If you are finding it harder and harder to park your car, you are not alone, and the problem is not related to your driving skills, it is more likely that your car has outgrown the traditional car park size.

New research published this week has found that the guidelines for car park space sizes has not changed since the 1960s, but that the size of our cars has increased by almost 20 per cent.

The data published by CarGurus has found that modern cars can take up 86 per cent of a standard parking space, whereas in the 1970s, the typical car only took up 69 per cent. The standard space is 2.4m x 4.8m.

Chris Knapman, editor at CarGurus said: “It’s understandable why cars have grown so much over the years, and the dramatically improved safety standards of modern cars versus those of years gone by is an obvious benefit.

“However, as many motorists will no doubt confirm, it's disappointing that parking space guidelines haven’t been updated accordingly.

“Many of the latest cars are at least available with technology to help with parking, including parking sensors, reversing cameras, 360-degree view cameras and automatic parallel and bay parking functions.

“Some even equip cars with features to help prevent car park damage, such as door edge protectors and Citroën’s Airbump Technology.

“However, it is, of course, worth noting that no matter how easy the technology makes it to park, if the space is too small for your car none of it will help you to physically squeeze out of the driver's seat.”

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