Most airport parking companies are honest, but every year some travellers are caught out. Gatwick says rogue operators have left passengers with damaged vehicles, missing items, unexplained extra mileage, unexpected charges and long waits for their cars. A few minutes of checking before you book helps.
1. Start with the airport
Official car parks are listed on the airport's own website — our airport pages link to each one. Some airports also publish approved lists: Gatwick's Approved Operators Scheme is one example.
2. Look for recognised accreditation
- Safer Parking (Park Mark): a police standard for car parks with measures to reduce crime, run by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives. The old Park Mark website now redirects to the Safer Parking search, where you can look a car park up. Many official airport car parks hold it — Luton, Stansted, Teesside, Exeter, Bournemouth, Norwich and Birmingham among them.
- Safer Parking Meet and Greet — the police-supported assessment of meet and greet operators, which is replacing the BPA's Approved Meet and Greet Parking Operator (AM-GO) scheme. About the scheme.
- IPC Accredited Airport Parking Provider (AAPP) — the International Parking Community's certification for airport meet and greet and park and ride services. About AAPP.
- Buy With Confidence — a scheme run by local authority Trading Standards services, whose members have been checked and vetted. Search the scheme.
3. Check the business itself
- Does the website give a real company name, address and phone number?
- Will they tell you exactly where your car will be stored?
- Read independent reviews on recognised review sites — not just the testimonials on the operator's own site.
- Be wary of prices that are far below everyone else's. Gatwick's advice is that deals that look much cheaper than comparable options may warrant extra investigation.
- Read the terms: what happens if your car is damaged, your flight is delayed or you need to cancel?
4. On the day
- Take photos of the car all round, plus the dashboard showing mileage and fuel.
- Remove valuables and don't leave your house keys on the same key ring.
- Make sure you get a receipt or confirmation when you hand over the keys.
If something goes wrong
Document any damage, contact the parking company straight away and tell your insurer. If you receive a parking charge notice you believe is unfair, follow the appeal steps on the notice; independent appeals services such as POPLA (for British Parking Association members) and the IPC's Independent Appeals Service are free to use.