Bad luck and breakdowns in the parking garage: a few tips

Parking garages can be adventurous. You have to weave through tight corners, squeeze into tight parking spaces, not lose your ticket and finally you have to know where the car is parked. We give tips on various problems when parking in the large garage.

The classic: When I get out, I dent the door in the neighboring car

Usually the car owner is nowhere to be seen. So what should I do? The most obvious thing: I write an apology and my phone number on a piece of paper and stick it under the windshield wiper. The car owner should contact me.

That's not a good idea. Because: That's not allowed. If I cause property damage, I have to stay on site and inform the owner immediately. In a shopping center, I can only call out the car number. If that doesn't work, there's only one option: I have to inform the police. They will then establish contact - there's no fine for that.

I've lost my ticket! - Why not without a ticket altogether?

I'm standing in front of the parking ticket office and realize: My ticket is gone! What now? Walk to the entrance and simply get a new ticket at the barrier? Not a good idea. Firstly, that doesn't work in many parking garages. And secondly, it can be interpreted as fraud. The correct thing to do is to call the emergency number at the ticket office or press the information button at the barrier when you drive out. There's usually a fee.

To prevent this from happening in the first place, you can also park without a ticket. Here are a few options:

* I order a parking card the size of a credit card - for example via the Parkingpay app. It now works in almost 1000 parking spaces and parking garages in Switzerland. I can leave this card in the car. I just hold it at the machine at the barrier when entering and exiting. The parking time is calculated and the parking fee is automatically charged to my credit card. More information can be found here <https://parkingpay.ch/> .
* Simply use your credit card where possible. This is also possible in many parking garages. When entering, do not press the ticket button, but insert your credit card into the slot. The barrier opens. When exiting, insert the same credit card again in front of the barrier. The parking fee is automatically charged.
* Some Twint apps also offer a parking option. This is the case when you find the "Ticketless parking" service under "Partner functions" when you open your Twint app. You can use this function in parking garages with a car number recognition system. You enter your car number in the Twint app, the system recognizes you when you enter and exit and charges the corresponding parking fee to your Twint account. You can find out where this is possible and how this payment method works in detail here <https://www.twint.ch/faq/was-ist-offstreet-parking-und-wie-funktioniert-es/> .

And this too: Where in the world is my car?

First of all, stay calm. After paying, you usually have a quarter of an hour to drive out. In larger parking garages, even more. Either way, it's a case of searching. Press the remote control and hope that something flashes or honks somewhere.

To prevent this from happening in the first place, I can take preventative measures. The smartphone is a valuable aid in this. Here are a few options:

* The classic variant: Take a photo of the parking space, especially the number, and the floor number on the elevator.

* Use special apps such as ParKing or "Find my car". After you have parked your car, tell the app that you are parking here. If you want to go back to your car, pick up the app again and let it guide you to your car. However, the cell phone needs reception, which is not always the case in an underground car park. And: In multi-story garages, the apps sometimes have trouble determining the exact floor. At least they show exactly which part of the car park the car is in. This significantly limits the search.

More suitable for the "rougher" search

If you are in an unfamiliar city and have no idea where you parked your car, these tools will help you find the parking garage or parking space:

* Google Maps: Save your parking space location in the "Google Maps" app. You can find out how to do this here https://praxistipps.chip.de/geparktes-auto-finden-anleitung-fuer-iphone-android_51023 .
* Use your phone's voice recognition system. For example, after parking your car, say: "I'm parking here." When you want to go back, say: "Find my car!"