Leaving your car at an airport car park for a week or two can feel nerve-wracking. What if it gets damaged? What if someone breaks in? These are legitimate concerns — but the reality is that reputable airport car parks are among the most secure places you can leave a vehicle. Here’s what you need to know.
The Park Mark Standard
The single most important thing to look for is the Park Mark Safer Parking Award. This is the UK’s national standard for secure parking, managed by the British Parking Association (BPA) in partnership with local police forces.
To earn Park Mark accreditation, a car park must meet strict criteria including 24/7 CCTV coverage with recording, perimeter fencing or walls, controlled entry and exit barriers, adequate lighting throughout, regular staff patrols, and an incident response protocol.
Car parks are assessed by police-trained assessors and must pass re-assessment regularly. If a car park displays the Park Mark logo, you can be confident it meets a high security standard.
What Security Features to Look For
CCTV
All reputable car parks have CCTV cameras covering every area. The best operators use HD cameras with night vision capability and retain footage for at least 30 days. Some newer facilities use ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) at entry and exit for an additional layer of security.
Fencing and Barriers
Look for solid perimeter fencing (not just hedges), barrier-controlled entry and exit, and ideally a single entry/exit point. This prevents unauthorised vehicles from entering or leaving.
Lighting
A well-lit car park deters criminal activity. Good operators maintain bright, even lighting across all parking areas, walkways, and shuttle stops.
Staff Presence
The best car parks have staff on-site 24/7. Even if the office closes overnight, security patrols should continue. Ask the operator about their overnight security arrangements if you’re concerned.
Meet & Greet Security
With Meet & Greet, someone else drives your car. This raises additional questions. Reputable providers vet all drivers with DBS (criminal record) checks, carry full insurance covering your vehicle while in their care, use GPS tracking on all vehicles, and store cars in the same secured compounds used for Park & Ride.
Be wary of unofficial Meet & Greet operators who approach you at the airport. Stick to pre-booked, established providers. There have been cases of rogue operators parking cars on residential streets or even using them while owners are away. Booking through a comparison service like Park4Travels ensures you’re dealing with vetted, legitimate operators.
What to Do Before Leaving Your Car
Even in the most secure car park, take these precautions: remove all valuables including electronics, bags, and loose change. Take your sat nav and its holder — the suction cup mark on the windscreen is a signal to thieves. Don’t leave your house keys in the car. Take a photo of your parking spot for reference. Note any existing damage on your booking form.
What Happens If Something Goes Wrong
If your car is damaged or items are stolen while in a car park’s care, the operator’s insurance should cover it. Report any issues immediately on collection — before leaving the car park. Take photos of any damage. The operator will have a claims process; legitimate companies handle these professionally.
For Meet & Greet, any damage occurring while the driver has your keys is the operator’s responsibility. Their insurance covers this. Document everything with photos and timestamps.
Our Verdict
Airport car parks — especially those with Park Mark accreditation — are extremely safe. The combination of CCTV, fencing, barriers, and staff presence makes them far more secure than leaving your car on a residential street. Choose a reputable provider, take basic precautions with valuables, and you can fly with complete peace of mind.