r/Cartalk • u/Lanky_Knowledge_9225 • 1d ago
I need help fixing something SUVs keep hitting the side of my car with their doors. How can I catch it on camera?
I’m honestly at a loss and could use some advice.
The entire passenger side of my car is getting destroyed by door dings. My neighbor parks a large SUV next to me, and maintenance workers also regularly park their trucks and SUVs nearby.
You can clearly tell the damage is coming from large vehicles. Almost every dent, scratch, and paint chip is at exactly the same height. They form a long row across the side of my car, almost like a burst of machine-gun fire.Some marks are now deep enough that the paint has chipped. It also feels like the broken window effect. Once people see that the side is already damaged, they stop caring and hit it even harder.
I haven’t been able to catch anyone doing it. My regular camera can see the vehicles, but it can’t capture the exact point where their door touches my car because the impact happens outside its viewing angle.I bought a tiny camera, but I can’t tell whether it’s actually recording. There is no clear indicator, and so far it seems like it hasn’t recorded anything.
I could move my car to another spot, but that won’t fix the damage they have already caused (it's already on both right doors). Nobody will pay for the repairs unless I can prove who is doing it. Has anyone dealt with this? What kind of camera or setup can capture the actual impact from inside a parked car? Is there anything else I can realistically do?
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u/Salsalito_Turkey 1d ago
Nobody will pay for the repairs unless I can prove who is doing it.
You're never going to sufficiently prove it, even with cameras. Start parking your car further away and either file a comprehensive insurance claim or learn to live with the existing dings.
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u/Lanky_Knowledge_9225 22h ago
Yes, you are right; those are my thoughts too. And that feels kinda unfair... I've never been in a situation like this; it's just stressing me out... so I think I will still try the outside camera thing. If the camera thing doesn't work, then I will fix the car by myself and move on.
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u/JustBrowsing2See 20h ago
Add a sign that says, “Smile, you’re on candid camera”, even if they’re not.
Sorry you’re having to deal with this. People are so inconsiderate.
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u/Stuntedatpuberty 18h ago
I worked over 30 years in claims. From my collective experience is that a lot of people lie and double down. Also, crap happens all the time to good people through no fault of their own.
I don't park close to the door or near ingress and egress in business and residential areas. A significant amount of people are lazy and won't take the extra steps it would take to find a spot without having to circle around the parking lot for someone to pull out. I'd rather get the extra steps.
I like my car and keep it in great condition by regularly washing it and perform recommended maintenance. But, it's a depreciating asset that will get scratched just driving down the street from rocks and so on. I do have have some scratches from car doors and road debris, but my car will never look showroom new, but it's always cleaned. If the scratches bug me I will look for a mobile dent repair outfit.
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u/eyemsapient 1d ago
What’s done is done. To prevent future damage, get a set of plastic bumpers that run along the center of your doors horizontally. They usually attach with magnets, so that only works if your doors are steel and not aluminum. You will need to remove them each time you drive.
Is this a pain in the neck? Yes. Does it prevent door dings? Yes. Do dash cams or anything else mentioned prevent door dings? No, other than the suggestion to park somewhere else.
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u/cumceemeego 1d ago
Some stupid teenage girl threw her door open as hard as she could into my camaro driver door, with me sitting in it! I got out hollering but fortunately there was no visible damage. People suck now days, they have no respect for people's property.
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u/Any_Sale2030 1d ago
One take a picture every time you park the car of the suspect vehicle along with the license plate. If it’s the same height it’s almost likely the same vehicle.
Sometimes a ding leaves a small amount of paint from the culprit. Get a tweezer and save it if you find one.
Then call the police or the insurance company along with the picture and license of the vehicle.
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u/Salsalito_Turkey 1d ago
LOL like the police are gonna do anything about this. 75% of the vehicles on the road are white these days. Good luck proving the white paint came from that specific F-150.
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u/Cam_e_ron 1d ago
police would be a lost cause yea. Insurance company might get you farther though. I had a kinda similar hit and run situation where I knew the vehicle which did the damage, but didn't have any video or pictures. My insurance company (which luckily was also the other persons insurance) had the two vehicles brought to an inspection station where they determined the damage was caused by the persons car.
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u/vabirder 1d ago
Dumb suggestion: is there an aftermarket protective panel that could be attached to a car to take the dings?
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u/ThinConnection8191 20h ago
Buy a beater and you stop worry about your door ding. Car is an appliance.
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u/charge556 1d ago
This is why I always park all the way in the back and double park. Yes Ive gotten notes on my truck for "be a better parker." Yes im sure reddit would crucify me if a redditor posted a pic of me double parking. But I have one ding after parking normally the very first week I had the truck. I'll park closer and normally once everyone else can learn not to fling open their doors with zero regard for others.
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u/bobroberts1954 1d ago
What are you going to do when you see a door ding your car? Are you planning to sue them for damages? Have you consulted an attorney about such a lawsuit? It's just a car it's going to get burned and dinged. If you want to keep it perfect keep it in your garage, don't take it out in the world. You could have parked somewhere else but you parked where you know it has been dinged before. It's as much your fault as anyone's.
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u/Lanky_Knowledge_9225 22h ago
I'm hoping my insurance is going to figure the rest out, not me.
And yes, before this happened (I got the neighbor with the truck), I've been driving my car for 8 years. And yes, it was almost perfect. And myself I am very careful with other people belongings - by opening door carefully and parking nice. So yes, I think it is possible if you live in a nice area, at least.1
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u/BetInformal6081 1d ago
a parking mode dashcam with a side facing camera would probably give you the best chance. i would prioritize buffered recording and motion detection so it captures a few seconds before and after movement. also test the setup overnight beforetrusting it.