3 Tips To Protect Your Car From Damage In Parking Lots

If you're like many people, you might find yourself parking in various parking lots several times a week, if not multiple times a day. Unfortunately, your car can be prone to body damage in parking lots, but there are steps that you can take to help protect it. These are a few tips that you can try if you'd like to prevent this damage.

1. Don't Park Too Close

It can be tempting to try to squeeze your car into a tight spot when you're in a hurry, when there is a lack of parking spaces or when the weather is bad and you want to park near the front door. However, it's best to avoid parking your car in any spots that are too tight, such as if another driver has parked too close to (or over) the line. Otherwise, when the person in the car beside you tries to get into his or her car, there's a chance that you could risk a door ding. If necessary, consider parking toward the back of the parking lot, where spots might not be as desirable. As an added bonus, this can help you add a few extra steps to your day as well!

2. Choose End Spots

One good way to protect your car from scratches and door dings is to choose end spots. Then, instead of having to worry about people on both sides of your car accidentally dinging your door, you only have to worry about one side.

3. Stay Away from Cart Corrals

Many parking lots have "cart corrals" that are used so that shoppers can return their shopping carts when they are finished with them. Even though it might seem more convenient to park near the corral, since you won't have to worry about walking too far to return your own cart, it can put your car at risk. This is because if someone pushes their cart toward the cart corral and "misses," the cart could hit your car. Additionally, these areas generally have more foot traffic than other areas in the parking lot, which can increase the chances of someone bumping up against your car or otherwise damaging the exterior.

Even though accidents can and do still happen, it's still smart to do what you can to protect your car from auto body damage when parking it in a parking lot. Luckily, following these tips can help you do just that.