Why book ahead?
Airports price drive-up parking higher than pre-booked parking, and some car parks are pre-book only. Examples of what airports themselves say (checked 3 October 2026):
- London City: pre-booking can save up to 90% on drive-up rates.
- Birmingham: up to 70% (on 14-day-plus stays in Car Parks 1, 2 and 3, under its stated terms).
- Luton: up to 65%.
- Humberside: up to 30%.
Pre-booking also guarantees a space at busy times.
The small print to check
- Cancellation and changes. Windows vary: Stansted offers free cancellation up to 72 hours before arrival, Bristol free changes up to 48 hours, Gatwick and Birmingham flexible bookings up to 24 hours, and Heathrow and Southampton up to 2 hours before (on the right product).
- Overstays. If your flight home is delayed, extra time is usually charged at the daily or drive-up rate — Exeter quotes £20 a day, Norwich £30 a day.
- The right terminal. At Heathrow and Manchester, car parks serve particular terminals.
- Your registration. Many car parks open the barrier by number-plate recognition — update the booking if you change car.
- Seasonal closures. Some cheaper car parks close in winter — Stansted's JetParks and Glasgow Prestwick's Car Park 3, for example.
Booking direct or through a comparison site?
You can book official parking on the airport's own site, and many airports' products are also sold through booking and comparison websites. Whichever you use, check the car park name and the cancellation terms before you pay. If you book through a third party, changes usually go through them — Exeter warns that if its own site doesn't recognise your booking reference, you probably booked through a third-party site.