We’ve all seen plenty of advice on driving more safely, but there’s one aspect of driving not a lot of people think about – parking. In fact, an increasingly significant number of insurance claims are related to damage incurred by an often unknown third party in a car park, leaving you out of pocket and sometimes losing your no claims bonus.

Many people think it’s just ‘one of those things’, but there are some simple steps to reduce your risk, so here’s some advice!

Here we’re going to look specifically at parking in supermarket car parks – one of the most common places where cars get damaged. The key point is to think about the space that you choose.

First of all, avoid the spaces closest to the entrance. This is basic probability – these spaces get used more, meaning more manoeuvres closer to your vehicle, and therefore more risk.

The best spaces are considered spaces – use your judgment. Do you park next to the forward-parked, knackered nail, or the gleaming, mint-condition BMW which has reverse parked? Clearly the latter – they’re more likely to take care of their vehicle, and that means they’re less likely to damage yours. Plus, most accidents occur whilst reversing out of a space.