of the front door window of the car, you should stop.

During training, drivers can practice the maneuver without stopping, but the exam is always associated with anxiety and stress. Therefore, it is better to choose a simple option for completing the task.

Now you need to turn the steering wheel to the left and move to the site limit. If the exam is taken on a car with power steering, you should not turn the steering wheel all the way - the pump may fail. Then you need to turn the steering wheel to the right, engage reverse gear and start driving.

You should control the rear movement using a mirror and, if necessary, adjust the driving direction. As soon as the side of the car is perpendicular to the garage wall, you need to stop and straighten the wheels. Then all that remains is to cross the entry line into the box and stop the vehicle in time.

The object of the exercise is to drive into an imaginary box in reverse at a right angle. The exercise is performed in a small area with an imaginary garage of limited dimensions: 1 m wide and 1 m long. A real box can be larger, but parking spaces may have smaller boundaries. In front of the imaginary box there is a platform 1 m wide and 3 meters long. The entrance is located clearly in the center at a right angle on the right side of this site.

Entering the garage from the front in such limited conditions is problematic. The main goal of the exercise is to drive backwards into the garage without hitting the walls or imaginary neighboring cars. In this case, you need to stand so that the driver can safely leave his seat and get out of the car.

You will not be required to get out of the car at the race track, but the employee taking the test will be sure to take into account the final position of the car when assessing. After entering, you will need to leave the garage in front and drive beyond the maneuvering line.

The exercise includes the following steps:

  1. Drive your car to the line where the exercise will begin and stop.
  2. Reverse the car into an imaginary box.
  3. Stop the car in the garage.
  4. After this, exit the box at an angle and leave the area.

For beginners, the exercise raises many questions, since it is difficult to reverse into a garage without hitting the wall lines and the rear. But during practical lessons, the instructor always shows at what point and how to turn the wheels correctly so that the car enters the room without hitting the walls. If you listen carefully to the instructor and control the movement of the car through the side mirrors, then mistakes can be avoided.

Step-by-step instructions will help every driver to correctly enter the garage. But there are some subtle nuances in the scheme that should not be forgotten. A very important point: you can only engage reverse once. If you stop the car further than the designated landmark (the far boundary line of the box is perpendicular to the middle of the front door glass), then the maneuver can still be performed. When moving backwards, you will have to turn the wheels in the right direction at the right moment and avoid hitting the limiting solid road.

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But if the driver continues the exercise without reaching the landmark, then, moving backwards, the vehicle will hit the “wall” of the box to the left or right of it (depending on which side of the area the movement began from). It will be possible to complete the exercise only by correcting the position of the car and engaging reverse again. You also need to remember the following:

  • the exercise begins at the examiner's signal;
  • after entering the box and stopping, it is also important to wait for his command;
  • You need to stop the car after crossing the start line of the exercise.

Given these nuances, the examinee can pass the exercise without penalties.

Errors in real conditions will be equal to the amount necessary to compensate for the damage and restore your own vehicle. During the exam, a mistake will result in penalty points. If there are 3 or more of them, the test is failed. The highest score (3) is awarded for the following violations:

  • exercise time exceeded 2 minutes;
  • the car crossed a solid marking line or a cone was hit;
  • I had to engage reverse twice;
  • the dotted line of entry into the box was not completely crossed;
  • the start line of the exercise was not completely crossed.

There are mistakes that are punishable by 1 penalty point: the car stalled after the examiner’s command to start the exercise or a solid marking line was hit by one wheel.

Basic mistakes and how to avoid them?

The main mistakes when driving into a garage in reverse include:

  1. Knocking down cones (pegs). Often this error occurs when the car is aligned too late, or, conversely, too early. The third pole gets knocked down during a fairly strong entry. Most often, all three cones are confused by the rear view mirrors. Those taking the exam should remember that only 2 pegs can be knocked down when performing this exercise; if three or more are caught, the grade “fail” will be given. But you should be more careful not when observing, so as not to knock the cone down with a mirror, but also so as not to cross the line with your wheels.
  2. Incomplete entry into the box. This error can be corrected by driving the required distance.

Penalty points

Entering the garage when passing the state exam at the traffic police must be completed without errors. Otherwise, you will be sent to retake. To perform the exercise correctly, it is necessary to minimize the loss of points. The inspector pays attention to the following points:

  1. The applicant did not complete the entire exercise within the allotted 120 seconds (3 points are deducted).
  2. The cone was knocked down or the marking line was crossed (minus 5 points).
  3. The first time the reverse gear was not engaged (minus 3 points).
  4. Failure to cross the control line with the front of the car (minus 3 points).
  5. At the end of the exercise the “START” line was not crossed (minus 3 points).
  6. During maneuvers, the internal combustion engine stalled (minus 1 point).
  7. The gearbox was not put into neutral when stopping with the engine running (minus 3 points).
  8. The parking brake was not applied after stopping (minus 3 points).

The exam is considered failed if the applicant scores less than three points. The assessment is carried out by a certified state inspector, who is allocated by the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. For gross mistakes, the student will be punished the most. Minor and medium violations still provide an opportunity for correction during the exam.


The essence of the special exercise is to hone the skill of reversing in limited space. Skillful maneuvering of a vehicle allows you to avoid accidents and injuries to cyclists and pedestrians. In practice, inspectors provide concessions for newcomers (for example, no time limits). Experts understand that haste will negatively affect the quality of the actions performed. Drive the vehicle smoothly and carefully.

The correct psychological attitude plays an important role when performing the exercise. Don't worry or dwell on failure. It's just an exam. You will still be given a second opportunity to drive. Improve your skills as much as possible while studying at a driving school.

Penalties for possible errors

For the following violations, the candidate receives penalty points:

PointsViolation
1Collision with one or two wheels on a continuous marking line
Engine stalling while the candidate is performing an exercise
3Knocking down cones and crossing continuous markings
Repeatedly shifting reverse gear
Exiting an exercise without crossing the “AB” line
Failure to complete the exercise within the allotted 2 minutes.
Incomplete crossing of the control marking line along the front clearance of the vehicle upon arrival

Important! If the candidate receives 3 penalty points, the exam fails.

Latest changes to the exercise

Starting from September 2021, the “Garage” exercise at the circuit will be taken taking into account a number of important nuances. If another name does not affect the essence of the maneuver, then a number of other features will have to be taken into account. In order for the task to be counted in the exam, you need to drive into and out of the box. The driver has only 2 minutes to implement the maneuver, and reverse gear is only allowed to be engaged once. If earlier the stands made it easier to assess the situation on the site, now they are replaced by cones. Markings are required.

Another important detail is the reduced size of the site. The exercise under current parameters is similar to conditions in real life, for example, parking near a residential building or in a crowded supermarket parking lot. Therefore, training will be useful in different circumstances.

The length and width of the exam car are 4.4 m and 1.8 m, respectively. The width of the area is 5.4 m, the same distance will have to be covered from the initial position of the car to the box. The width of the conventional garage is 2.8 m, the length is 5.4 m. The length of the vehicle that is allowed for the exam may differ from the specified size. The permissible deviation towards reduction is 30 cm.

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Nuances when passing the exercise

Often the inspector arrives later than the candidates, sometimes by 30-60 minutes. This time can be used rationally by agreeing with the instructor so that he allows you to try to perform several exercises on your own in order to practice.

Before starting the test, the person taking the exam should already know that the surface of the race track is often laid at an angle, which can significantly worsen the situation when passing the exercise, because the car can roll back even on a seemingly flat area.

Let's celebrate! Therefore, even during training, you should remember and evaluate the terrain of the racetrack, and in certain situations, press the brake a little earlier, in others, hold it longer.

What other nuances should be taken into account when performing the exercise “entering the box in reverse”:

  • if during training the dimensions of the garage were set a little smaller, then passing the exercise will be much easier,
  • it should be performed at minimum speed,
  • If possible, it is advisable to drive at idle speed, without using the gas pedal.

Nose forward

When choosing a free space in a supermarket parking lot, drivers are guided by the speed of their reaction. The faster you get into your pocket, the less time other road users have to stand. However, driving with the nose is often sloppy due to the same speed. As a result, the car parks crookedly in the parking lot and sometimes gets its wheels on the median strips, which annoys other drivers.

If the pockets are located next to a solid fence or are located in an underground parking lot along the wall, then “poking” your nose prevents access to the engine compartment. When you need to add coolant, check the oil, or change a burnt-out light bulb in the headlights, you will have to roll back and block the passage with your stern.

But the most significant disadvantage of packing with your nose is the difficulty of traveling back. If you have to roll out onto the roadway, you need to look in the mirrors often. And after an overnight stay they often freeze, just like the rear window. Therefore, it is difficult to see anything from behind and there is a high risk of ramming an object or hitting pedestrians.

In addition, in yards, drivers park their cars in close proximity to cars parked perpendicularly. To get out of such blocked places, you need to turn the body to the side. How to do this if the vehicle is parked with its steering wheels deep in the parking space? When moving astern forward, it is impossible to turn sharply, such is the physics of driving the car. Therefore, a supported car often remains in place, while its owner goes on business using public transport.


What to do if your car is hit by a door in a parking lot? More details

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