Airport Meet-and-Greet Parking Damaged Your Car? Your Rights (UK)

You hand your keys to a meet-and-greet parking firm and fly off — then return to dents, mystery mileage, or an empty tank. These services have a duty of care over your car, and you have a clear claim when they fail. Here is how to pursue it.

Their duty of care

When a parking operator takes your car, they are responsible for looking after it (this is a "bailment"), and the service must be carried out with reasonable care and skill under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. If they damage it, rack up miles, or use your fuel, they are liable — and blanket "we accept no liability" terms are often unfair and unenforceable.

Common problems

• New damage — scrapes, dents, kerbed wheels.
• Extra mileage showing the car was driven, not just parked nearby.
• Missing fuel or a flat battery.
• The car left in an unsecured field rather than the secure parking advertised.

Protect yourself at handover (and return)

1. Photograph the car all round, plus the odometer and fuel gauge, with a timestamp, at drop-off.
2. Repeat the photos on return and note any differences immediately, before leaving.
3. Report damage on the spot in writing and refuse to sign anything saying the car is fine.

A claim letter template

Dear [Parking operator],

Re: Booking [reference] — damage/misuse claim

I used your meet-and-greet service from [date] to [date]. On return my car had
[new damage / extra mileage of [X] / missing fuel]: [photos and odometer readings
attached, taken at drop-off and return]. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you
owed a duty of care. I claim £[amount] for repairs/costs.

Any term excluding liability for your own negligence is not, in my view,
enforceable. Please respond within 14 days.

Yours faithfully,
[Your name and contact details]

The before-and-after photos win these claims. Take them every time, report damage immediately on return, and challenge "no liability" clauses — a firm that drives or damages your car owes you for it.