Sap on Roof of Car

5 Spots Never To Park Your Car

Sap on Roof of Car

Easily Avoid Dings, Dents, and Scrapes

If you live and drive in a city then you know as well as anyone how frustrating parking your car can be. You could be at work all day only to come back to a cracked side mirror from some bicyclist, or even worse a nice scrape on your back bumper from the dude who can’t parallel park. We all know the feeling. You could be parked at the grocery store, out shopping, or even right in front of your house, but the fact is these things happen. Here are 5 things to keep in mind when parking your car to avoid dings, nicks, and other harmful hazards…

The first place to religiously avoid is construction zones. If a building or road is under construction, chances are cement and overspray will be present. Overspray and cement are in no way friends with your car, and trust me they can’t just be “polished away” either. Cement will bond to the surface and make cleaning your car very dangerous, so avoiding these areas at all costs will save you time and money.

Next, always be aware of the condition of cars in the area where you want to park. If you’re worried about your car getting dinged, take a peek at the cars around you. Do they have a lot of bumper dents, paint scrapes, or other problems? If they do it’s a sign to keep driving. A couple blocks of walking could save your car’s paint and it’s not too bad for your figure either.

Another problematic spot to park your car is near any mass transit hub, track, or station. For the Chicagoans out there, you should know not to park beneath the ‘L’ unless you want some hot tar highlights adhered to your car’s finish. Any public transit track is generally made out of metal, and because metal rusts, they consistently seep slimy liquid that can damage your paint beyond repair.

Whenever parking, it’s also good to check for and avoid contractor trucks. These guys may do great work on your roof or plumbing, but take a look at their (typically white) trucks… they’re usually not the healthiest looking cars in the world. Generally speaking of course, they don’t seem to be too conscientious of “civilian” vehicles. I’ve personally witnessed (and reported) a hit-and-run at Home Depot that couldn’t have been a cheap fix.

Lastly, even though it’s not the easiest option, avoid the congested spots in large parking lots. Sometimes the closest parking isn’t always the safest parking. Malls are the worst, and you’ll always notice scraped bumpers from poor drivers or people who just don’t give a damn. If you care about your car, give yourself some peace of mind and park a few rows back; away from the competitive parking spots. In some ways, parking depends on how good of an eye you have. It’s about being proactive and keeping your eyes open for warning signs telling you that maybe this isn’t the best place to park. Now that you know some of the highly problematic signs, you can better park your car to keep it safe and sound. Trust me and anyone else who has lived in a major city or suburb, it’s worth the walk to save your car from dings, dents, overspray, debris, and more hazards that will cost you quite a bit of time and money.  

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