Street Parking Tips Every Driver Should Know

Every driver knows that the garage is the safest place to park a car. Unfortunately, about 35% of Americans don’t have their own garage or carport, leaving them with no choice but to park in the streets.

Aside from this demographic, a lot of drivers are also left in the same predicament when they’re traveling to places that don’t offer a ton of parking space in an enclosed facility.

So what can you do in situations like these?

Here are a couple of street parking tips every driver should know.

Before You Park

Parking might sound like a simple task, but if you’re going to do it in the streets, it’s best to be prepared.

Do Some Recon

Street parking can be tricky because you’re basically leaving your car on public property, which ultimately has a set of rules.

Make sure to do some recon about the area’s street parking rules. Some areas only allow up to two hours of parking time while others allow up to 72 hours. Once the time is up, you’ll be required to move to another block.

Major cities usually have an app that lets you know their street parking rules, including schedules and time limits for every street.

Street sweeping time is another thing you should consider before parking. In some cities, it’s prohibited to park a vehicle in a zone that hasn’t been swept yet, so make sure the parking spot you’re eyeing is already cleared.

Read the Signs

Street signs will let you know whether or not parking is allowed in a certain area. These signs also remind drivers about other things, such as street sweeping times and residential permit requirements.

You might also come across places that have colored curbs.

In San Francisco, for example, red curbs are “no parking” zones. These zones are typically situated near bus stops and fire stations.

Meanwhile, green curbs are 10-minute parking zones and the yellow ones are reserved for commercial vehicles.

There are also blue curbs that are intended for persons with disabilities. Unpainted curbs are generally understood as parking zones.

Choosing a Parking Spot

After conducting some research about the parking area, the next thing to consider is your parking strategy.

Here are some tips when parking in the street.

Go For the Corner Spots

Go for the corner spots to avoid getting bookended by other vehicles. Parking on the first or last spot on the block reduces the probability of getting blocked and the bumpers getting damaged.

Park In a Well-Lit Area

Parking in a well-lit area can reduce the risk of thieves breaking into your vehicle and stealing valuable items.

Avoid the Tree Branches

Bird droppings and tree sap are most likely to fall on your vehicle when parked under a tree branch.

This might seem like a minor issue, but these things are acidic and can damage your vehicle’s paint job if left unaddressed.

So if you want to keep your paint looking good as new, you might want to avoid parking under a tree branch and go for other areas instead.

Parallel Parking Is Key

Not all spaces are intended for vehicles to back into or park with the nose first, especially parking slots in the street.

Parking in the street usually requires drivers to parallel park. In some cities, parallel parking comes with a few rules.

In San Francisco, for example, the wheels should be no more than 18 inches away from the curb. The parked vehicle should also face the same direction as the flow of traffic.

Driving Away

Parking in the street exposes your vehicle to certain elements that can damage its paint job and other parts.

Salt, acid rain, and tree sap are extremely corrosive. Leaving their residue on your car can cause rust to form in certain areas.

Dirt and other pollutants can also damage your paint job, which is why it’s a good idea to get your car washed, preferably every two weeks to protect the clear coat.

If you want to avoid costly repairs down the road, it’s best to act fast. To do this, you might want to keep a few cleaning materials in your car, including a roll of paper towel as well as bug and tar remover.

It’s also recommended to keep a few protective materials in your car in case of tough weather conditions.

For example, a snow cover or blanket comes in handy because it can protect the windows from hail damage.

Safeguarding Your Vehicle

It’s a known fact that vehicles parked in the street are more likely to get robbed or vandalized than those parked inside a garage.

But what if you’re left with no choice but to park in the street?

The good news is that a lot of manufacturers have come up with dozens of simple yet effective anti-theft devices that can reduce the risk of break-ins.

Here are the most common yet effective ones.

Steering Wheel Lock

A steering wheel lock is a rod-type lock that hooks to the inside of the steering wheel.

If a thief tries to rotate the wheel, the rod will come into contact with an immovable object like the windshield, which will prevent the wheel from turning.

Some thieves might go to great lengths and try breaking the lock with a saw, but you’ll probably get to your vehicle first before they’re able to successfully remove the device.

Wheel Clamp

The wheel clamp is a classic anti-theft device that essentially immobilizes one of the wheels to prevent a thief from driving away.

The clamp comes with a metal arm made from heavy-gauge steel. It also covers the lug nuts, which immediately takes out the option of removing the entire wheel.

Faraday Bag

Vehicles with keyless entry systems are also susceptible to break-ins thanks to signal amplifiers and transmitters that can boost key fob signals.

One way to combat this issue is by putting your key fob in a Faraday bag. This bag or pouch blocks these signals, preventing thieves from breaking into the vehicle.