BMW drivers are simply bad at parking – study reveals
A new study by Scrap Car Comparison has named BMW drivers as the worst parkers on the road.
According to the research, nearly half of all drivers (48%) feel less than confident in their parking skills.
But BMW owners stand out, with a staggering 68% admitting they need parking practice—20% above the average.
Even more embarrassing? 1 in 6 BMW drivers have confessed to feeling ashamed of their parking abilities.
German Luxury Brands Top the Worst Parking List
The findings also suggest a pattern: luxury German car owners struggle the most with parking.
Audi and Mercedes-Benz drivers came in second and third, trailing BMW, while drivers of Honda, Toyota, and Kia vehicles also ranked lower than average.
| Rank | Car Brand | % Needing Parking Help |
| 1 | BMW | 68% |
| 2 | Audi | 64% |
| 3 | Mercedes-Benz | 63% |
| 4 | Honda | 63% |
| 5 | Toyota | 51% |
| 6 | Kia | 48% |
| 7 | Citroën | 47% |
| 8 | Ford | 47% |
| 9 | Hyundai | 46% |
| 10 | Fiat | 45% |
Are EV Drivers Parking-Challenged Too?
It’s not just German luxury car owners. Electric vehicle (EV) drivers also find parking a struggle, with 66% saying they need assistance, compared to 49% of hybrid and petrol owners and just 39% of diesel drivers.
Introducing the ‘B Plate’ for Bad Parkers
To help ease the stress of parking woes, Scrap Car Comparison has come up with a clever fix: the ‘B Plate.’ Modeled after the UK’s iconic ‘L Plates’ for learner drivers, the ‘B Plate’ lets others know that a driver might not be the best at parking.
With 17% of drivers admitting to feeling anxious about parking and 30% purposely hunting for bays with empty spaces on either side, the ‘B Plate’ might just become a game-changer for self-conscious parkers.
Feeling less than confident about your parking? It seems you’re not alone—and if you’re a BMW driver, maybe it’s time to practice those parallel parks.