Chances are that when you take your pre-owned certified Toyota shopping or out on the town, you’ll have to park it in a lot. While there are a variety of spots to choose from and ways you can maneuver your vehicle in the St Louis lot, some ways are far more polite than others. From the direction you park to how you leave your vehicle, your choices affect other drivers. Because of this, here’s a little primer on parking lot etiquette.

As you drive through a parking lot, you’ll probably notice that there are arrows on the lanes indicating which direction you should be driving your certified Toyota. While it’s probably not illegal to go the wrong way, doing it can confuse other drivers and even cause fender benders. Not only that, but in many lots the parking spaces are angled. If you are approaching them from the wrong direction, it can be really hard to get into the spot without a lot of maneuvering. Because of this, it’s best to just follow the arrows as you look for your spot.

In some areas, parking spots will also have a size listed next to them. “Compact car,” for example, is one sign that may be posted on a smaller space in the lot. If your certified Toyota is a larger vehicle such as a truck or an SUV, it may not fit well. Even if you can get your vehicle into the space, it may make it hard for other drivers to use the spots next to you, so please, drive on and find a spot that is right for your vehicle.

Many drivers like to pull their certified Toyota through when they park so that they don’t have to back their car up when it’s time to leave. While this can be a smart decision if the lines are straight, when the spots are angled it can cause problems. If you park so that you have to exit the lot driving in the wrong direction, you could cause an accident.

Parking lot etiquette isn’t very difficult, but it does require you to pay attention. Some basic politeness and obeying of the rules makes parking easier for everyone, and we can all use some extra kindness in our day.