Ever tried to squeeze your car into a garage and thought, “This shouldn’t be this hard”? You’re not alone.
According to new research from Aviva, one in six UK garage owners say their car physically won’t fit in the space that was designed for it. That’s because today’s cars are, on average, 22% bigger than they were 20 years ago.
What used to be a home for your car is now more likely a storage unit. Aviva found that two-thirds of garage owners are using the space to store stuff rather than park their vehicle.
Even though over a third of drivers have access to a garage, 42% still park on the driveway, with many saying it’s simply too difficult to manoeuvre their vehicle into the tight space. In fact, 16% believe their car is too big to fit inside at all.
As cars keep getting chunkier, like SUVs and electric vehicles with larger footprints, drivers are finding it harder to park in general: on the street, in multi-storey car parks, and even in their own driveway.
It’s no surprise then that:
- 2 in 5 drivers have misjudged the distance to an obstacle
- 1 in 4 have thought the space was too tight
- 1 in 10 are still getting used to the size of their new car
Even with tech like sensors, reversing cameras and self-parking systems, 1 in 6 drivers say they struggle to park without these aids.
What Are We Hitting?
Parking mishaps are more common than you might think. Drivers admitted to hitting:
- A wall (16%)
- A bollard or lamp post (11%)
- Another parked car (10%)
- Bushes, fences, or even their own garage (8–9%)
The most common damage includes scuffed bumpers, cracked headlights, and dented wing mirrors. All those annoying, expensive little repairs.
Where’s the Worst Place to Park?
Here’s where people struggle most:
| Place | % who find it difficult |
|---|---|
| Parallel parking | 20% |
| Unfamiliar car parks | 19% |
| Multi-storey car parks | 19% |
| Bay parking | 15% |
| On-street parking | 12% |
| Garage or driveway | 6–7% |
Despite bumps and scrapes making up 8% of all insurance claims this year, over a third of drivers didn’t report them, even though doing so is usually a condition of your policy. In some cases, you’re even legally required to tell the police.
Aviva’s Motor Claims Manager, Martin Smith, says: "Many of us will unfortunately, experience bumps or scrapes on our cars in our lifetime.
"If this happens, it’s important to let your insurer know. Failing to do so could result in you being unable to make a claim, as this is often a condition in most insurance policies."
"In some instances, you may also need to let the police know about your collision under the Road Traffic Act."
So, if you’ve ever dodged a tight spot or had a little mishap in a multi-storey, don’t worry, you’re far from the only one. But next time, maybe check if your car actually fits in the garage before assuming it does.
