Half of drivers’ parked cars damaged in past year“We both tried to get into the same space” and other woes from AA’s car insurance claims team. As Christmas shopping trips crank up, so too do reports of car park confrontations, dented Christmas pride and crunched panels.
According to AA Insurance, car parking leads to more claims than any other single source as woeful stories of parking scraps and scrapes are relayed to claims staff.
A new AA-Populus study* shows that over the past year, almost half (47%) of nearly 30,000 motorists who responded, have seen damage inflicted on their parked cars over the past 12 months. Most (42%) said that their car had suffered a dent or scratch caused by someone or something else and judging from insurance claims they include careless parking, exuberant opening of doors, parking spaces that are ‘too small’ or shopping trollies let loose in wind or on sloping surfaces.
This comes at a time when Milton Keynes city council announced that it is going to increase its number of car parking spaces – by making them smaller.**
Yet only one in 20 (5%) admit that they have suffered damage that they caused themselves.
Just 3% say that their car was deliberately vandalised while it was parked. And, while the numbers are small (less than 1% of the total), of those reporting that their car had been broken in to and items stolen while parked, this was more likely to happened around Christmas time.
In a previous study***, AA found that more than one in ten drivers (11%) admitted that if they accidentally hit and damaged another parked car, they would drive away or even leave a note with false details.
Mike Lloyd, director of AA Insurance, comments: “Patience is sorely tested in busy car parks at the best of times but in the run-up to Christmas when parking spaces are even more scarce, tempers can be frayed and parking mishaps are more likely than at any other time of year.
“AA insurance statistics show car park catastrophes peak in December and January.
“And, although the numbers are small, there is a clear increase in the risk of cars being broken in to over Christmas. It’s hard to think of more miserable act than stealing just-bought Christmas gifts, making shoppers go through the whole trying and costly shopping experience for a second time, if they can afford to.”
He adds that thefts of property from cars are most likely to be covered by home insurance if it includes property outside the home. If it is included, there is usually a low upper limit on comprehensive car insurance policy claims for stolen property**** although car damage will be covered.
The AA offers some parking advice for Christmas shoppers:
It’s worth making an early start if you are going Christmas shopping so you have a better chance of being able to park – and there’s a better chance of finding a space if you shop midweek
Never leave purchases on show in the car. Most retailers will allow you to buy items and collect at the end of your day
When parking:
Choose car parks that are well lit and have some security (ie patrols or cctv) – use the award-winning AA parking app to help you find spaces
Don’t risk parking in restricted areas or in disabled spaces if you aren’t entitled to do so – you will be fined.
Go the correct way around the car park – this will ensure the traffic continues to flow smoothly
Play your part to keep the car park free of hazards by returning your shopping trolley: don’t leave it to roll away and hit another car
Use indicators every time you make a turn – this is just as important in car parks
When reversing into or out of a parking space, go slowly and don’t just rely on your mirrors – look over your shoulder too, including after you’ve put the car into gear
Make sure you’re parked in the middle of the space and take care when opening your car doors
If you are involved in a collision and hit another parked vehicle, do the right thing and leave a note with your details. If you witness a collision, pass on any information you have to the innocent party.
Shopping delivered by rogue trolley – and other AA car park tales
Following are a few examples of comments from AA customers calling to make a claim
“Full trolley came tearing down the slope, hit my car and overturned, delivering some of its contents into my open tailgate!”
“We collided when trying to get into the same parking space”
“He kicked my door in because I got to the space first.”
“A big 4x4 truck was in the next space when I parked. When I got back it had gone but there was a long gouge down the doors.”
“The police car swung into the car park and as the officer turned his car round he reversed into mine, denting the wing.”
“Accidentally put the car into reverse and smashed the glass trolley shelter.”
“The driver parked so close to the car on the left she dented the bumper. She tried again and hit my car - the space was too small anyway.”
“Misjudged turn and wedged my Jaguar on top the low car park wall.”
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