A parking assistance system executes a process to measure the parking space by a sensor prior to carrying out an automated parking maneuver and to detect the parking space type from a plurality of detectable parking space types using specific criteria on the basis of the measurement of the parking space. The plurality of parking space types includes a longitudinal parking space type, in which a vehicle can park longitudinally, a transverse parking space type, in which a vehicle can park transversely, and a universal parking space type in which the vehicle can park both longitudinally as well as transversely. In the event that the parking space has been detected as a universal parking space type, the parking assistance system provides the driver with the choice to select a parking direction, namely whether the parking assistance system is to park longitudinally or transversely into the parking space. The parking assistance system parks the vehicle into the parking space longitudinally or transversely according to the selection of the driver, wherein the parking trajectory depends on the selection of the driver.