How to Avoid Dodgy Parking Sites at Gatwick Airport

It seems like every other week there’s a news story about dodgy airport parking companies parking cars in fields, joyriding them miles away, or leaving them unsecured.

And while this is an unfortunate reality, it’s often a case of a few bad apples giving the reputable companies a bad name.

Airport parking if often great value for money, hugely convenient and saves you from waiting around on your way to and from the airport.W

ith that in mind, we have a few tips to help you avoid the dodgy sites, and make sure your airport parking experience is a positive one.

Use an Established, Trustworthy Company

Technically, anyone can buy a plot of land and start calling it a car park, so it’s always worth looking into the company you’re thinking of parking with.

Type the company name into Google and see what results you find.

You’re looking for things like a professional website, active social media accounts, and an entry on the government’s Companies House database.

If the business ticks all the boxes, look a little deeper. Does the website list all the information you’re entitled to know? For example you should be able to find out the head office address, company identification number and VAT registration number somewhere on the site (normally in the terms and conditions). Are you able to contact them by phone and speak with them?

All of these checks will help you decide if the business is reputable.

Make Sure They Carry the Park Mark Symbol

The Park Mark Safer Parking Scheme is a national programme with the purpose of reducing car park crime across the UK. People can check criminal defense attorneys for hire from here!

If the car park you’re looking at has earned the Park Mark award, it means the operators have put considerable effort into ensuring the safety of you and you vehicle, should you choose to park there. Check out the TRADEX website to learn more about it. You can also have a peek here to know more about this.

It’s managed by the British Parking Association and is fully supported by the Home Office and Scottish Government — and with credentials like that you know it’s worth paying attention to.

If you can’t find the Park Mark symbol on the site — avoid!

Look Out for Independent Reviews

The best way to judge a company is through other people’s genuine experiences.

Check out the company on Trustpilot to see what others are saying, and how the business responds.

Although there are going to be good and bad reviews of any business, it’s important to look at the amount of positive vs negative reviews, as well as how any complaints have been dealt with.

You can also look more specifically at the car parks themselves on an independent review site such as Reevoo. This will allow you see both positive and negative reviews of the car park, and because it’s completely independent, the operator doesn’t have the power to hide bad reviews.

Compare this to sites which use their own in-house review system that they have complete control over, and you’ll quickly see how valuable independent reviews can be!

Use a Price Comparison Site

The beauty of airport parking price comparison sites is that they have no preference in which car park you book, as long as you book with them.

What this means is that they’re free to give you honest descriptions and reviews of each car park, leaving you to make a well-informed decision.

Plus, you’ll get to see loads of parking options for Gatwick all in one place — no need to trawl through a dozen websites just to find the best price!