Driving in the inner city can come with its fair share of hazards, but one of the most frustrating has to be navigating the endless stresses of street parking. Alongside being in short supply, parking your car in inner city streets also requires a lot of trust that the hundreds if not thousands of drivers and pedestrians that pass your car every day will behave responsibly.

If you are concerned that street parking your car will result in your car being needlessly (and perhaps even anonymously) damaged, then practicing the following car security tips that we’ll be sharing below can help to safeguard your vehicle without you having to watch over it from a nearby window.

Here are our top tips to help you keep your car safe and secure when parking in the inner city.

Top Car Security Tips To Follow When Parking In The Inner City

Secure a suitable car insurance policy

Did you know that third party car insurance doesn’t include cover for accidental damage to your car? If you want to ensure that your car will be covered in the event that it accrues accidental damage from unknown parties, you’ll need to take out comprehensive car insurance cover.

On top of covering both your car and third-party vehicles or property in the event of a motor collision or accident, comprehensive car insurance can provide cover in the event that your vehicle is stolen or even in the event that your vehicle accrues damage during an attempted theft. Some comprehensive car insurance policies may also provide cover for items that have been stolen out of your car.

If you’re street parking regularly, a comprehensive car insurance policy can help provide exceptional peace of mind that may hopefully take away a good chunk of the stress generated by being a car owner in the inner city.

Invest in a front and rear dash cam

Even if you have comprehensive car insurance and are covered in the event that unknown persons damage your car, it’s only natural that you’d still want to know who the perpetrators are – just so they can be reported. Thankfully, if you feel like your car could benefit from a little additional surveillance, you have the option to invest in motion sensor dash cams. These high-tech dash cams are fitted with motion sensor technology that triggers your cameras to turn on when they detect activity around your vehicle.

For added security, we also recommend investing in both front and rear dash cameras. Not only will this ensure you have a multi-angle view, but it will also be sure to come in handy when parking, or even in the event that you’re rear-ended when driving.

Keep your car alarm activated

Just as you should never drive with your car doors unlocked, you should also never park your car anywhere in the inner city without activating your alarm system. This means locking your doors, rolling up all your windows, and tapping the lock button on your car key until you hear a double click from your vehicle (for most 21st century cars).

For any cars manufactured in the last decade or so, you may be able to tell if your car alarm is activated by whether or not a small LED light is visible from your car’s dashboard. This subtle light is there to indicate whether your vehicle’s alarm system is armed or not.

If your vehicle doesn’t have this light, then we recommend looking through your car manual for more information on your car’s own alarm system as directly outlined by the manufacturer.

Remove any valuables prior to parking

Do you park in an area that clearly displays signage dissuading drivers from leaving valuables in their cars? Even if you don’t, this is exceptional advice to keep in mind whenever you’re looking to park anywhere – not just in the inner city.

Although your comprehensive car insurance may help you reclaim the costs of any valuables stolen from your car, you still won’t be able to get those valuables back. So be sure not to leave any priceless items in your car whenever you plan to leave it unattended.

It’s also worth noting that removing all visible valuables in your car will also make it less likely that your car becomes a target to opportunistic individuals. So if you want to make the process of street parking a lot easier and safer, then make sure that you take your laptop, briefcase, and any other valuables with you before you leave your car unattended.

Fold in your side mirrors

This next one is a bit of a contested security tip, mainly because some people argue that having the buffer of your side mirrors can reduce the risks of other drivers skimming so close to your vehicle that they can scratch your paint job. But the fact of the matter is that it can be easier to correct superficial damage on the body of your vehicle than it is to source an entirely new side mirror for your car.

If your car’s side mirrors get torn off by a reckless driver that’s zooming by, you run the risk of having to wait for replacement parts, or driving with limited visibility. So be sure to fold those side mirrors in to reduce the risks of passing cars or even motorbikes and bicycles accidentally clipping it right off as they zoom past.

Park in well-lit areas in the evening

If you’re looking to park overnight or during evening hours, then you can deter opportunistic individuals from trying to break into or steal your car simply by parking in an area that’s well-lit, and perhaps even has CCTV surveillance. In fact, the combination of great lighting and camera surveillance helps ensure that any individuals who do try to break into your car will be recorded and thus, will be a lot easier to bring to justice.

As auto thieves are likely to scope vehicles out before they attempt a break-in or theft, positioning your car in a well-lit area during evening hours can naturally help reduce the likelihood of your vehicle being targeted. The thieves will simply move onto an easier target.

Rent a secure parking spot

Finally, one of the best measures you can take to help keep your car secure when parking in inner city areas is to simply rent your own parking space in a secured parking garage. When you rent a parking space, you don’t just guarantee that you’ll always have parking available for your car, but that you’ll also have safe and secured parking every day and at a reasonable rate.

For drivers who are commuting into inner city areas daily for work, renting a parking space for their car can prove to be an invaluable investment. In fact, some insurance providers may even reduce the costs of your policy premium if you report that your car will be garage parked, as it reduces the risk to your insurance company as well.

By following all or even just some of these security tips, you should have no issue with keeping your car safe when parking or driving in the inner city. Just remember to inspect your car regularly for any signs of dings or scrapes, and to file insurance claims as promptly as possible whenever it may be required.