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Original poster

Stories of not being able to find your car

105 replies

LogicalBlodge · 08/06/2025 20:55

1 hour Watford Shopping Centre yesterday.

Could probably end the story there (as in - if you've been you may know 😂).

Was headed to an event, parked up and popped off.

Came back at end of day, was rainy outside so all humid. I found a carpark and headed to the top...it was covered and my car was in a small open air section.

Asked someone if there was only one and she said yes but you need to go up. Great, headed to to the top. It was massive, and empty.

No problem. Asked a gentleman who pointed to another car park through some glass in yonder distance.

I head there and again to the top. It's smaller and has a few cars, I know it's the wrong one, but I'm willing the car to appear.

Head back down and find a security guard. At this point, I'm hot, stressed, and starting to think I may never leave.

I'm so sorry I can't find my car and I'm having a breakdown (lighthearted).

This must happen as she has a list of questions - was it a glass door or closed lift, what shops did I see.

I can't remember, so she asks for the car reg. Bingo. She calls someone who checks all the cameras - it's in King Level 1, so off I head, past Prince, Palace, Queen, Moat whatever carparks (there were a lot).

I feel relief as I step out...but noo its a covered carpark. I am feeling a sense of defeat. In the corner there is a chink of light. I think no that can't be it. I head back out and see two security guards.

I don't know what happened here but as I start to speak I burst into tears. Is it in this carpark one of them asks. This question sends me over the edge and activated something in my brain and I start to laugh at the same time 😆 So I am now laughing and crying at the same time in a vaguely maniacal way trying to explain I can't find my car and someone said it was here but it's not.

He then leads me through the car park to the chink of light which turns a corner and goes up a slope to another carpark which is open-air. But that's still not it, there's another slope we go up to another open air carpark.

I'm convinced this cannot still be called Level 1 but thank him profusely anyway 😂 get in the car and eat a battered cake that I had in my bag.

OP posts:
AlexisP90 · 08/06/2025 22:06

Few years ago. Was actually after a spice Girls concert!

I had definitely had a few too many wines (DP didn't drink) and was absolutely no use what so ever. We spent about 30 minutes searching long after all other cars had mostly gone.

Then we saw this big garage door come up and another car come out of a nearby smaller car park. DP had to run under it before it went back down again.

I was stranded on the other side while DP was stuck the other side of the door. Think I just sat on the floor singing wannabe to be honest at that point.

Another 30 minutes pass and up swings the door again wilth DP speeding out of it screaming " WE WERE SEARCHING THE WRONG FUCKING CAR PARK!!)

We found out the next day that that car park actually closes early and has no way of getting in after that time (unless you are already in it) so had that car not come out when it did or DP hadn't ran under that door we wouldn't have been able to get the car.

LilacPony · 08/06/2025 22:06

No, but this is a recurring dream (nightmare?!) for me!!

Gonepaddling · 08/06/2025 22:07

Appletag and ‘Findmy’

I have lost mine more times than I would ever admit too 🤣😂🤣😂

Pricelessadvice · 08/06/2025 22:07

I was convinced I had parked on level 5. In fact, I remembered seeing the ‘5’ on the wall several times. Big panic, wandering around, no car.
Turns out I’d been looking at the ‘5’ mph sign (a 5 in a circle) and not level 5. I was on level 4 🤣

TheNightingalesStarling · 08/06/2025 22:11

DH stopped off st the supermarket on the drive home from buying a new (to us) car.

Came out... couldn't see it anywhere. Took 10 minutes to realise he should be looking for a black car, not a red one!

momager1 · 08/06/2025 22:12

about 5 years ago when we still lived in Canada. Went for a quick nip to the grocery store as I was short by one ingredient in dinner. Came out not 10 min later and my car was gone (a jeep grand cherokee) walked around hitting my keyfob. Nothing. Called the police . after I called them I called my husband as I knew he was at work so not able to help. He took my jeep to work that morning as he was bringing home his old very large toolbox, and had the spare key, as I had the spare key to his dodge challenger in my bag Rarely drove that car. Was mortified but the police just laughed and said it is not that uncommon lol

roshi42 · 08/06/2025 22:15

Gatwick airport. I didn’t even think to note which car park it was in!! I had to triangulate roughly where it was based on the train tracks I’d seen when parking plus the direction a plane came low overhead to land. Found it in about 20mins. Could have been worse. Felt pretty silly!

Redglitter · 08/06/2025 22:18

That happens regularly. So regularly that if someone reports their car stolen from a city centre street or car park the first thing we tell them is to walk round the area another 10 mins and we'll call them back to see if they've found it. 9/10 they have

TheNightingalesStarling · 08/06/2025 22:21

Last year when I was at Heathrow they had a machine where you put in your number plate and it tells you exactly where you car is. It seemed a way sensible idea

snowy37 · 08/06/2025 22:23

On Friday I was on my way home from work on the train when my DH called me to say he’d had a knock on the door from our neighbour across the road to say that his van had been stolen at lunchtime, and could we check our ring doorbell to see if it picked anything up. As I’m scrolling through the days footage, the neighbour appears at the door again. I watch as he tells DH “I’ve just realised I drove the van to the cafe round the corner at lunchtime then walked home” 😅

BristolDolly22 · 08/06/2025 22:25

I searched the IKEA car park for an hour once. I was on the verge of calling the police as it had clearly been stolen. I was so confused because I remembered exactly where I had parked it, which sign it was by etc.
Then, just as I was about to call the police something clicked in me that IKEA had two completely identical car parks one on either side of the building.
I had turned the wrong way out of the door and it was like being in a parallel universe…identical but without my car in it!

JustGiveMeWineNow · 08/06/2025 22:26

Bristol airport late on a Sunday night, with a three hour drive ahead of us and work the next day. Could we find the car and it was pissing down. Security drove my husband round the car park to we found it. 🙈🙈

idolikealiein · 08/06/2025 22:28

Years ago my friend and I went to see the Strictly tour at the NEC. We didn't get to see each other that often so we're chatting away as we parked the car. Not a care in the world.
We came out later into the dark and pouring rain, surrounded by thousands of other people, only to realise we hadn't got a clue where the car was. We has to wait until the car parks emptied and then walk round and see what was left.
We vowed that we would never tell our husbands the real reason we were so late getting home

MyOtherCarIsAPorsche · 08/06/2025 22:29

I live in a small market town. I'd nipped into a supermarket to get a loaf and a bottle of milk. Then I spent ages searching every car park in town for my car. The key was in my jeans pocket - I then spent another similar amount of time going around the same car parks pressing my key hoping to see my car's lights flashing.

I felt sick when I had to ring H and admit that my car had been stolen. I couldn't remember whether I'd locked the car or not. I imagined a gang of car
thieves with the latest technology getting it started and swanning about in it.

H said - 'your car is on the drive'.

Turns out I'd walked into town.

rockstarshoes · 08/06/2025 22:35

DH once asked me where my car was because it wasn’t on the the drive, me puzzled face, where is my car?

still in a pub car park that I had driven my friends to & cabbed back - 3 days earlier!

I had completely forgotten to go & pick it up!

audreyandaubrey · 08/06/2025 22:38

On holiday in Bruges and went into the centre for the evening to eat and sightseeing. We left our car parked up on a quiet street with our two Labradors left in the roomy boot, it was a cool evening. I took a photo of the street name before we set off walking into the centre -,it was no more than a 5 -10 minute walk. After walking round the centre we decided to find a place to eat further out near where we were staying it was about 8pm. Well we couldn’t find the car. We walked round and round couldn’t find the street name, no map with us. Kept asking people and they didn’t know where the street was or couldn’t understand us. I was dying for a wee so had to go up an alleyway with DH keeping a look out for anyone coming. We were worried about leaving the dogs too long. Just as we’re were getting desperate and thinking the car had been stolen, we found it. it was about 930 by now and we were starving and thirsty. The dogs were fine and had been snoozing we have them a walk to do their wees. We found a little bar open and still serving food. That was our night in Bruges - lost in Bruges

Chatterboxy · 08/06/2025 22:41

Years ago I had to go to Heathrow to pick my husband up from long flight, not only did I go the wrong terminal, I had to get the train shuttle to the correct terminal, met my very tired husband, got back on the shuttle train, got back to the car park, luckily more than judgement! but I had absolutely no idea where my car was, we was walking up & down, round & round, husband getting really grouchy, he eventually just sat on his suitcase & said when you find the car, let him know.
I kept trying to find the car, eventually got a security/car park attendant to help me, eventually found the car, but……. Then I couldn’t remember what floor I left my husband at, I ended up driving round that car park till I found him!
cost me a small fortune to get out of the car park!

FrostyMorn · 08/06/2025 22:41

In real life it's happened to me only once, in the car park of Spectrum leisure centre in Guildford circa the year 2000 but that was clearly enough to spark a lifelong anxiety of this happening as I often dream I can't find my car. Very weird!

Ewock · 08/06/2025 22:45

LogicalBlodge · 08/06/2025 20:55

1 hour Watford Shopping Centre yesterday.

Could probably end the story there (as in - if you've been you may know 😂).

Was headed to an event, parked up and popped off.

Came back at end of day, was rainy outside so all humid. I found a carpark and headed to the top...it was covered and my car was in a small open air section.

Asked someone if there was only one and she said yes but you need to go up. Great, headed to to the top. It was massive, and empty.

No problem. Asked a gentleman who pointed to another car park through some glass in yonder distance.

I head there and again to the top. It's smaller and has a few cars, I know it's the wrong one, but I'm willing the car to appear.

Head back down and find a security guard. At this point, I'm hot, stressed, and starting to think I may never leave.

I'm so sorry I can't find my car and I'm having a breakdown (lighthearted).

This must happen as she has a list of questions - was it a glass door or closed lift, what shops did I see.

I can't remember, so she asks for the car reg. Bingo. She calls someone who checks all the cameras - it's in King Level 1, so off I head, past Prince, Palace, Queen, Moat whatever carparks (there were a lot).

I feel relief as I step out...but noo its a covered carpark. I am feeling a sense of defeat. In the corner there is a chink of light. I think no that can't be it. I head back out and see two security guards.

I don't know what happened here but as I start to speak I burst into tears. Is it in this carpark one of them asks. This question sends me over the edge and activated something in my brain and I start to laugh at the same time 😆 So I am now laughing and crying at the same time in a vaguely maniacal way trying to explain I can't find my car and someone said it was here but it's not.

He then leads me through the car park to the chink of light which turns a corner and goes up a slope to another carpark which is open-air. But that's still not it, there's another slope we go up to another open air carpark.

I'm convinced this cannot still be called Level 1 but thank him profusely anyway 😂 get in the car and eat a battered cake that I had in my bag.

I hated that car park when I lived there. Utter nightmare and they all bloody link, so you start in one and end up in another!!!!

ilovepixie · 08/06/2025 22:49

I’d been shopping and went back to the car park and found my car, put the key in the door and it wouldn’t turn, tried a few times and then realised I could hear hysterical screaming. There was a petrified child, about 5 in the back seat. I was at the wrong car! And she thought a stranger was trying to kill her! I shouted an apology and moved away from the car. Found my own car nearby but stayed to Keep an eye out for the parent coming back so I could explain what happened!

xyzandabc · 08/06/2025 22:58

Yep. Worked at Heathrow and usually parked in the perimeter staff car park. From there you need to take a bus to get to your terminal. Finished my shift, got the bus back to the car park, car was not there. Walked up and down every lane twice, nope definitely not there.

Then it dawned on me, I didn't drive to work that day, I'd got the bus! So had to get the staff bus back to the terminal to get to the central bus station and wait for the next bus home. Added at least an hour to my journey home.

ReachOutfortheSunshine · 08/06/2025 23:00

The evening before my wedding, Lakeside Shopping Centre. Taken a photo of the the zone I’ve parked in since then!

Redshoeblueshoe · 08/06/2025 23:10

I don't even drive, but I'm loving these stories. And if I did drive I know I would lose my car every time I went to the supermarket.

JustGiveMeWineNow · 08/06/2025 23:17

MyOtherCarIsAPorsche · 08/06/2025 22:29

I live in a small market town. I'd nipped into a supermarket to get a loaf and a bottle of milk. Then I spent ages searching every car park in town for my car. The key was in my jeans pocket - I then spent another similar amount of time going around the same car parks pressing my key hoping to see my car's lights flashing.

I felt sick when I had to ring H and admit that my car had been stolen. I couldn't remember whether I'd locked the car or not. I imagined a gang of car
thieves with the latest technology getting it started and swanning about in it.

H said - 'your car is on the drive'.

Turns out I'd walked into town.

Ah OP this is why we need the 🤣 back! That is hilarious

Justlovedogs · 08/06/2025 23:20

Losing my car used to be a regular occurrence for me at work. Big staff car park, never get parked in the same space twice! Have learnt to take note of landmarks to identify which row I'm in at the end of the day 🙄.
Story - Disney, Orlando, 1992. A red Pontiac hire car, made a mental note of which car park we were in (they're all named after Disney characters, for those that don't know), all good. Came out to row upon row of red Pontiac hire cars! Hadn't thought to make a note of the reg no., so had to walk up and down the rows pushing the button for the central locking until it beeped.
You have my sympathy, @LogicalBlodge