Have you ever wondered what condition your vehicle will be in if you constantly park it outside or if you decide to park it in garages and closed spaces more often? The truth is that a lot of people don’t even think about that, rather they choose the option that is more convenient and simpler.
However, to make decisions that benefit the longevity and durability of your vehicle, you should know the advantages and disadvantages of the place where you decide to park. We’ll let you in on a secret: safer doesn’t always mean more expensive. There are affordable parking spaces in garages as well.

Safety
We are all aware that buying a vehicle is not a small matter, and that it will require big investments. This is why it is important to take good care of your car so its lifespan is as long as possible. Even newer vehicles with a highly developed security system are vulnerable if left exposed to thieves on the streets.
This is the first disadvantage of parking outside because your vehicle is the target of all possible bypassers. They can be trained thieves or pedestrians who will accidentally damage it with scratches.
Although it is possible for both situations to happen in a parking garage, you still have security cameras there that monitor the entire area. This way, security guards can easily prevent thieves, but even if the worst happens, it will be easier to identify them.
Protection from natural disasters
Most cars are designed to withstand certain exposure to the sun, storms, floods, and other natural disasters. However, if you are serious about preserving the exterior of your vehicle, it is always better to keep it indoors. This goes not only for when you are at home, but also when you are traveling or just going into town.
One of the advantages of a parking garage is protection from strong sunlight, which will influence the paint and fading of the exterior of the car. Rain and snow are dangerous because they accelerate rusting, and due to pollutants in the rain, it is recommended to wash the car after every exposure to storms.
Low temperatures in winter have been known to affect engine oils and fluids, which can make it difficult to start the vehicle. If you want to avoid this, it is recommended to park in a garage where the temperature is stable, regardless of the season.
Of course, one of the most hated situations in the summer is sitting in a hot vehicle where you can’t hold the steering wheel in your hands because of the warmth. The coolness and hiding provided by a garage cannot, therefore, be compared to the circumstances when you park outside.
Temperatures will also affect vehicle performance. Limiting exposure to moisture will have a good effect on the durability of the vehicle’s brakes, and the sun’s rays are one of the causes of tire aging and cracks that appear on them.

Conveniences
There are a few small conveniences that we don’t even think about when we choose garage parking over outdoor parking. For example, we don’t go out directly into the rain, we don’t worry about stepping in large puddles of water. If it’s winter, icy and snowy, you won’t spend 10 minutes cleaning the car or waiting for it to warm up before driving.
Cost-effectiveness should also be considered. Sometimes you will get lucky and find a good spot in a parking lot outside that you won’t even have to pay for. However, the probability of this happening often is minimal. We must tell you, it doesn’t really work in your favor.
If you continuously park outside, all of the above-listed issues will easily damage your vehicle and endanger its safety. Then you will have to invest more money in repairs or replacement of the vehicle than if you played it safe and left the car in a garage. Some people are fine with paying for hourly parking, but they are worried about how much they will spend if they decide to park inside for a longer time.
It shouldn’t be a big concern. Contrary to such thinking, for several days of parking you will get a discount of approximately 60% on the original hourly price. That’s why weekly parking is definitely worth it, and it’s best to reserve your parking space in advance to save time and energy on the biggest concern – will there be parking spots available?
Parking location
The priority for parking is often location, for which people will easily sacrifice all the other above-mentioned aspects. When you’re in a hurry to get to a meeting or see a friend in the city center, you don’t care if your vehicle will be heating up all day in the sun or potentially getting damaged by passing pedestrians or drivers.
At that moment you don’t have time to worry about such things. You will choose the parking place that is the most convenient and closest to the destination. This is exactly why drivers don’t even bother looking for parking garages, because everyone thinks that they are far from the city center and that they will just waste extra time walking for half an hour to the desired location.
Split is a great example of how this is not always true. The parking garage is located just a few minutes’ walk from the city center, which is very useful whether you are visiting the city, swimming at Bačvice beach, or running errands in the center.
Recommendations
Although parking outside often seems more convenient and simpler, you have to think about the long-term durability of your vehicle. It is to your advantage if you take good care of your vehicle because you will have fewer repairs and need to change it.
Parking outside has advantages such as a lower price or a location that is right in the center, but it is almost impossible to get both. If you are going to park in the center, you will definitely pay a high price. Another option is to park in front of the tenants’ buildings, but with today’s controls, you are in danger of paying a fine.
For the safety and durability of your vehicle, it is recommended to park in a garage whenever it is available and possible.