Parking on the street isn’t the best option for your daily driver, but sometimes you don’t have any alternatives. If this is a necessity, how can you protect your car?
Choose Your Parking Spot Carefully
Generally, we’re going to tell you to avoid parking on the street, but if you don’t have any other options, be strategic about where you choose to park. Opt for places that aren’t close to corners to prevent people from losing control during a turn and striking your vehicle. Areas that are well lit and receive a lot of foot traffic can also discourage thieves from breaking into your car.
Keep the Car Covered
Parking on the street means your car is vulnerable to all sorts of debris kicked up by and thrown off of passing vehicles. You’re also at risk for damage from storms than dump hail on your ride, or pick up and throw sticks that can break windows and scratch paint. Invest in a high-quality car cover and use it whenever you’re not driving the vehicle.
Set up a Camera for Security
If you don’t park in your garage or carport, you need to keep security in mind. Dashcams are useful, but they don’t collect all the angles and might miss some important information if your vehicle gets hit while you’re not around. You might think of trail cameras as something that you only use for tracking animals, but you can easily set one up on your property or near your vehicle to monitor it when you aren’t behind the wheel.
Wash and Wax Regularly
Weather and car thieves aren’t the only things you have to look out for when you park on the street. Bird droppings and tree sap can be acidic and can do all sorts of damage if left on your car’s surface. If you have to park on the street, make sure you are washing and waxing your vehicle regularly to ensure you’re not letting these natural messes do damage to your clearcoat.
Lock the Doors
This might sound like common sense, but it’s easy to overlook. Lock your doors, even if you’re only going to be gone for five minutes. Thieves are less likely to try and break into your car if the doors are locked. They’re looking for an easy score, and locking your door denies them that. Don’t make it easy for them. It doesn’t take much time to engage your locks, and it can make a world of difference when it comes to protecting your vehicle when it’s parked on the street.
Protect Your Investment
Your vehicle is an investment. If parking on the street is your only option, there are a few things you can do to keep your investment safe. Be mindful of where you park, wash and wax it regularly, and set up a trail camera so you can keep an eye on it even when you’re not around. Do what you can to ensure your car’s safety when it’s parked out of sight.