Private garages increasingly converted to living space – Sainsbury’s Car Insurance

A survey conducted by Sainsbury’s Car Insurance suggests that nearly 4 million Britons have converted garages into living space during past 20 years, while only 22 per cent of car owners usually park in a garage overnight. Garages are now being used as workshops (26 per cent), offices (20 per cent), bedrooms (13 per cent) or playrooms (7 per cent), while around 16 per cent are using the garage space as an extension of existing kitchens or living rooms.

So where are cars parked now? The insurance provider revealed that the majority of car owners park on their drives (51 per cent), followed by 22 per cent of car owners who park in a garage (19 per cent own their garage; 3 per cent rent one). The street is home overnight to 18 per cent of cars, while 8 per cent use an allocated parking space, and 1 per cent park their cars “elsewhere”.

Scott Gorman, of Sainsbury’s Car Insurance said: “Overnight parking can affect the premiums you pay with some insurers. However Sainsbury’s Bank won’t base a premium on where your car is parked.”