Preparing your car before your holiday: checklist for parking at Düsseldorf Airport

Before going on holiday, most people think of suitcases, passports and sun cream. The car that will stand at Düsseldorf Airport for one, two or three weeks is easily forgotten. Yet a few minutes of preparation decide whether you drive home relaxed after your holiday – or are faced with a flat battery, flat tyres or an unpleasant discovery inside. In this guide you will find a detailed checklist for your car before parking it at the airport – with special tips for valet parking and shuttle parking.

1. Battery: the most common stumbling block

A weak starter battery is the most common reason why cars won’t start after a long period standing. Modern vehicles use some power even when parked, for control units, the alarm system and the remote key receiver. If the battery is old or weak, this can become critical after two or three weeks.

• Have it checked: if the battery is more than a few years old or the engine is already slow to start before your holiday, have it tested at a garage.
• Switch off consumers: switch off dashcams, chargers in the cigarette lighter socket and interior lights.
• Don’t disconnect: on modern cars it is better not to disconnect it yourself – settings, electric windows or assistance systems may then need to be re-learned.
• Electric car: EVs also have a 12-volt battery. More in the guide Parking an electric car at Düsseldorf Airport.

2. Tyres and tyre pressure

Check the tyre pressure before setting off, ideally at a petrol station. Pressure that is too low can lead to slight flat spots after a long period standing, but these usually disappear after a few kilometres. If you drive to the airport with a fully loaded car, adjust the pressure to the load – the values are in the owner’s manual or on the driver’s door. Also check the tread depth and, depending on the season, suitable tyres for the drive home.

3. Fuel or charge level

A full tank is not necessary, but you need enough for the drive home plus a reserve. After a long flight you don’t want to look for a petrol station first. For electric cars: charge level for the drive home plus a buffer, and for long parking periods as recommended by the manufacturer. The fuel or charge level is recorded in the handover report.

4. Empty the interior

• Valuables: laptops, cameras, sat-navs, sunglasses, cash – take everything out.
• Documents: remove receipts, invoices with your address and ID copies.
• Garage door opener: combined with an address in the sat-nav, it is a security risk. Take it with you or delete your home address from the sat-nav.
• Food and drinks: they spoil in summer, and bottles can burst in winter.
• Rubbish: clear it out quickly – smells in the car after two weeks are unpleasant.
• Boot: leave it as empty as possible after unloading your luggage.

5. Prepare the keys properly

With valet parking at Düsseldorf Airport you give your key to the provider’s driver. Beforehand, take all other keys off the bunch – front door, office, letterbox. Only hand over the car key. Leave the spare key at home, not in the car. With shuttle parking, it depends on the provider whether you need to hand over the key. More in the FAQ on keys.

6. Photos and handover report

At handover, the provider’s team documents the condition of your vehicle – with photos, mileage and your signature. Also take your own photos:

1. All four sides of the car from a little distance
2. Close-ups of existing scratches or dents
3. Wheels, especially if they are high-quality
4. Dashboard with mileage and fuel gauge
5. Interior

The photos with date and time are your evidence if questions arise after your return. More in the FAQ on vehicle handover.

7. Tell the provider about your car’s special features

Does your car have quirks a stranger driving it should know about? For example a special immobiliser, a sensitive clutch, a lowered underbody or a tow bar? Tell the provider. For large vehicles such as vans or motorhomes, check beforehand whether the provider can accommodate them – more in the FAQ on large vehicles.

8. Consider the season

Summer

• A sunshade for the windscreen against heat inside the car
• No sprays, lighters or electronics in the car – heat can damage them
• Have the coolant and air conditioning checked before the trip if anything seemed unusual

Winter

• Winter or all-season tyres for the drive home
• Antifreeze in the screenwash
• Leave an ice scraper and brush in the car
• Check the battery particularly carefully – cold weakens it further

9. Sat-nav and data

Many cars store destinations, phone books and call lists. If you hand your car over to a valet driver, you can use a valet or guest mode if available. At least remove your home address as the “Home” destination if you want to be completely safe.

10. Documents to hand

Keep the booking confirmation with the provider’s address, meeting point and phone number to hand, as well as the vehicle registration certificate in case the provider checks vehicle data. Save the phone number on your phone.

11. Insurance and vehicle documents

While your car is with the provider, valid motor insurance is of course mandatory – the car remains registered and is moved or parked by the provider on its premises. Still check that your policy is up to date, especially if you have recently changed insurer. In Germany you must carry the registration certificate (Zulassungsbescheinigung Part I) when driving, so it usually stays in the vehicle or with you. The vehicle title document (Part II), on the other hand, should never be kept in the car. If your car is leased or a company car, briefly check the terms for any rules on handing it over to third parties.

12. Rental cars, company cars and motorhomes

Not everyone drives to the airport in their own car. Company cars often come with internal rules for parking costs and receipts – at Friend-Park you receive an invoice for every booking. For motorhomes, vans and vehicles with trailers, you must check before booking whether the provider has enough space and suitable clearance heights. State the vehicle type and special features precisely when booking so there are no surprises on arrival.

13. Pets and plants

It sounds obvious, but it happens: nothing living stays behind in the car. Even plants or flowers from the garden that were only meant to come along briefly become a problem after two weeks. Check the back seat and footwells before getting out.

The right type of parking for your car

Which type of parking suits you? If you don’t like handing over your car, choose a shuttle car park at Düsseldorf Airport and park it yourself, if the provider allows this. If you want to save time, use valet parking. Facilities such as covered spaces, cameras or fencing vary by provider and are shown transparently at Friend-Park. Compare here: Find parking at Düsseldorf Airport.

The drive to the airport

The drive itself is also part of the preparation. Enter the address from the booking confirmation in the sat-nav, allow a buffer for traffic and don’t leave refuelling to the last few kilometres if time is tight. How to calculate your schedule is explained in the guide When should I be at Düsseldorf Airport?

After your holiday

When your car is returned, check it against the report and photos before you drive off. What is important and what to do in case of damage is explained in the guide Returning: collecting your car at Düsseldorf Airport.

The complete checklist

• Battery checked, consumers switched off
• Tyre pressure adjusted to the load
• Fuel or battery for the drive home plus a reserve
• Valuables, documents and garage door opener removed
• Only the car key with you, spare key at home
• Your own photos taken from all sides
• Car’s special features communicated to the provider
• Seasonal equipment in the car
• Booking confirmation and provider’s phone number to hand

Conclusion: ten minutes of preparation for a worry-free holiday

With a few simple steps before departure, you make sure your car is ready to go after your holiday and that you drive home without surprises. You will find the right parking option on the page Parking at Düsseldorf Airport, and all information about getting there in the guide Getting to Düsseldorf Airport by car.