Is It Safe to Park Overnight in Nashville?

February 19, 2026

The answer depends on where you park and what you leave visible in your car. Nashville has a genuine vehicle crime problem. By the end of 2023, there were nearly 5,738 car thefts reported in Nashville and Davidson County, the highest number since 1998 and a roughly 75% increase from the prior year. In early 2024, that rate continued climbing. MNPD data shows an average of 172 vehicle theft cases per week in 2024. Overnight parking in any neighborhood means real, not theoretical, risk.

Where Break-Ins Are Most Concentrated

East Nashville has been the most active area for overnight vehicle crimes heading into 2025. In December 2024, thieves hit 11 vehicles on a single block near Five Points in one night. MNPD crime maps showed at least 79 police reports of car break-ins in East Nashville within a four-week period in early 2025. Vehicle thefts in East Nashville rose 40% between 2023 and 2024, climbing from 333 to 462 incidents.

Germantown and downtown have also seen break-ins, including incidents in parking garages. A Councilman representing those areas told local press: “I hear time and time again from musicians who go play a gig downtown and they come back after playing a gig and their windows are smashed.”

The Gulch has had incidents too, with MNPD identifying teens responsible for break-ins specifically in that neighborhood.

Antioch saw a 94.6% increase in auto thefts within its police precinct in 2024.

The Kia and Hyundai Factor

A disproportionate share of Nashville car thefts involve 2011-2022 Kia and Hyundai models, which lack standard anti-theft technology that other manufacturers included. Over 1,500 were stolen in one recent year, representing a 555% increase from 2022. Metro Nashville filed a federal lawsuit against both manufacturers. If you drive one of these models, overnight street parking in Nashville carries elevated risk. MNPD and Kia/Hyundai both offer free software updates to improve security; get it before you visit.

Is Overnight Street Parking Legal?

Yes. Nashville’s 24/7 CBD meter enforcement does not apply to overnight prohibition; it means meters are active around the clock, but leaving a car parked with a paid meter overnight is legal for the duration paid. In neighborhoods with non-CBD meters, enforcement stops at midnight, making street parking free from midnight to 6 AM. There is no citywide prohibition on overnight street parking.

Safest Options for Overnight Parking

Covered garages with active security are the safest overnight option. The Music City Center garage (701 Demonbreun) has 24-hour roving security and 1,800 spaces. Overnight rate is $45. The Metro-owned Church Street Plaza Garage (151 6th Ave N) and Public Square Garage (101 James Robertson Pkwy) offer overnight options at lower rates ($5-20 range depending on timing).

Hotel parking is the most convenient overnight option for visitors, running $20-35/night at most downtown properties. It keeps your car off the street entirely.

Private garages vary in security. Covered, attended facilities are better than open surface lots.

Practical Precautions

MNPD’s “Park Smart” campaign has run since 2000 with consistent advice that actually reduces theft risk:

  • Remove all valuables from the car, do not just hide them under seats. Thieves break windows for bags left in the back seat.
  • Do not leave guns in your car. Nashville has a significant problem with firearms stolen from vehicles, which then enter the criminal ecosystem.
  • Park in well-lit areas with foot traffic.
  • If you own a Kia or Hyundai, get the free anti-theft software update.
  • A visible steering wheel club or other anti-theft device deters amateur thieves, who account for the majority of car thefts in Nashville.

The honest bottom line: overnight street parking in Nashville is legal but not low-risk. For a weekend visit, garages or hotel parking are worth the cost. If you are a resident parking on the street every night, your car will eventually be targeted unless you take the precautions above.

Sources

  • WKRN: “Cars being broken into, stolen in Nashville at highest rate since 1998,” May 2024
  • WSMV: “Thieves break into multiple cars in East Nashville overnight,” December 2024
  • WKRN: “City and state leaders look to address increase in Nashville car break-ins,” January 2025
  • HereNashville: “Car Thefts Surge in East Nashville Amid Winter Chill,” February 2025
  • WKRN: “More than 50 car break-ins reported over the weekend,” May 2024
  • Metro Nashville Music City Center: nashvillemusiccitycenter.com/maps-parking (overnight rate: $45)
  • Metro Nashville Paid Parking: nashville.gov/departments/transportation/traffic-and-parking/parking/paid-parking

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