Big cities like New York City have parking garage facilities just about every block. This may be looked at as a good thing, since street parking is more difficult to come by. If you drive a car into New York City you are almost forced to park in a parking garage, at a cost of upwards of $40 dollar for the day. We are captive audiences for the parking garages and we pay because we have no choice. In addition to high prices, parking garages also have a reputation for damaging cars - minor fender benders, door dings and scraps/scratches to the bumpers. Bumper guards and bumper protectors can help reduce the risk of unintended damage by blocking impacts and taking the abuse.

A case in point is the wrap around style bumper guards that give your bumper 360degree bumper protection. Without a parking guard your car is at risk. I used to think like most people that giving the attendant a tip of $1 will ensure my cars safety. Boy was I wrong. At the time I was going to school in the City and commuting back and forth. By the time I finished school my car's bumper looked like swiss cheese, a gash here, a scratch there.

I clearly remember the worst day of my life, as it revisits me each time I wax my car. It was during the month of August that I had a date with a long time crush. We planned to go to dinner and a Broadway show. I was driving my new BMW 3 series coupe with approx. 3,500 miles clocked and I was feeling good. It seemed like the perfect evening - I had my new car, a cute girl and an evening planned for fun and adventure. Little did I know that this night would become a parking nightmare. I decide early in the evening that I would try and find street parking, and if that failed I would find a local parking garage.

After having my previous cars scratched in parking garages, I try to avoid them whenever possible. Turns out my night started off on a lucky note, since I easily found a parking spot on 42nd between 6th and 7th avenue, only a block away from the broadway show. The parking spot was perfect, it was one and half car lengths allowing me more then enough maneuverability and there was a hydrant behind me. After the show I could not wait to get back to my awesome BWM. The night was young and my date was going great. As I approached my vehicle, I could see that my car was sandwiched between two SUVs, a Honda Pilot and a Toyota Highlander. The Toyota was parked illegally and right up my car's bumper. I quickly assessed the situation and realized my car was wedged into the spot with 1-2" on either side. As I looked closely at my bumper, I could clearly see screw marks and a 1" scar in the paint. Funny thing is that I was considering purchasing a bumper guard a few days earlier, but decided that I did not need it. All the while my date was watching me intently wondering why I was examining my car. At this point there was nothing I could do. I could not wait around until the two SUVs moved. Without any options, I rocked my car back and forth tapping the vehicle forward and aft until I could pull out. This is my parking nightmare.

If you have any parking nightmare stories you would like to share. Avoid parking nightmares and get a bumper protector. Bumper protection will help reduce the risk of parking related bumps and bruises.

New York is known as the fashion capital of the world and this holds true for bumper guards too. Bumper protectors are in vogue and the attached pictures show some wacky bumper guards caught on the streets of New York. With parking spots in short supply, people have come up with all kinds of clever ways of protecting their bumpers. All said, constructing your own bumper protector or bumper guard may be as simple as going to your local hardware store, buying some rope, a rubber sheet or carpet remnant.

As long as you have some rope you can use almost anything for the bumper protector including....cardboard, bath towel, show mat etc. Kudos to all you bumper protection gurus who come up with ever creative ways of protecting bumpers. If you see any wacky bumper guards, door guards or bumper protection devices feel free to share your thoughts and pictures. Cheers.

There are various parking garages to select from, some are valet and others are self park. In urban centers like New York City the valet parking garage is predominant everywhere. Tight parking restrictions on the streets almost forces you to park in an over priced parking garage to avoid a ticket. With so many parking garages to choose from the question remains how to select the best parking garage facility. When parking in a parking garage the price is relative to the location. Parking garages that are close to tourist attractions generally charge more and are much busier than the parking garage a few blocks away.

Deciding which parking garage to park-in often comes down to convenience, not price. When parking in any parking garage beware that parking specials are often day and time specific, so do not be lured in by the cheap rates (READ THE SIGN CAREFULLY). Most parking garages have early bird specials and evening specials. You should also note that parking garages add an 18% tax on top of the price advertised, so always ask the attendant how much for the day? or how much for the 1 hour, 2 hours and so on. You should also be aware that many parking garages have added charges for oversized vehicles. Many common vehicles fall into the oversized vehicle category i.e minivans and sport suvs. So do not be surprised to pay more for these types of vehicles. Yahoo maps and Google maps can help you find the closest parking garages to your destination. Once you locate a few potential parking garages, you can call for rates. Don't decide on a parking garage until you see the location. Keep in mind that not all parking garages are created equal, some parking garages will be safer than others. If safe parking takes precedence then the parking guidelines below will help you make the best parking garage decision: (a) parking garage should be well lighted (b) avoid parking garages with narrow single car entrances (c) Entrance and exit ramps should be free of parked cars, allowing easy access. (d) parking garage should be clean and well maintained (d) the bigger parking garage is better because it can handle more vehicles, and there is less chance of overcrowding.

Once you have found a suitable parking garage always (1) walk around your vehicle with the parking attendant and inspect for damage. In a quality parking garage the parking attendant will automatically check your car and note any scratches or damage on the parking ticket. (2) Secure or remove valuables from the vehicle. (3) Inspect the vehicle after it was retrieved and inform the parking attendant if you spot any damages.