Airport parking in the UK: park your car where it's cheap and secure

Booking with the cheapest airport parking service might feel like it's saving you money, but you could end up paying more in the long run.

Airport parking horror stories along the lines of 'meet and greet firm lost my car,' or 'I came home to a boot full of parking tickets,' usually involve a fly-by-night parking operator offering cheap prices and an equally lightweight service.

Here, Mark Hinge, chairman of the Independent Airport Parking Association (IAPA), tells LoveMONEY readers how to spot the firms to avoid and how to get airport parking peace of mind.

Heading abroad? Don't forget the travel insurance!

If it seems too good...

We’ve already discussed how it’s possible to slash the cost of airport parking, but there does come a point when a price simply sounds too cheap.

When you find a parking price that is way below the rest, ask yourself why it’s so low.

Chances are you won't be getting secure parking and rigorous customer service support, and you may pay for that on your return home.

Other warning signs that a company is worth avoiding include a mobile contact number instead of a landline, no website or one that doesn’t clearly display a trading address, independent reviews and details of where your car will be parked.

The most important element to look for is secure parking.

One of the ways the cheapest firms can cut costs is by parking cars in unsecure locations, such as fields, public roads and pub car parks.

Ask the operator for details of where your car will be kept and then check the facility out on Google Maps.

One of the easiest ways to put your mind at rest is to look for the Park Mark badge.

It's a police-approved award given to car parks that are managed to reduce crime, which means they are likely to have CCTV, fencing and be manned 24/7.

A tip for travelling from Gatwick – the airport has its own approved-parking programme, where included operators are checked for the quality of service they provide and security of their car parks.

Book with these companies for a guaranteed peace of mind.

Comparison sites are great for comparing prices and parking options at-a-glance, but be aware that most are selling services provided by other companies so you still need to check details of where your car will be parked.

The best comparison sites show this clearly.

Opting for a cheap parking service might leave your car without appropriate insurance cover.

For example, if you book with a meet and greet firm that doesn’t have the correct levels of insurance to protect your car when they drive it from the airport to their parking facility, you might be left high-and-dry if they get into an accident.

Another example – the sharing economy has made it possible for individuals to advertise their driveways for airport parking, with certain websites making it easy to find and book these options.

But while this might keep costs low, most insurance companies say that driveway owners may not be covered if something were to happen to your car, leaving you to rely on your own insurance cover for protection.

Always check insurance details before you book.

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Park-and-ride services are a great way to save money on airport parking and some will get you to the airport quicker than the airport’s own on-site parking services.

For a stress-free journey check in advance how frequently courtesy buses run and how long they take to reach the airport in rush hour, and then plan for the worst-case scenario.

You can also book with a member of the Independent Airport Parking Association (IAPA).

Members include the biggest national parking providers and single airport specialists, and all guarantee to park your car in a secure facility that is authorised for airport parking and they carry full insurance cover for both you and your car.

The IAPA logo is a sign that you can trust the operator you have chosen. Click here for a full list of IAPA members.

Heading abroad? Don't forget the travel insurance!