Modern cars ‘too big’ for multi-storey car parks

Almost two-thirds (65%) of motorists say that modern cars are too big for multi-storey car parks, while more than one-in-four (28%) have dented the car in the next space when opening their door, new research suggests.

The research, conducted by the Startline Motor Finance Used Car Tracker, also found that 45% of respondents had been ‘stuck’ in their car because there is not enough room to open the door.

Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “Many multi-storeys still in use were built in the 1960s, 70s and 80s when cars were simply much smaller than they are today.

“Vehicles have grown substantially thanks to increased safety and comfort measures in the intervening years, and our research shows that drivers don’t feel they can drive around car parks easily as a result.

“The fact that many simply can’t get out of their cars once they are parked shows how bigger cars and undersized parking spaces just don’t match.”

The Startline survey was prompted by research from Which? published in August, that revealed more than 150 car models are now too big to fit in average car parking spaces.

It found that 161 car models it tested were longer than a standard car parking bay, with 12 exceeding the limit by more than 30cm. This was an increase from 2019, when only 129 did not fit the standard bay.

The research also revealed that 27 models are too wide for drivers to comfortably open their doors when parked between two other cars. Which? categorised a car as being “too wide” if its width leaves less than 22cm between the car and the bay.

The research from the Startline Motor Finance Used Car Tracker also showed that 34% have scraped their car when using a multi-storey.

Furthermore, the Startline survey showed that 71% of people think that car parking spaces should be made bigger and 54% that only cars below a certain size should be allowed in car parks.

Burgess said: “Sadly, there is no easy solution to this problem. Cars are unlikely to start to become smaller any time soon, while rebuilding hundreds or thousands of car parks across the country is just as unlikely.”

The Startline Used Car Tracker is compiled monthly for Startline Motor Finance by APD Global Research, involving 336 consumers and 60 dealers.