Most airport parking companies are exactly what they say they are. A few are not. Rogue operators, most often offering Meet & Greet, have left customers' cars on residential streets, in unsecured car parks and in fields, driven them for miles while their owners were away, and returned them damaged. Spotting the difference before you book takes a few minutes. This guide covers the accreditations worth looking for, the warning signs, what a proper booking confirmation contains, and what to do at the handover.
What can go wrong
The problems are real and well documented. Manchester Airport has warned of firms that falsely claim a link with the airport and advertise secure storage, then leave cars on residential streets, in car parks with no security, or in a muddy field. Police have reported cars being driven thousands of miles while their owners were abroad. Which? found cars caught speeding and left in odd places, and that one in seven complaints it received about Meet & Greet parking involved damage to the car. Heathrow Police received 300 allegations about Meet & Greet services in two years.
Insurance is often the missing piece. The British Parking Association has said that relatively few providers have the right insurance for Meet & Greet, and that most rogue operators have none at all.
Accreditations worth looking for
- Safer Parking, formerly Park Mark. The police-supported standard for car parks with low crime, awarded after a police risk assessment. It was renamed from Park Mark in 2026 and is now run directly by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives. There is a Safer Parking Meet and Greet award too. Older listings may still say Park Mark.
- AM-GO, the approved Meet & Greet scheme run by the British Parking Association and supported by the police. Members' drivers must be qualified, fully insured, carry ID and wear uniform, cars must be kept in an accredited car park and not driven further than the booking says, and operators are audited. Heathrow was the first airport to sign up; look for staff wearing the AM-GO logo.
- Airport approved-operator lists. Some airports publish their own. Gatwick runs an Approved Operators Scheme with the British Parking Association, open only to firms that have passed Trading Standards checks, and Manchester points customers to the Buy with Confidence list of firms vetted by Trading Standards.
Before You Fly shows each car park's security features, such as CCTV, barriers and accreditation, against every listing in the comparison table, so you can check before you book. Compare parking at your airport.
Warning signs
- A name that sounds official but is not. Rogue firms often choose generic names that look like the airport's own, and Gatwick has warned that a company with "Gatwick Airport" in its name is not necessarily connected to it.
- No accreditation, and no clear address for where the car will be kept.
- A handover away from the airport's Meet & Greet area, such as a lay-by or a hotel car park. Under AM-GO, keys should only be handed over in the signposted Meet & Greet zone at the airport, and the car returned there too.
- A company you cannot find. Check the business on Companies House, and be wary of identical review scores repeated across different listings.
- Terms that put everything on you, such as relying entirely on your own car insurance, or a booking site that describes itself only as a reservation agent with no responsibility for the operator.
- A price far below every other option at the same airport. Someone has to pay for secure storage, insurance and trained drivers.
What a proper booking confirmation contains
When you book through Before You Fly, the confirmation email arrives within minutes and includes:
- your booking reference;
- the car park's address and contact number;
- the drop-off and return instructions, including where to meet the driver for Meet & Greet;
- a link to manage your booking.
If a confirmation from any company is missing the operator's name, an address or a phone number, ask before you travel, not at the airport. More in the booking FAQs.
At the handover and on return
- Photograph the car at handover: all four corners and the mileage. It settles any question about damage later.
- Hand over only at the agreed point in your confirmation, to someone who can show ID.
- Take house keys off the ring before you hand the car key over.
- Check the car before you drive away when it comes back, and report any damage to the operator straight away, with photos, before you leave.
Your own motor insurance still covers your car while it is parked, just as at home, and operators carry their own liability insurance for damage their staff cause. The security FAQs explain what to do if something goes wrong, and our Meet & Greet or Park & Ride guide explains how each service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is Park Mark?
Park Mark was the police-approved award for car parks with low crime. In 2026 it was renamed Safer Parking and moved to Police Crime Prevention Initiatives. A car park with either badge has passed a police risk assessment.
How do I know a Meet & Greet company is legitimate?
Look for AM-GO membership or a Safer Parking Meet and Greet award, check whether the airport lists the firm as approved, look it up on Companies House, and make sure the handover is in the airport's Meet & Greet area. Be wary of official-sounding names and unusually low prices.
Is my car insured while it is parked?
Your own motor insurance continues to cover your car while it is parked, just as it would at home. Legitimate operators also carry liability insurance for damage caused by their staff.
What should I do if my car comes back damaged?
Report it to the operator before you leave the car park, with photos, and ask for a written incident report. Raise the claim with the operator first; if you booked through Before You Fly, we can help.
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