3 Tips to Prevent Car Dings in Parking

Car dents, dings, and scratches are common in parking lots. Shopping carts can nick the exterior of the vehicle, and other motorists might swing open their doors into your automobile. While a dent repair shop can fix any blemishes your car sustains, here's what you can do to prevent parking lot damage in the first place.

The best solution is to park as far away from other cars as possible. In most cases, shoppers clamor for spots near the store's entrance. Avoid these areas and instead choose a parking spot at the end of the row or well away from the building. You may have to walk a little further to reach your destination, but it should prevent any unpleasant surprises—like a door ding or chipped paint—upon your return. 

Additionally, note the length of the doors on nearby vehicles. For instance, the doors of two-door cars are usually many inches longer than those of four-door vehicles. When parking next to a car with unusually long doors, be sure to leave additional room for them to open.

Many dings and dents occur on windy days. Two common hazards are shopping carts set in motion by gusts of wind and doors blown free from the grips of drivers emerging from their cars. Therefore, you should be especially mindful of where you park on blustery days.