When you put a good deal of effort into maintaining your car and keeping its exterior in flawless condition, there is nothing more frustrating than parking it somewhere and coming back to find it has been tarnished with dents and dings. Unfortunately, any time you take your vehicle out, it’s at risk of being damaged. However, there are several ways to reduce your chances of needing professional dent removal. Here are a few defensive parking tips to help avoid unwanted blemishes. 

How to Protect Your Car When Parking 

1. Park Away From Other Vehicles 

Parking lots are notorious for producing door dings. As such, it’s best to find an isolated space far away from other vehicles whenever possible. This will lower the odds of your car getting bumped with another person’s doors or runaway shopping carts. Although it means a farther walk to the entrance of your destination, it will help keep your vehicle out of harm’s way.

2. Look for Street Parking 

One of the most effective steps you can take to prevent the need for dent removal is to parallel park on the street instead of inside a parking lot. Doing this will eliminate the worry of someone hitting you with their car door. While there is still the potential to receive bumper damage, there is far less likelihood of this occurring. 

3. Open Car Doors Slowly 

Once you’re parked, be sure to open your car door slowly and carefully to avoid inflicting damage yourself. Even if you aren’t parked next to another vehicle, there may be a pole or wall nearby. You should also speak with your kids about being aware of their surroundings and entering and exiting the car cautiously when in parking lots. 

4. Use Covered Parking 

Hail damage is a common reason people seek dent removal services. Hail can leave sizable indentations on a car when it hits hard enough. If a storm is in the forecast and you must go out, try to park in a covered garage to keep your vehicle from being exposed to the elements.

Even when planning ahead and taking extra precautions while parking this Valentine’s Day, dents and dings can still happen. If you notice new blemishes on your car’s exterior, the experts at Autoworks Collision Center are available to provide high-quality dent removal services. For nearly three decades, residents in Rockford, MN. and its surrounding areas have entrusted the locally owned and operated auto repair shop to erase any sign of unsightly body damages. Their trained and certified technicians have the skills to restore your vehicle back to its original condition in no time. Call (763) 477-6653 to request an estimate, or visit their website for more information on how they can help protect your investment.