One third of drivers suffer from parking anxiety

Consumer Editor

3 minute read|27th Mar 2026

A third of drivers feel anxious, worried or even scared about parking.

According to new research from Kia, one in three consider bay parking to be the most difficult manoeuvre, while 64% believe parking spaces simply aren’t wide enough for modern cars.

Standard bay dimensions have not been formally updated since 1976.

As a result, parking spaces in the UK have become a hot topic amongst drivers in recent years, as vehicles continue to increase in size.

Some 56% of drivers say they’ve been unable to get in or out of their vehicles after parking, forcing them to climb over seats, let passengers out before parking, or waiting for neighbouring cars to leave before they can drive away.

This ongoing stress means 50% now want their car to park itself or be controlled remotely.

Parking difficulties have also made 18% of drivers late after failing to find a suitable space.

Matthew Stevens, Head of Product at Kia UK, said: “Parking is something all drivers have to do, yet it strikes fear into the hearts of so many of us, to the point that we’re driving round in circles looking for the perfect spot.”

One in 10 drivers said they had hit something while parking, with half of these admitting to reversing into a bollard.

A third said they had hit another car, and a quarter had damaged their alloy wheels. The average cost to fix damage due to parking accidents is £388.

The Kia Parking Index analysed a range of factors across the UK, found Southampton was the worst city for parking, followed by Oxford and Liverpool. By contrast, Aberdeen was the ranked as the UK’s best city for parking.

Drivers in Gloucester ranked themselves as the best parkers in the country, compared to Swansea where locals rank their fellow residents the worst.

Where is the worst city to park in the UK?

Top 5 UK cities ranked worst for parking:

1. Southampton

2. Oxford

3. Liverpool

4. Norwich

5. Belfast

Top 5 UK cities ranked best for parking:

1. Aberdeen

2. Worcester

3. Edinburgh

4. Glasgow

5. Swansea

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