How to Avoid Door Dings in Parking Lots
Most door dings happen in ordinary places: the grocery store, work, a restaurant lot. They are small, but they show up in the reflection every time you walk up to your car. Here are simple habits that cut down the odds, and what to do when one gets you anyway.
Where you park
- Walk a little farther. The spots at the edge of the lot have fewer neighbors and fewer doors swinging near your car.
- Take an end spot. A curb, island or light pole on one side cuts the risk in half.
- Stay away from cart corrals. Carts get pushed and blown toward them, and they roll on windy days.
- Look at your neighbors. Two-door cars have long, heavy doors. Kids’ car seats mean doors opening wide.
How you park
- Park centered in the space so both neighbors have room.
- Pull through to the space ahead when you can, so you can drive straight out.
- Fold your mirrors if the lot is tight.
Shopping carts
Return your cart, and if a loose cart is near your car, move it. Shopping cart dents are common, and many leave the paint intact, which makes them good candidates for paintless dent repair (see our more information page).
At home: garages and tailgates
Not every ding happens in public. One 2015 Ford Explorer owner opened the rear gate with the key fob while parked in a garage, and the gate hit the garage door. Check your clearance, and be careful with power gates and doors near walls, bikes and shelves.
When it happens anyway
Even a brand-new car isn’t safe. A 2016 Ford Expedition with only 50 miles on it got a dent in the passenger rear door, under the door brace. It was fully removed with paintless dent repair, back to the original finish. A sharp body line dent on a near-new 2015 pearl white Denali also came from a parking lot. Use our PDR fit checklist when deciding what to do next.
What to do with a fresh ding
- If the other driver left a note, keep it.
- Check whether the paint is chipped or cracked. If it is intact, PDR is likely an option.
- Don’t try to pop it out with a suction cup or a screwdriver. Read our do-it-yourself warning first.
In-shop repairs only. We don’t offer mobile service. Drive-in customers are welcome at either shop during its open days.
Drive in to Springfield (Monday to Wednesday) or Lincoln (Thursday to Saturday) and we will look at it under our lights. See Services & Areas.
Get an estimate
Call 217-306-4175, email 217Dent@gmail.com, or send us the details on our contact page. Estimates are free. We bring more than 30 years of paintless dent repair experience to every estimate.
In-shop repairs only. We don’t offer mobile service. Drive-in customers are welcome at either shop.
- Springfield: 550 North Street, Suite 2, Springfield, IL 62704. Monday to Wednesday, 9:00 to 5:00.
- Lincoln: 2009 N. Kickapoo St, Lincoln, IL 62656. Thursday to Saturday, 9:00 to 5:00.
More: services and areas, shop locations, payments, site directory.