Automatic parking is a feature that lets the car find a space and park itself by reading the surroundings with its onboard sensors, cameras, and—on some models—LiDAR. It plots an optimal path and takes care of steering, acceleration, and braking to slip into the spot with minimal input from you.
It’s a very convenient tool, but you should still treat it as driver assistance, not a set-and-forget system. If you’re already comfortable parking, you might not reach for it every day; that said, it’s great for lining up precisely in narrow bays where hitting the painted lines matters.
How to Use Mercedes-Benz Active Parking Assist
1) Turn the system on
On Mercedes-Benz models, press the button with the camera and parking icon on the center fascia/console.
This isn’t just for auto-park—it also brings up the vehicle’s camera views.
It’s the one that shows a camera with a “P”/parking symbol. You’ll use the same control to toggle the camera functions.
2) Let the car search for a space
With auto-park active, creep past potential spaces and the car will scan for them relative to your vehicle’s position. It’s designed to recognize clearly painted parking lines.
- It doesn’t reliably detect spots with brick-colored pavers, areas with no lines, faded or worn-off lines, or spaces already occupied by another car. Keep that in mind.
- When a valid space is found, an indicator appears on the display. The first time you try it, you may wonder “Exactly which space is it seeing?” After a couple of uses, you’ll get a feel for the reference point and where the system is actually looking.
3) Choose your target space
If the system detects multiple options, select your preferred spot on the screen.
Once selected, the vehicle locks onto that space and sets it as the target.
4) Pick the parking direction
Choose whether you want to back into the space (reverse/back-in) or pull in head-first (forward/head-in).
- Back-in: The car will guide itself in while reversing.
- Head-in: The vehicle may first reposition itself in the opposite direction before pulling forward into the space.
5) Shift to Reverse to start the maneuver
Follow the on-screen prompt and shift the selector to R (Reverse) to kick off auto-park.
From here, the system takes over the steering, and will alternate between small forward and reverse moves as needed to center the car and square it up inside the lines.
The wheel turns by itself while the car inches forward and back, and the display provides guidance during each phase of the maneuver.
6) Stay ready on the brake and supervise
Even though it’s “automatic,” you should keep your foot hovering over the brake and watch your surroundings.
- While the system is setting the angle, it moves slowly—but during straight backing segments it can feel quicker.
- As the car settles into the space and the alignment looks good, tap the brake to stop and finalize the position.
- For safety’s sake, monitor the process the whole time. If anything looks off—pedestrians, carts, tight pillars—you can interrupt at any moment by pressing the brake, taking the wheel, or exiting the auto-park screen.
That’s how to use Mercedes-Benz’s Active Parking Assist. If you find it hard to park perfectly between tight lines, this feature can be a real stress saver.
If you’re already a confident parker or your garage is chaotic and crowded, you might use it less often—but when you do, it’s great for nailing that clean, centered finish.