People opening their doors on your car in carparks.

What is your general response to someone opening their door on your car and/or how do you avoid it happening in the first place?

Last weekend I parked in a populated car park where the bays were pretty narrow. As I got out, a little girl was about to get in to the car beside me and I could see what was about to happen so I stood there and watched. Sure enough, she opened her car door and slammed it open on the side of my car.

She was young.. about 7 ish so probably didn't really know better but it left a ding in my door. Her mother was on the other side of the car putting a baby in a car seat but she saw what happened.
I spoke to the girl for a couple of minutes and told her that it's not OK to open your car door on someone else's car door. Her mother didn't scream and shout at me so seemed ok with me gently telling off her daughter, so that's a plus I suppose.

I didn't really pursue it because my car is covered in dings and scratches anyway.. and then I realised... all of those dings and scratches are from other people in car parks.
Almost every panel has a dent or a scratch. There has to be something that can be done to avoid this, surely? What do you lot do when you don't catch people in the act? Is there some really obvious answer to this that I haven't realised?

[CyberWasp]

What I don't understand is if someone nudges you from behind at the lights you have every right to get their details and claim in on insurance and get it fixed.
If someone opens their doors on your car and does damage it is not claimable. Why???

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

If someone opens their doors on your car and does damage it is not claimable. Why???

Isn't it really?? I didn't know that...
Where did you hear that?

[GTP534]

When I park the Territory at the railway station I will always try to park between 2 cars already there. Reduces the risk of getting a ding by 50%. If I can park next to a column, with 2 other cars already there, that reduces the risk by 75%. After a while you get to see who leaves before or after you. The wildcard is that the person next to you leaves and someone else parks there!!

I try the same at the shopping centres.

I have found I have fewer dings after adopting this strategy when compared to the days I would try and park where there were no cars!

[Rallye Sport]

My partner parks in a public carpark outside her work, no matter how many times I pop the dents out and polish out the marks they're back again the next week.
I never park any of my good cars in public places, sad really, it'd be nice to stop for a coffee or lunch when out cruising but I can't relax and enjoy it, I'm just waiting to get back to my car to find it damaged.
My daily I couldn't car less about although I try not to park next to cars with visible baby seats or kiddy sun shades on the windows.
If I do catch someone (and have) I just open my door even harder on their car.

[JC]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

What I don't understand is if someone nudges you from behind at the lights you have every right to get their details and claim in on insurance and get it fixed.
If someone opens their doors on your car and does damage it is not claimable. Why???

Surely it's claimable, just the cost to fix would be less than most excesses so it's not financially viable to claim. If you got the other person's details and they paid the excess, then you should claim it.

[Tassie f100]

Well really it doesn't matter whether you scrape the gate post,or some numpty opens the car door in the carpark, or you get dented by a trolley it still costs a couple of hundred dollars minimum to get it fixed.So why shouldn't the guilty party pay for the damage? As the Wasp said if someone hits you on the road they are liable so whats the difference

Would it be a bit obsessive to install a 360 degree camera inside your car that records when it's parked? Running off a secondary battery perhaps. At least that way you'd have proof of it happening and hopefully it records their number plate as they drive away.

My next car has a lot of sentimental value (despite it not being a particularly expensive car) and I don't want `tards damaging it on me.

This looks awesome - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb3FuqDRmZo

[GO FURTHER]

Here's my idea....

https://fordforums.com.au/showpost.p...postcount=1774

Sounds handy but what a pain in the *** to put them on and take them off every day?

I've just moved house and was considering cancelling my work car park to take the train but leaving a car in a train car park all day sounds like I'm just asking for trouble doesn't it.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by leesa

What do you lot do when you don't catch people in the act? Is there some really obvious answer to this that I haven't realised?

Most people are lazy and park close to the entrance to avoid the walk.
I usually park away from the crowd, if that's not possible park next to equally well kept cars.

[FairmontGS]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Most people are lazy and park close to the entrance to avoid the walk.
I usually park away from the crowd, if that's not possible park next to equally well kept cars.

^^ I park as far away as possible.

I also generally don't drive, I walk. Car wins, fitness wins.

[Junkyard-Dog]

Yep, this is one that grinds my gears for sure.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

What I don't understand is if someone nudges you from behind at the lights you have every right to get their details and claim in on insurance and get it fixed.
If someone opens their doors on your car and does damage it is not claimable. Why???

It is claimable, exchange details and hand to insurance company job done.

[PooDog]

We always go way down the far corner where no one parks and park in the centre of two parks ....and if we know there's nowhere to park il take the work hack coz imo there's nothing worse than those little creases on a nice straight panel ....and no one seams to give a f@#k

[M&Ms]

People in general just see cars as an A to B mode of transport, and hence don't give a stuff about their dents or denting other cars. I personally park away from Toyotas of any kind (especially Camry's), ideally next to a flashy car if possible ('find the black Benz' challenge), or if I can park next to a column or wall, I'll park up as close as possible to it to avoid numptys being physically able to open doors on to my metal. Best spots are those where you're the only one between two poles.
However, I've learnt to accept that my car will cop eventual scratches and dings in carparks, and try not to lose sleep over it, and at the end of the day, I do hope I never catch the culprit in person as to avoid any assault charge.

[Big_Daz]

My car spends most of its time either at home in the garage or at work where the carparks are large and the people I work with are pretty good... My wife's Jeep though, gets parked in a Shopping Center carpark all day is she is in retail management. We have been lucky so far but Im waiting for it to happen..

I tend to park either away from other cars or, preferably, next to a cement pole and I get my car very close to the pole to maximize the space between my car and the one next to me...

From the other side of the fence, I once parked next to someone at an open air carpark and when I opened the door the wind took hold and banged it into the car next to me, leaving a small mark/dent. I felt bloody horrible and left them a note under the windscreen with my mobile phone number on it saying I apologize and to call me if they want me to rectify... As it turns out the car I did it to was owned by the wide of a Dent Doctor franchisee...lol.. She SMS'd me thanking me for the note but not to worry as her husband sorted it out... Small Karma win right their..lol

[.:4:.]

I personally like to park beside clean expensive cars or cars that look like the owner takes pride in. In the work car I park in loading docks and, yes it's not my car but I don't like driving a dinged up anything, some tradies simply do not care. Before I got the ute I'm in now I had a van that one day I came back to with a tear in the sign writing and a gouge in the drivers door with a fair amount of paint missing. Again not my van but I had to be seen driving it. I spoke to security and conveniently a garbage truck blocked the cameras when it happened. The iload beside me had a fair bit of damage and damage to the spot where contact may have been made but there was no proof. The driver of that delivery van from the catering company upstairs had a bad reputation for damaging other cars but as there was no solid proof denied everything. In my personal car if it's a bit tight I'll say to my son wait and I'll open the door for him. A ding on the car beside will be paint off my car and neither party wants that. I think some people see a car as just transport not an asset that's one of the most expensive things they buy.

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Most people are lazy and park close to the entrance to avoid the walk.
I usually park away from the crowd, if that's not possible park next to equally well kept cars.

Same here.

My 4 year old G6E had only one mark on one door (I won't mention that I actually put it there...)

My 12 month old Calais V has none.

I'm obsessive about door dings. I'll walk a good distance if I have to but if too difficult I'll go elsewhere.

Having the BF ute takes a lot of the stress out of it

[DFB FGXR6]

A couple of points -

1. Parking next to that shiny black Merc isn't always a great idea. These are increasingly driven by the "a car is an A to B device" type of person who has simply bought on the badge alone. So don't assume that because its a expensive euro that person is going worry about car park dings.

2. Being the type that go's to great lengths to park far, far away form other cars to avoid damage, to then find someone has parked right next to me, in a virtually empty car park is a great source of wonderment and frustration. Now it may be a safe bet to park next to someone like me, because I certainly wont be dinging my doors on someone else's vehicle, but have some respect and perhaps leave a spot or three.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

A couple of points -

1. Parking next to that shiny black Merc isn't always a great idea. These are increasingly driven by the "a car is an A to B device" type of person who has simply bought on the badge alone. So don't assume that because its a expensive euro that person is going worry about car park dings.

Ooh, that was hurtful

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

A couple of points -

1. Parking next to that shiny black Merc isn't always a great idea. These are increasingly driven by the "a car is an A to B device" type of person who has simply bought on the badge alone. So don't assume that because its a expensive euro that person is going worry about car park dings.

Beat me to it, and a lot of these cars a leased and the owner could not give two hoots if it gets damaged as in reality he does not even own it.

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

2. Being the type that go's to great lengths to park far, far away form other cars to avoid damage, to then find someone has parked right next to me, in a virtually empty car park is a great source of wonderment and frustration.

This is a strange phenomenon, as I have experienced this on numerous occasions myself, it makes no sense but happens too regularly to be just coincidence.

[FPV0002]

I'll avoid taking my GT to any large shopping centre carpark a if possible. If I do take it I will park further away and just walk longer distance. I will parkhard up next to any pillars or columns to maximise room to the next car and try to park on an end park where only one car can park next to me. My theory is most people are lazy, and generally that fat people and ones with young kids will always try and get the closest available park to the entrance and that these are the people more likely to need to open their door up wide to enter/exit their vehicle. We have a little fella so I know how hard it is getting him in and out with minimal room so parking far away this helps as you can open the door fully without risking hitting others cars.

[minheim]

Best I have lasted with a new car is 4 weeks before some idiot puts a dent in. Daughter is a nurse and her car had two wacks into the rear bumper and sides panels within the space of 2 days once at her work car park. Regrettably we live in a time when people have few morals and/or just don't respect other peoples' property. I always park well towards the extremes of the supermarket car park or with a pillar on one side if possible. I also watch out for abandoned trolleys. The wife however thinks I take it to extreme sometimes.

[OzriderXR8]

We've just spent $700 getting the wife's car fixed from shopping centre damage, car doors and trolleys.

I sit and eat my lunch in the car in a multi level park in Geelong and it's surprising to see how many oldies that just slam their doors into other cars with no thought whatsoever.

I park on the top level away from everyone.

[cheap]

Part of the problem is that cars have gotten bigger and shopping centres maximise car spots by making spaces as small as legally possible.

Costco has great car parking with plenty of space between, but occasionally even these wide spaces are a challenger for some of the a-holes.

[xisled]

It's a funny one.

The less I worry about it and just park where ever, never happens.

The times I have parked away, is the times that my car gets hit.

People also target cars that are parked away on their own as they can tell people don't want the car to be dinged up by other cars.

[kcodezd]

Originally Posted by cheap

Part of the problem is that cars have gotten bigger and shopping centres maximise car spots by making spaces as small as legally possible.

If only we could blame the shopping centres for their tight spaces. Why do the need to make 21 car parks in a row when 20 with a bit more room between cars won't make a difference at the end of the day, they will still get the customers.

I personally look for the well kept cars to park next too. On the odd occasions that I park next something that looks likes crap, it bugs me the whole time I'm parked.
P.s. If your looking for that shinny black Mercedes and you find a grey one, then I won't mind you parking next to me, if your concerned about dings, like me.

[Nanoraptor]

Originally Posted by M&Ms

People in general just see cars as an A to B mode of transport, and hence don't give a stuff about their dents or denting other cars. I personally park away from Toyotas of any kind (especially Camry's), ideally next to a flashy car if possible ('find the black Benz' challenge)

The one time I lost it at someone opening a car door on mine, I had finished shopping and was sitting in my daily with the windows down and browsing on my phone. A fellow in a really nice celica with very nice paint pulled up next to me way too close, and opened the door straight into my passenger side.

I said "hey come on...." and he looked down in the window straight at me, said nothing, and walked off.

After he'd gone I opened my passenger door and kicked it from the inside into his repeatedly. I regret losing it and doing that, but can't say I didn't enjoy it immensely.