It's A Mad House Out There! 4 Tips To Protect Your Car During The Holidays
Now that the holiday season is fast approaching, you'll be spending more time in shopping center parking lots. Unfortunately, so will everyone else. The added parking lot activity is going to put your car at an increased risk for damage – either by cars or shopping carts. The last thing you want is to end up with body damage on your car this holiday season. Here are four steps you can take to protect your car from damage.
1. Park Farther Away From the Stores
When it comes to parking lots, most people try to get the spots closest to the stores. After all, those closer spots mean you won't have to walk as far in the cold – or while you're laden down with packages. However, those spots up front are the busiest, which means they present the most risk of damage to your car. To help avoid damage to your car, choose a parking spot that's farther away from the stores. That way, you're less likely to have someone squeezing in next to your car.
2. Center Your Car
When you're in a hurry to get into the stores, you're less inclined to watch how you pull into your parking spot. Unfortunately, if you park close to one of the dividing lines, your car is more likely to get dinged up and scratched. That's because other drivers will be parking closer to the dividing lines too. To give yourself as much of a buffer against body damage as possible, always center your car in the parking space. That way, you have plenty of room on each side.
3. Know Where the Cart Racks Are
When you're trying to avoid body damage in a busy parking lot, it's crucial that you know where the cart racks are located. There's usually a lot of activity around the cart racks, and there isn't always enough room for the carts that are being put away. Unfortunately, carts can leave a lot of damage, especially when people park their carts between your car and the cart rack. For maximum protection, try to give yourself some space between your car and the cart racks.
4. Avoid Incline Areas
When you're choosing a parking spot, try to stay away from areas that are situated on an incline. Doors and shopping carts can get away from people when they're working against gravity. To avoid damage caused by swinging doors, try to choose a spot that's on a flat surface.
Protect your car while you're shopping this holiday season. The tips provided here will help you avoid damage to your car while you're navigating busy parking lots. If you do sustain damage to your car this holiday season, be sure to contact a body shop right away. Scratches and dings can lead to rust if they're not repaired quickly.
For more information, check out a website like http://www.achesonautobodyandservicecenter.com.