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Tips for parking in tight spots

ApplePersonFreak

ApplePersonFreak

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 23, 2016
1,062
520
Hi everyone,

This might sound silly, but if you have any tips for parking in tight spots, I'd appreciate it. A doctor's office I'm going to next week has really small parking and has a lot of cars, so I can't park far somewhere alone like I do at other places. My car has gotten dents and such from parking next to cars in tight spots and I guess their car door scrapes my car from being close. Thanks for any tips, and again, I know this sounds like a silly question, but driving has gotten scarier these days with people being so careless.
 
Most cars these days have electronic parking systems with cameras and virtual guidelines to help in parking.
 
1) Don't buy a hideously huge vehicle. (May not apply to you.)

2) Don't sweat the small stuff. A little ding isn't the end of the world. You will survive.

3) If you absolutely can't abide by the fact that your car will not stay in mint condition outside of a showroom, walk, take a bus, train, taxi, ask a friend for a ride, etc. Maybe consider selling that car because you're in for some real disappointment once you take it out on the road.
 
OLDCODGER said:
Determine the outermost line of your car and install thick stick-on rubber bumper strips along it. This will prevent dents from other car doors etc.
Click to expand...

Good to know there's such a thing, I'm assuming places like auto parts sells them?
 
ApplePersonFreak said:
Hi everyone,

This might sound silly, but if you have any tips for parking in tight spots, I'd appreciate it. A doctor's office I'm going to next week has really small parking and has a lot of cars, so I can't park far somewhere alone like I do at other places. My car has gotten dents and such from parking next to cars in tight spots and I guess their car door scrapes my car from being close. Thanks for any tips, and again, I know this sounds like a silly question, but driving has gotten scarier these days with people being so careless.
Click to expand...
Are you parallel parking or parking in bays?

If bays try to get in the end one where only one car door opens onto yours.
If you have to be between two cars, look for nicer looking cars where people (hopefully) give a crap.
Lastly try to be straight and central. If you have to be closer to one side rather than the other, leave more space on the drivers side (they might not have a passenger).

And as others have said your car will get marks. You just have to live with it.
 
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If possible park in a larger parking lot and walk?

Maybe in your spare time do some practice in an empty lot?

Sometimes backing into spaces is easier than pulling in forward. Generally parking spaces line up row to row, so you can use parking spaces on the other side as a guide... if you know what I mean.
 
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Apple fanboy said:
If you have to be closer to one side rather than the other, leave more space on the drivers side (they might not have a passenger).
Click to expand...

Go a step further and park so close to an another car's passenger side that they can't possibly use the passenger door. This will leave plenty of space on the opposite side for the opposite car's driver's door to open. Note that this will mean that you have to exit your car via the passenger door - unless you backed into the spot.
 
curmudgeonette said:
Go a step further and park so close to an another car's passenger side that they can't possibly use the passenger door. This will leave plenty of space on the opposite side for the opposite car's driver's door to open. Note that this will mean that you have to exit your car via the passenger door - unless you backed into the spot.
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I always back in.
But I wouldn't do that. Sometimes people will damage your car on purpose if they think you parked like a douche bag.
 
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If there are no spots away from other cars, park next to ones that are more expensive than yours and/or in very good condition. Their drivers and passengers are more likely to take care opening doors to protect their vehicle. But, ultimately, there's no way you can absolutely protect against dings and scrapes, so it's best to just not worry about them.
 
Apple fanboy said:
I always back in.
But I wouldn't do that. Sometimes people will damage your car on purpose if they think you parked like a douche bag.
Click to expand...
As do I. It's easier to get out. I do it at home too.

I developed that habit over nine years working for a place that had a parking lot with narrow lanes (not the parking spaces themselves).

If you park straight most people consider it an accomplishment and ignore your car. It's only when it's done crooked that the hate starts.
 
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Buy a delorean. The gullwing doors require less horizontal space to open than traditional car doors.
 
eyoungren said:
As do I. It's easier to get out. I do it at home too.

I developed that habit over nine years working for a place that had a parking lot with narrow lanes (not the parking spaces themselves).

If you park straight most people consider it an accomplishment and ignore your car. It's only when it's done crooked that the hate starts.
Click to expand...

Yeah, reversing has been my thing now too, except do you do it when there's cars going in and out of the parking lot often? When I do, I normally find a row with a lot of empty spots and just back in there.
 
ApplePersonFreak said:
Yeah, reversing has been my thing now too, except do you do it when there's cars going in and out of the parking lot often? When I do, I normally find a row with a lot of empty spots and just back in there.
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What I will do is pull forward from the spot I want to back in to and to one side and wait for anyone that's behind me to pass. Then, when it's clear I will back in. If the parking lot is extremely busy I either back in quickly or decide it's not worth it at the time and then just pull in forward.

But generally I just move out of the way and bide my time.

At home, I always back in. Even if that means pulling to the wrong side of the road to wait for someone behind me to pass me.

I prefer backing in from the right of a space simply because that's the side the steering wheel is on (I'm in the US).

If you can do it quickly and accurately when lots are busy though it's a nice feeling. That's what I strive for anyway.
 
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eyoungren said:
What I will do is pull forward from the spot I want to back in to and to one side and wait for anyone that's behind me to pass. Then, when it's clear I will back in. If the parking lot is extremely busy I either back in quickly or decide it's not worth it at the time and then just pull in forward.

But generally I just move out of the way and bide my time.

At home, I always back in. Even if that means pulling to the wrong side of the road to wait for someone behind me to pass me.

I prefer backing in from the right of a space simply because that's the side the steering wheel is on (I'm in the US).

If you can do it quickly and accurately when lots are busy though it's a nice feeling. That's what I strive for anyway.
Click to expand...

Ah good tip. Thanks! I'm in the US as well. At this point, I wish when I bought my car back in 2011, they had cars that came with the backup cameras standard as they do now because I'm sure those help a lot when wanting to back in to a parking lot, etc.
 
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