Check the whole parking manoeuvre, not just the bay

A parking bay is only one part of the manoeuvre. Check the approach, turn and exit as well as the rectangle where the car will rest.

Measure safely without standing in active traffic or obstructing other users. Note posts, walls, ramps and changes in level. Compare the exact vehicle's dimensions and seek appropriate instruction or assessment if the manoeuvre is unfamiliar or access is tight.

Walk the route first

Observe where the car must change direction and where visibility is restricted. Include mirrors and the space needed for doors and loading. A floor plan may omit a low obstruction or a pillar that matters at the vehicle's height.

Do not rely entirely on a turning-circle figure or a parking-assistance feature. The owner's manual describes system limitations, and the driver remains responsible for checking the surroundings. Avoid an improvised fitting trial that could damage property or put someone in the vehicle's path.

Record the constraint precisely: a narrow entrance, a tight turn or limited side access. This helps determine whether another vehicle or arrangement would solve the actual problem. The useful outcome is a practical understanding of the whole movement, not a claim that a car fits because its published length is shorter than the painted bay.