Garage and driveway 'change' alert as people told 'always check'

New findings from insurance experts at Aviva have uncovered that a significant 28% of UK garage owners rarely use their garages for parking cars, with concerns about vehicle size and parking difficulties being key factors. Despite 38% of UK motorists having access to a garage, a notable 42% opt for driveway parking instead.

The study reveals that 21% of garage owners find them too challenging to park in, while 16% feel their car is simply too large, which might explain why a whopping 66% utilise their garage mainly for storage. Aviva's further analysis shows that the average car size has ballooned by 22% over the past two decades, potentially impacting future purchasing decisions, as 33% of drivers admit they'd think twice before buying a bigger model.

Martin Smith, Aviva's motor claims manager, said: "It's interesting to see that garage owners are favouring other locations for parking their car, which could in part be explained by the gradual increase in car size over the years. Garages can offer an additional layer of security.

"However, if you find that you struggle to park, always check your rear view and wing mirrors first. Although parking sensors and cameras can be a helpful guide, be careful not to over-rely on these, as there could be an object, item or person in your blind spot which wouldn't be visible to the car's camera or sensor."

The study also uncovers that a significant number of drivers grapple with parking in general, with more than a third (34%) attributing this to a lack of confidence. An additional 29% feel pressured by other motorists and 23% admit that previous parking errors have affected their ability.

The data also indicates an increasing reliance on technology for parking assistance, with one in six (16%) blaming the lack of parking sensors or rear cameras in their vehicle for their struggles.

The research reveals that drivers are most likely to collide with:

• A wall (16%)
• A bollard or lamp post (both 11%)
• A parked vehicle (10%)
• A fence or bush/plants (both 9%)
• A garage (8%)

In nearly half of the incidents, the damage was merely cosmetic (49%). However, such mishaps have also resulted in damaged bumpers (39%), broken headlights (17%) and dislodged wing mirrors (15%).

Supporting the notion that larger vehicles may be harder to park, four in 10 (41%) misjudged the distance and 23% believed the space they were attempting to fit into was too small. A further one in 10 (11%) stated they were still getting used to their new car and its dimensions.

Interestingly, another 23% admitted they weren't fully focused - with men more likely to confess this (26%) than women (19%). The study also shows that parallel parking is the most challenging manoeuvre, with a fifth of drivers (20%) admitting they struggle with it.

Area or manoeuvre	Percentage of drivers who find parking difficult in this place
Anywhere I have to parallel park	20%
A car park they are not familiar with	19%
A multi-story car park	19%
On-street parking	12%
Anywhere I have to bay park	15%
A car park/ driveway	7% each
In a garage	6%

Despite bumps and scrapes making up 8% of all claims in 2024, the study revealed that more than a third (37%) of motorists failed to report such incidents, which is typically required by insurance policies and can sometimes be a legal obligation.

Mr Smith said: "Many of us will, unfortunately, experience bumps or scrapes on our cars in our lifetime. If this happens, it's important to let your insurer know. Failing to do so could result in you being unable to make a claim, as this is often a condition in most insurance policies.

"In some instances, you may also need to let the police know about your collision under the Road Traffic Act. Most insurers will also ask where your car is parked overnight, so make sure you answer this accurately, as it could impact a claim if you provide the wrong information."

About the research

The survey was carried out by Censuswide with a panel of 1,344 car drivers (aged 17+) - a natural selection from an initial group of 2,000 general participants. The data was gathered between May 23, 2025, and May 27, 2025.

Aviva also examined the top five best-selling cars in 2004 and 2024, using dimensions from Parkers Guide to calculate an average size increase of 22% over two decades. For claims data, Aviva utilised its own records from January to December 2024.