The truth about car parks at Gatwick Airport

The truth about Gatwick Car Parks

We all heard the horrible stories about Car parks that operate at Gatwick Airport. There are Car Parks at Gatwick that employ inexperienced drivers, park cars on industrial estates, supermarkets etc

Unfortunately - yes, there are such car parks that see the opportunity for an easy buck and go to great lengths for it.

All that I can say is don’t tarnish them all with the same brush.

There are a lot of factors to look for when you book your Gatwick Parking.

What is the first question we ask - Where is my car parked?

We all ask this question and more often then not we get ‘Our car park is minutes a way from the airport’.

How far ‘minutes a way’ is most of the cases? I tell you - a lot. Always check if the company that you park with has their CAR PARK location published; not the company address or head office.
And don’t believe the story that will not be safe if the car park location is published. Why will not be safe to be published you have to ask yourself. That could only mean that they don’t have an authorised car park, no security measures in place etc

Always check where your car will be parked.

Are your drivers insured to drive my car?

We know, by law YOU HAVE TO BE INSURED to drive a vehicle. Why ask about the drivers if the company should have the insurance?
For the …….duuuh reason which we all should think of it. The DRIVER is the one who will drive your car.

By law, a car park MUST have insurance for their drivers. The criteria’s for insurance on car parking companies are not far from what you know. They look on the company’s drivers age, mature drivers = experienced drivers, if they have points or other penalties, points = more likely your driver may take your car for a joyride, especially if you own a sport car etc

When you sum up all the factors, the insurance may go sky roof high if they employed the neighbour’s son that want some extra pocket money. Will they pay such a high insurance? very unlikely.

Ask with whom have the insurance, on reputable companies you’ll find it published on their web site.

Why you charge considerable less than other companies?

We are draw by the low price that some companies quote us. Here is a double sword, if you see a price that is way below the average cost for Gatwick Parking think twice before you book. It may be a special offer or introductory price on their service but always check with them before you book.

Very small prices are questionable in the Gatwick Parking industry, and for Airport parking in general. To afford to pay the rent for your car park space, add the taxes, the insurance and all other expenses, when you draw the line and do the math you’ll see for yourself that £20.00 - £30.00 for one week parking doesn’t cover the cost for an authorised car park at any airport.

But as I said, not all are the same. You’ll find authorised car parks off site Gatwick Airport, which have all the measures in place.

Take Tudor Rose Valet Parking for example (or meet and greet – as many of you refer to as). You can see where their car park is, you can visit their car park any time. Just take the postcode and go on Google Earth, you’ll find it there exactly as described.

Their drivers are uniformed and all mature; confident and experienced with all type of cars. Insured and cheeked by the police. Members of AVPCA, an organisation which collaborates with Gatwick Police and Gatwick Airport to ensure that companies such as the ones we hear about are sanctioned or closed and stopped to give Gatwick Parking such a bad name.

Check, check and double check again the car parks you want to book your Gatwick Parking.