Parking, storage and your car insurance.
Learn about parking and storing your car - overnight or long-term - and how it affects your car insurance.
Published: 20 February 2026
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Does it matter where you park or store your car?
Yes. Where you keep your car matters. It can mean more or less risk, depending on where it is. And that can affect the price you pay for your car insurance.
When you apply for Tesco Car Insurance, we’ll ask you where you keep your car when you’re not using it. And you need to tell us if that changes, so we can take it into account.
Street parking vs garage parking
Here’s an idea of how much risk there is in different parking places. And what you need to tell us if you have Tesco Car Insurance.
The risks of where you keep your car
- On-street parking - Cars parked on the street are more exposed. Think theft, vandalism, scrapes, and storm damage. And that can increase your car insurance premium.On-street parking - Cars parked on the street are more exposed. Think theft, vandalism, scrapes, and storm damage. And that can increase your car insurance premium.
- Driveway parking - A driveway helps to lower the risk. It’s on private land and often under your window, which makes it safer than parking on the street. Remember, thieves prefer an easy target.Driveway parking - A driveway helps to lower the risk. It’s on private land and often under your window, which makes it safer than parking on the street. Remember, thieves prefer an easy target.
- Garage parking - A locked garage is the best option for most cars. It keeps your car out of sight and sheltered from the weather, so it’s usually seen as the lowest riskGarage parking - A locked garage is the best option for most cars. It keeps your car out of sight and sheltered from the weather, so it’s usually seen as the lowest risk
- Communal or private car park - The risk here can vary, depending on lighting, access control, and CCTV. But it usually sits somewhere between a driveway and parking on-street.Communal or private car park - The risk here can vary, depending on lighting, access control, and CCTV. But it usually sits somewhere between a driveway and parking on-street.
How your postcode affects your premiums
- Your postcode is part of the quote. It reflects local claim rates, theft levels, traffic, and weather.Your postcode is part of the quote. It reflects local claim rates, theft levels, traffic, and weather.
- Two identical driveways can price differently. One area might have more claims than another.Two identical driveways can price differently. One area might have more claims than another.
- Driveway parking is usually better than on-street, but your postcode still matters when it comes to the cost of your car insurance.Driveway parking is usually better than on-street, but your postcode still matters when it comes to the cost of your car insurance.
Car insurance parking definitions
When you apply for Tesco Car Insurance, we’ll ask you to pick a parking place that best fits your situation. This is the place where you park your car most nights.
Here are some common parking definitions:
- Garage - A locked, enclosed building at your home. Either built in to your house or a standalone building.Garage - A locked, enclosed building at your home. Either built in to your house or a standalone building.
- Driveway - A private driveway at your home.Driveway - A private driveway at your home.
- On-street or road parking - Parked on a public road outside or near your home.On-street or road parking - Parked on a public road outside or near your home.
- Private car park - Residents’ or allocated parking, not on a public road.Private car park- Residents’ or allocated parking, not on a public road.
- Public car park - Open to the public - for example, a supermarket or train station car park.Public car park - Open to the public - for example, a supermarket or train station car park.
- Workplace car park - A car park at your place of work.Workplace car park - A car park at your place of work.
- Locked compound - A gated, fenced area with controlled access. It should be locked when there’s no one there. It’s not open to the public and usually sits on private land.Locked compound - A gated, fenced area with controlled access. It should be locked when there’s no one there. It’s not open to the public and usually sits on private land.
What to tell your insurer about where you keep your car
If you have Tesco Car Insurance, it’s important to be clear about how and where you keep your car. And tell us if the situation changes.
That’ll help to protect your cover and make sure we’ve given you the right price.
What to tell us when you get a quote
- Be accurate when you tell us where you keep your car most nights.Be accurate when you tell us where you keep your car most nights.
- If it varies, pick the most common place.If it varies, pick the most common place.
- If your routine changes, you need to let us know. For example, if you lose your garage or move from a driveway to on-street parking. We might need to review your cover.If your routine changes, you need to let us know. For example, if you lose your garage or move from a driveway to on-street parking. We might need to review your cover.
What to tell us if things change
- Your address and parking place - if you move homeYour address and parking place - if you move home
- Your usual overnight parking place - if, for example, you change from garage to street or street to drivewayYour usual overnight parking place - if, for example, you change from garage to street or street to driveway
- Any security features you add or remove - like a factory immobiliser, tracking or steering lockAny security features you add or remove - like a factory immobiliser, tracking or steering lock
- A change of location, like a new workplace - if you start keeping your car away from home overnightA change of location, like a new workplace - if you start keeping your car away from home overnight
- If you make a SORN - because you’re taking your car off the road and plan long-term storageIf you make a SORN - because you’re taking your car off the road and plan long-term storage
Why this matters
- Parking and security affect the price and terms of your coverParking and security affect the price and terms of your cover
- If some of the details are wrong or missing, we could reduce or reject a claim, or cancel your policy.If some of the details are wrong or missing, we could reduce or reject a claim, or cancel your policy.
- Check your Statement of Fact and policy schedule. Make sure they reflect your situation.Check your Statement of Fact and policy schedule. Make sure they reflect your situation.
What if I don’t park in the same place every night?
Pick the place where you keep your car most nights. It’s fine if that changes sometimes. But you must tell us if the place you park changes for good.
How to choose
- Most insurers expect some variety. A night at a friend’s or a weekly gym class is normal.Most insurers expect some variety. A night at a friend’s or a weekly gym class is normal.
- We ask for the place you park your car most nights. That’s the key for your quote.We ask for the place you park your car most nights. That’s the key for your quote.
- If there’s no clear winner, think about a typical month. Count nights and choose the highest.If there’s no clear winner, think about a typical month. Count nights and choose the highest.
- If you’re not sure which option to pick, start a quote and see what the definitions are. Or contact us for help.If you’re not sure which option to pick, start a quote and see what the definitions are. Or contact us for help.
Flexibility and when to tell us
- Occasional changes are fine. Insurers anticipate this and allow for a bit of flexibility.Occasional changes are fine. Insurers anticipate this and allow for a bit of flexibility.
- If your pattern changes for good, tell us. For example, you start keeping the car at a different address most nights.If your pattern changes for good, tell us. For example, you start keeping the car at a different address most nights.
- Students, split households, and shift workers - choose the most nights address. If that changes, tell us.Students, split households, and shift workers - choose the most nights address. If that changes, tell us.
Storing your car during holidays and longer breaks
For a short trip or family holiday, take some simple steps to secure your car. If you’re going away for a few months, it might be better to make a SORN and think about secure, long-term storage.
If you’re away for days or a couple of weeks
- Park off-street if you can. A garage is best. A well lit driveway is next best.Park off-street if you can. A garage is best. A well lit driveway is next best.
- Remove valuables. And any evidence of gadgets being in the car.Remove valuables. And any evidence of gadgets being in the car.
- Lock your car properly. Double-check. Close the windows and sunroof.Lock your car properly. Double-check. Close the windows and sunroof.
- Think about a visible deterrent - like a steering wheel lock or dashcam.Think about a visible deterrent - like a steering wheel lock or dashcam.
If you won’t use your car for months
- Decide if you need to make a SORN - taking your car off the public road, by storing it in a garage, on a driveway, or on private land.Decide if you need to make a SORN - taking your car off the public road, by storing it in a garage, on a driveway, or on private land.
- Keep the battery maintained and the tyres inflated. Don’t block drains or exits. Ideally, keep the keys in a signal blocking pouch.Keep the battery maintained and the tyres inflated. Don’t block drains or exits. Ideally, keep the keys in a signal blocking pouch.
Security and theft risk: simple steps that help
Small steps can help to reduce the risk when you park in a public place. And that can help with your car insurance if you need to make a claim.
- Lock up - Check handles. Close the windows and sunroof.Lock up - Check handles. Close the windows and sunroof.
- Don’t hide anything - Take valuables with you.Don’t hide anything - Take valuables with you.
- Park bright - Choose a well lit or overlooked spot. Near CCTV if possible.Park bright - Choose a well lit or overlooked spot. Near CCTV if possible.
- Use visible deterrents - Steering wheel or pedal locks still work. Dashcam can help.Use visible deterrents - Steering wheel or pedal locks still work. Dashcam can help.
- Protect your keys - Use a signal blocking (Faraday) pouch for keyless fobs.Protect your keys - Use a signal blocking (Faraday) pouch for keyless fobs.
- Mark and track - Look into VIN etching and a tracker if you have a high value car. You might already have built-in GPS tracking. Or you could leave a tracking device hidden in your car that works with your mobile phone.Mark and track - Look into VIN etching and a tracker if you have a high value car. You might already have built-in GPS tracking. Or you could leave a tracking device hidden in your car that works with your mobile phone.
Can a car be parked on the road without insurance?
No. It’s illegal under UK Continuous Insurance Enforcement rules*.
- Every car must be insured if it’s on a public road.Every car must be insured if it’s on a public road.
- If you don’t want to insure your car, you must make a SORN and keep it off the road - in a garage, on a driveway, or on private land.If you don’t want to insure your car, you must make a SORN and keep it off the road - in a garage, on a driveway, or on private land.
- Penalties include fines, clamping, seizure and prosecution.Penalties include fines, clamping, seizure and prosecution.
You can find out more about Vehicle insurance at Gov.uk.
Insurance for cars in storage
If your car’s off the road, you can still protect it.
- If you make a SORN, by law, you won’t need road tax or car insurance.If you make a SORN, by law, you won’t need road tax or car insurance.
- If you want protection for your car in storage, you might be able to find cover for fire and theft while it’s off the road. This is often called laid‑up or storage cover. Availability varies by insurer and policy.If you want protection for your car in storage, you might be able to find cover for fire and theft while it’s off the road. This is often called laid‑up or storage cover. Availability varies by insurer and policy.
- Talk to us if you plan to put your car in long term storage. We’ll explain your options for a car being kept off the road.Talk to us if you plan to put your car in long term storage. We’ll explain your options for a car being kept off the road.
Quick checklist: parking, storage and your car insurance
Here are 5 quick things to keep you right.
- Pick the correct overnight parking type on your car insurance quote.Pick the correct overnight parking type on your car insurance quote.
- Tell us if you move house or start parking somewhere else most nights.Tell us if you move house or start parking somewhere else most nights.
- Don’t keep a car on a public road without insurance.Don’t keep a car on a public road without insurance.
- Make a SORN and store your car off the road - if you won’t be using it for a while and don’t want road cover.Make a SORN and store your car off the road - if you won’t be using it for a while and don’t want road cover.
- Use simple security steps to lower theft risk.Use simple security steps to lower theft risk.
Why choose Tesco Car Insurance?
If you’re keeping your car on the road, it’s easy to check the options and compare cover levels with Tesco Car Insurance. And we’re here to help and support you too.
Here are just a few of the reasons to choose us:
- UK-based customer serviceUK-based customer service
- 99% of Car Insurance claims paid (July 2024-June 2025).99% of Car Insurance claims paid (July 2024-June 2025).
- Optional extras to increase your coverOptional extras to increase your cover
- Save money with your ClubcardSave money with your Clubcard
You can choose from different cover levels - Gold, Silver and Bronze. And you can add optional extras like Breakdown Cover to get more cover for an additional cost.
Help for Car Insurance customers
If you’re a Tesco Car Insurance customer, find out how to manage your policy, get in touch or make a claim.
Important information
Tesco Car Insurance is arranged and administered by Tesco Insurance and is underwritten by Tesco Underwriting Ltd.
Tesco Insurance Breakdown Cover is provided, administered and underwritten by RAC Insurance Ltd.
You’ll find complete details of the cover, monetary limits, exclusions, excesses and terms in our policy schedule.
About our sources
Learn more about Car Insurance
Compare our Gold, Silver and Bronze comprehensive cover and save money with your Clubcard. For drivers aged 21 and over.