To ask if you are a scratch-prone driver?

[moutonfou]

I've never run into another car or anything but parking is my weakness. My car is full of scratches where I've grazed various posts/barriers/pillars etc in car parks - and I've done another tonight. Gutted as I was being really careful - looked in mirrors and behind from all angles, moved out slowly, but crunched into a low bollard that was out of sight (and that I think was actually really poorly placed but oh well).

If anybody else suffers from this malady, how have you managed to overcome it? It makes me really scared to get a new car, especially on finance. I couldn't bear to scratch what I don't even own yet. But I'm starting to get embarrassed driving what I have!

Don't get a shiny new car, scratch prone or not.
I'm not a scratch prone driver so can't help on that.

I'm not sure you should be driving if you can't park correctly

Can you add parking sensors I wonder?

My car is two years old and is completely scratch free. It has rear view cameras. It's revolutionised how I park. It's a doddle and I'll never have a car without them in future.

I used to think I was quite good as I used to live in London and had a job that required lots of driving around and parking..... my technique then was to park really slowly.

The make of car makes a huge difference too. I don't find it's size so much as visability.

You need parking sensors this is quite unusual

Don't want to be mean, but if this is happening to you a lot it's likely a sign you don't really know where the edges of your vehicle are. Perhaps a few refresher sessions with an instructor to show you how to maximize your mirror useage?

I did this a couple of times when I'd newly passed, but after having to pay out to get the scratches fixed (not cheap!) I became a bit more careful and haven't done it since.

I hit a low bollard once, it wasnt visible in mirrors and I just forgot it was there when I got in the car.
you sound like you might like park assist (parks for you), parking sensors and a reversing camera. the

How long have you been driving? I would be concerned if it was happening regularly. Maybe a refresher lesson in parking would be helpful.

I didn''t use to be. 30 years without a single knock, advanced training etc.. But in the last 9 months I've had three minor scratches/dents. I don't really know why but it's bothering me a lot and totally killing my confidence. I'm beginning to wonder if I should be driving.

My DH is like this. Lots of minor scratches round bumpers. He's always been like this this. Men are supposed to have good spatial awareness - I guess he's the exception to the rule. Fortunately, he likes bog standard cars so doesn't get massively fussed.
Have you changed your car recently? I went from a small Peugeot to a Volvo S60 and it took me about 3 months to get used to the size of the new car for parking.

I am!
I don't even know how most of them have happened, and I'm quite sure that some of them have been done to me rather than by me, but I always do seem to end up with a car covered in fairly minor scratches.

You're hitting posts pillars and barriers but never anyone else's car?

Either you are hitting other cars and aren't admitting it here, or these are all low down things you're hitting and you need to start looking more carefully at the immediate surroundings of the space you're about to start maneuvering your car into.

Yeah, I am. Usually it's because I underestimate the "hardness" of what I'm scraping against, e.g. a bush. On two occasions in 10 years I've actually caused major damage to my car due to getting stuck in a tight parking situation (both times in my own garage!) So don't feel bad. And don't ever buy an expensive car.

Angle your wing mirrors further down and in, so you can see the corner of your car as you reverse.
And ask for help in real life- driving is a skill!

I like to call it "kissing" the garage door, or "kissing" that giant bush. Not often, and never anything major, but yep I've got the odd ding.

You need driving lessons, you don't sound safe on the road. If you're hitting boards you could hit kids.

Just park more slowly and look around at all mirrors?

Reversing cameras are an amazing invention. They don't replace safe mirror use but are a useful addition.

Sounds like you should get a smaller car to make life easier.

Honestly I think you need refresher lessons. If you are struggling to park because of hitting bollards. Posts, walls or bushes then it's very unlikely you're not hitting other people's cars too. If you can't drive properly then you can't drive. It's not something that is really measured in levels. "I can drive cos I only hit a few things sometimes.."

Refresher lessons, please. As someone who had a massive dent and scratches on her car because of a shitty Parker scraping it and driving off, I'm begging you, learn how to drive properly. I can't afford to get mine fixed so it will have to stay like that.

After turning into my driveway several times a day for the past 13 years I managed to completely misjudge it a few weeks ago and scraped the side of my car. And I hit a small wall whilst reversing out of a very 'odd' parking space a few weeks ago.

Shit happens. Just be more careful. And check round your vehicle before getting back into it.

I'm pretty shocked by this. Anyone can have the odd scrape through a moment of inattention - nobody's perfect. But if it's happening frequently then you can't drive and need to sort it out before you get back behind the wheel.

I think you need sensors. A couple of scratches is not so unusual but frequently indicates an issue.

My car has scratches from scratch prone people . One woman didn't even notice she scraped along my car as she reverse out of her parking spot. She gave herself half a car length in front but 'forgot' the cars behind her which got scuffed and scratched!