Official valet parking - is your car covered?

There was an interesting story in the Guardian this weekend about BAA’s official valet parking at Stansted Airport.

Although the complaint received by the paper happened in September last year, the story is still relevant today and highlights the need for anyone using any type of parking, particularly meet and greet parking, to read the small print and identify what a parking company is and isn’t responsible for should your car be damaged while you are on holiday.

The Guardian’s article contains a letter from a customer who booked BAA’s valet parking at Stansted and on his return from holiday found his car had ‘significant scratching at the driver’s side bumper’. The damage was pointed out to the company, forms filled in and photos of the damage taken, however, he later received a letter saying that, as per the terms and conditions, BAA was not responsible for the damage – BAA’s T&Cs stated that it is not liable for damaged caused to cars once they are parked.

It would be difficult to prove when the car was damaged – before parking, during parking, while parked or during the return journey to the customer.

When booking airport parking don’t assume that your car is safe, and that the parking company will take responsibility for any damage. Always read the terms and conditions and, as the Guardian article’s response to the customer points out:

“your letter is a timely reminder to other readers that their cars are not automatically safe just because they are parked at an official airport car park.”

To view the Guardian's article: "BAA's airport parking not up to scratch" click on the link.