Vehicle care
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Park next to expensive-looking cars, as owners are often more careful with their vehicles and less likely to swing doors into yours.
Owners of nicer cars are perceived to care more about avoiding damage to their own vehicles.
- This assumption is not always true; some owners do not care for their cars.
- Someone else might take the spot next to the expensive car while you are away.
7 people, independently
Keep your vehicle free of visible valuables to lower the chance of it being targeted.
Criminals often look for easy targets, and even items that seem worthless can trigger a break-in.
3 people, independently
Leave extra space between your car and a van with a ramp.
To ensure the ramp can deploy without obstruction.
one person who lived it
Be aware that thieves may smash windows to flip back seats and check trunks, even if nothing is visible in the cabin.
Thieves smash windows to access the trunk via the back seat and move on if there is nothing there.
one person who lived it
Assume other drivers are acting out of stress or having a bad day.
Many people act poorly because they are stressed or trying to feel better.
one person who lived it
Roll down all your windows while circling for a parking spot to signal openness and encourage others to offer you their space.
It makes you appear more personable, prompting people to verbally call out and offer their spots.
one person who lived it
Back your motorcycle into a parking space so you can see traffic when leaving, and angle the front wheel outward to prevent being knocked over by passing cars.
Pulling in head-first often leads to bikes being knocked over by other vehicles.
one person who lived it
Check the city's transportation website for parking violations using your license plate to locate a stolen vehicle.
A ticket popped up a day after it was stolen, providing the exact location.
one person who lived it
Do not use multi-colored wax at self-service bays as it fades plastics.
It fades plastics.
one person who lived it
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Park with empty spaces on both sides to help with easier exit.
It accommodates those who need more space or find it easier to maneuver out.
one person who lived it
Update the vehicle make, model, and color with the sticker issuer when transferring a parking sticker to avoid being ticketed as stolen.
Failure to update may result in tickets for theft.
one person who lived it
Place a visible sign on the windshield stating the car is unlocked, contains nothing to steal, and asking people not to break the window.
It may spread awareness and encourage people to look out for each other's stuff.
one person who lived it
- One approach that helped: Leave the car unlocked with an anti-theft steering wheel bar installed to allow rummaging without causing damage.1
Install a dashcam that automatically uploads video footage to the cloud to prevent theft of the device itself.
Thieves might steal the camera if it does not auto-upload.
one person who lived it
Remove all items from your car before handing over keys during repossession, as retrieving 'personals' costs money while work tools and ID are free.
Anything other than work tools and ID is classified as 'Personals' which incurs a fee.
one person who lived it
Respect others waiting for parking spots, as they may have mobility issues or children requiring closer parking.
Closer spots are safer for those with little kids or easier for those with mobility issues.
one person who lived it
Make it a habit to back into your driveway instead of pulling in.
Once it becomes a habit, it becomes easy.
one person who lived it
Parking near CCTV cameras may offer safety benefits in some regions, but do not rely on it exclusively.
In some places, this deters theft; however, cameras may be overrated, inaccessible to police, or non-functional.
- CCTV effectiveness varies by location; in some areas, police may not have access to footage.
- Cameras may not be recording or working.
one person who lived it
Turn down music volume in the car to ensure you can hear pedestrians shouting or children running.
one person who lived it
Park facing into the wind to prevent wind from blowing your car doors open into adjacent vehicles.
Wind can catch even considerate drivers off guard.
one person who lived it
Drive for 5-10 miles after disconnecting the battery to allow the ECU to relearn engine and transmission behaviors.
Disconnecting the battery causes the ECU to forget learned combinations.
one person who lived it
Consider walking from a distant lot if it saves time compared to searching and provides exercise.
The time spent walking may be less than the time spent aimlessly driving, and it contributes to daily steps.
one person who lived it
Choose a parking spot away from other vehicles to sidestep door dings and disputes.
3 people, independently
Use fake parking tickets with humorous messages to discourage poor parking habits.
Drivers improved their parking after receiving these gifts.
one person who lived it
Mount parking passes on clear overhead projector plastic sheets to easily swap them between vehicles.
Swapping becomes easy.
one person who lived it
Maintain situational awareness while driving, treating the vehicle as a lethal weapon.
one person who lived it