Do you have trouble parking your car in the garage? Are you constantly getting out of the car to see if you've pulled in far enough? Or too far? Or do you have one of those cheesy tennis balls hanging from the ceiling? I moved into my house a year ago and the first struggle was getting the clutter in the garage cleaned up so that I could park my car in it. With two small kids and the lovely Florida heat, I wasn't about to leave my car sitting in the hot driveway! The problem was figuring out the best spot for my car - okay, I'll admit it, I don't have a car, I have a minivan (and I love it!) - and parking it ever so precisely to leave as much space in front of it as possible, so I can walk around the car to get to the door into the house with the garage door closed. This was a must because I sometimes am walking into the house from the car with a sleeping child in my arms. I can't tell you how many times the garage door has hit my bumper! Until recently I was eye-balling where to stop based on where my storage cabinets ended and the edge of the passenger side window - way too much work and variables!

Fortunately, there are many different garage parking solutions that will help you avoid your garage parking problems…for good! Using a garage parking guide is a surefire way to avoid damage to your vehicle and/or garage walls.

The main types of car parking systems, or garage parking systems as some may call it, are the laser parking system, the garage parking mat, and the proximity parking light. All options are very simple to use and install. When shopping to buy a car parking system you should consider what parking problem(s) you’ve previously experienced in your garage.

So off I went in search of options. Here's what I found at Amazon, which is where I purchased mine from because they have a great selection and good prices, and you can read real customer reviews before making your decision. Read on to find out which one I have and what I think of it.

If you have a one-car garage or plan on only parking one car in your garage, then a single laser system can be your solution. Most can be used with batteries or plugged into an outlet. They are easily mounted to the garage ceiling or high on the front garage wall. When the garage door opens, it triggers the laser to come on and as you enter a laser "dot" will appear and when the dot appears on a predetermined location on your dashboard, you stop. The laser then automatically shuts off after a minute or two.  The Instapark, at right, is a great solar-powered option.

Installs in minutes just like the laser parking systems above, but these type include two separate laser beams on one unit so you can precisely park two cars in yoru garage. No more hassles. No more dings!

This is the type that I purchased and am very pleased with it. My only complaint, or advice, I would have is to plug it in - don't use batteries because, even though the laser turns off automatically, the batteries die very quickly. Ever since I plugged mine in it has worked like a charm and I pull into my garage and park every day like a pro!

The parking mat is a simple option that works well.  All you have to do is determine where you want it and then place in on the garage floor (some come with anti-skid tape).  As you slowly pull in and approach it, you’ll go over a small bump.  Immediately after the bump, it’s time to stop.  You only need one of these for one of the front tires.  The only thing to remember here is making sure to line your tire up correctly so you land on it.

A proximity sensor system is another type of garage parking guide. The Park N Place has a portable base which utilizes a flexible rod with a red light on top that flashes when contact is made with car bumper.  It requires two batteries, which are included.

The Park-Zone, at right, uses an ultrasonic sensing mechanism to measure the distance from your car to the garage wall as you park. When you pull into the garage, you see the green light illuminate, then midway it changes to yellow, and when the light turns red you're right where you want to be.

While you're making your parking more efficient, why not protect your floors from fluid leaks and the elements. A garage floor mat will help you to ensure that your garage floor stays clean, trapping grime before it spreads to other areas of your garage floor and gets tracked into your house! Also keeps oil from staining your garage floor. It installs in just seconds and grips the garage floor securely. These wash easily and will last for years. Garage floor mats are available in several sizes.  In addition to protecting your garage floors, they make the garage look great!

Tired of bumping the wall with your car door?  These door guard are the ideal preventative measure against chipping and denting of your car's doors and for protecting your garage walls.  The design cushions the impact of the car door to protect both the car and the wall from damage. Made of a durable, rubber-like substance.  Comes complete with all the necessary hardware to install to drywall, studs, brick and concrete.  The holes are 16" and 24" apart for easy and quick fastening to studs.