The Great Parking Predicament: When cars outgrow their spaces

Ever tried squeezing into your favourite jeans from a decade ago? That's precisely how modern cars feel when attempting to nestle into traditional UK parking spaces. Our vehicles are bulking up, but parking spots? Not so much.

A growing concern

Over the past 25 years, cars have been on a steady diet, leading to noticeable gains in both length and width. Data from our trusty valuations partner, Brego, reveals that if this trend continues, by 2059, the average car will be too long for standard UK parking spaces. By 2075, they'll be too wide as well.

Size of the problem

Let's take a trip down memory lane:

• 2001: Cars averaged 4.21 m in length and 1.83 m in width.
• 2025: Projections show an increase to 4.52 m long and 2.03 m wide.

Fast forward to the future:

• 2059: Predicted length of 4.81 m.
• 2075: Predicted width of 2.40 m.

For context, the standard UK parking space measures 2.4 m in width and 4.8 m in length.

Why the expansion?

Several factors are contributing to this growth spurt:

• SUVs: The love affair with SUVs has led to a surge in larger vehicle sales. In fact, SUVs now make up nearly half of new car sales in Europe. It's like everyone's trying to drive a personal tank.
• Safety First: Modern cars come equipped with advanced safety features, which often require more space. It's the automotive equivalent of wearing extra padding.
• Room to Stretch: Consumers crave spacious interiors, leading manufacturers to design bigger models. After all, who doesn't want to feel like they're lounging in a mobile living room?

Manufacturers leading the charge

Some car brands are more enthusiastic about this growth than others. Over the past five years, the top contenders the race to bulk up their range of cars are:

• Smart: Length increased by 152.76 mm; width by 16.55 mm.
• MG: Length up by 87.25 mm; width by 2.07 mm.
• Lamborghini: Length grew by 79.13 mm; width by 10.45 mm.

Even the traditionally dinky Smart cars are hitting the gym, bulking up (on average) more than 15 cm over the past five years.

Parking predicament

As our cars continue to supersize, parking spaces remain their petite selves. This mismatch leads to:

• Tight Squeezes: Drivers performing parking acrobatics to fit their vehicles into snug spots.
• Ding Dilemmas: Increased chances of door dings and scratches. It's like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
• Urban Jams: Cities grappling with the challenge of accommodating these automotive behemoths.

The road ahead

As our cars continue their growth journey, it's clear that our infrastructure needs a makeover. Whether it's updating parking space dimensions, encouraging manufacturers to embrace compact designs, or investing in innovative parking solutions, one thing's certain: we can't let our cars outgrow their homes.

So, next time you're squeezing into a tight parking spot, remember: it's not you; it's the car. And maybe, just maybe, it's time to consider a compact.