Before a car park appears on Comparkly, we check its documents (company registration, insurance, the right to operate the site). Then we go there and look at seven concrete things: access, how the site is closed, the keys, the trip to the terminal, opening hours, the people and how the price is built. We talk with the owner or director, we go and see where the cars are actually parked, and we make test bookings to check the service from the customer side. A visited car park shows the 'Verified by Comparkly' badge with the date of the visit.
Why go to that trouble? Because a listing never tells the whole story. A flattering photo can hide an entrance you cannot find at night, a shuttle that takes twice as long as advertised, or keys hanging on an open board. You only see those things by turning up.
In short
Paperwork first: every partner signs our contract, and we check its company, its insurance and its right to use the land.
Then the visit: we look at what you will actually go through, from the gate to the terminal, and at where your car sleeps.
Then the test: we book ourselves, as a customer would, to check the service from start to finish.
The 'Verified by Comparkly' badge means a car park was visited, and when. A car park without the badge has not been visited yet.
Reviews come only from customers who completed a stay booked on Comparkly.
Before the visit: the documents
We only list car parks we trust. Every partner signs our partner contract. We then ask for three things.
Company registration. We check that the business exists and is active in its country's official register. In France, the Annuaire des Entreprises lets anyone look up a SIREN number for free. In Belgium, the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises has a free public search. In Switzerland, the federal Zefix index does the same job. You can run these searches yourself.
Insurance. We ask for the operator's insurance certificate covering its business.
The right to operate the site. The land or building must belong to the operator, or be rented to it for this use. A car park set up without permission can close overnight, with customers' cars still inside.
On site: the 7 things we check
1. The entrance and access
We arrive the way a customer would: by car, with the address from the booking. Is the entrance easy to find? Are the signs clear from the road? Does a satnav take you to the right gate? If we hesitate in broad daylight, you will hesitate at 5 a.m. before a flight.
2. The gate, fencing and lighting
We look at how the site is closed: a gate, a barrier, fencing all the way round or only at the front. We note the lighting and whether cameras are visible. We make no promises about safety. We describe what we saw.
3. Where the car and keys go
There are two set-ups. Either you park yourself and keep your keys, or a valet takes the car. In the second case, we do not stop at the meeting point: we go and see the site where the cars are actually parked. We also ask who moves them and where the keys are kept. A locked key cabinet, a handover log and a condition report on arrival are the answers we like to hear.
4. The shuttle or the walk to the terminal
The advertised time and the real time are not always the same. We make the trip, by shuttle or on foot, and we time it. We also ask how often shuttles run, whether they are on demand, and how much luggage they take.
5. Opening hours and late returns
Flights get delayed. We ask about opening hours, what happens if you land after closing, and whether a night supplement applies. You should have that answer before you leave, not at midnight on the kerb.
6. The people on site and how to reach them
We talk with the owner or director of the car park. When a valet is involved, we also meet the valet company we work with in person. We check that the phone number gets answered, and who will greet you on departure and return days. On our visits, that meeting often tells us more than any document.
7. How the price is built
We look at what the rate includes and what it does not: shuttle, passengers, night supplement, car wash, charging. On Comparkly, the total for your dates is shown upfront with all fees included, and optional extras are marked as optional.
After the visit: we book the way you do
An announced visit shows a car park at its best. An ordinary booking shows what you will live through. That is why we make test bookings ourselves, like any customer: we check the confirmation, the key handover, whether times are kept, the shuttle, the return and how support responds.
If something does not match what is advertised, we see it before you do, and we raise it with the car park. That is the difference between a list of car parks and a selection: we only list car parks we trust.
What the badge means, and what it does not
The 'Verified by Comparkly' badge means one simple thing: our team went to the site, checked these points and met the operator on the date shown. You can see that date on the car park's page.
It does not mean nothing can ever go wrong. It is not insurance and it is not a guarantee. A car park can change staff or its set-up after our visit. That is why the visit date is shown, and why your feedback matters.
Why some car parks do not have the badge yet
We visit car parks city by city, and that takes time. A car park without the badge has passed the document check and signed our contract, but we have not been there yet. That is not a bad sign. It only means the visit is still to come. You can browse all the airports we cover and spot the car parks we have already visited.
How reviews work
On Comparkly, only customers who completed a stay booked with us can leave a review. No stay, no review. This matters. In January 2022, the European Commission checked 223 major websites and found that 55% of them potentially broke EU rules on consumer reviews. Under the EU Omnibus Directive, which France brought into law in December 2021, a business may not present reviews as coming from real customers without taking steps to check that.
If you have a question about a car park, our FAQ covers the most common cases, and our team answers Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00.
FAQ
Has every car park on Comparkly been visited?
No. Every car park has signed our contract and passed the document check. Visits happen city by city, and only visited car parks show the badge with the date.
Is the Verified by Comparkly badge a form of insurance?
No. The badge shows that a visit took place and when. It does not cover your car and it does not promise that nothing will happen.
Which documents do you ask car parks for?
We check the company registration, the operator's insurance and its right to operate the site. Every partner also signs our partner contract before it appears on Comparkly.
Do you really make test bookings?
Yes. We book ourselves, as a customer would, to check the key handover, the timing, the shuttle, the return and support. It is the best way to see the service as you will experience it.
Who can review a car park?
Only customers who completed a stay booked on Comparkly. Every review is therefore tied to a real booking.
What if the car park does not match its description?
Contact us with your booking number and, if you can, some photos. We take it up with the car park, and your feedback also shapes our next visits.
You see the result of these checks when you book: the badge and visit date, the total for your dates with all fees included, and a refund until 24 hours before arrival, minus the service fee. Pick your airport from all the airports we cover and compare. A comment, or a car park you would like us to visit? Write to us through the contact page or at support@comparkly.com.
