Vehicle handover at Cologne/Bonn Airport: how to be on the safe side
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At Cologne Bonn Airport, many handovers take place in the dark – early in the morning before the holiday flight or late at night after the return. That is exactly when clean documentation matters, because scratches and dents are easily missed in poor light. This guide shows you how to do the handover properly – by day and by night.
Key facts at a glance
- Photograph all around; in the dark, with light and close up.
- Record the mileage and fuel or battery level.
- Read the provider's report and have existing damage added.
- On return, check immediately and report anything unusual.
The handover with valet and shuttle
With valet you meet the driver at the meeting point, you look at the car together and you hand over the key. With shuttle parking you park the car at the provider's site; whether you leave the key there depends on the provider's procedure.
Taking photos at night
- Switch on your phone torch or use the flash.
- Get closer than in daylight – scratches reflect angled light better.
- Light up wheel rims and bumpers specifically.
- A steady video all around the car as a supplement.
- Mileage and fuel gauge with the ignition switched on.
The report
If the provider creates a handover report, read it before you confirm. If existing damage you know about is missing, have it added. Keep your copy or the receipt until after the return.
Keys and valuables
Hand over only the vehicle key, not your house key. Take your laptop, cash, documents and garage door opener out of the car. On long trips, food too.
On return
After a late landing you are tired – still invest two minutes: walk once around the car with a light, compare with the photos, check the mileage. Raise anything unusual immediately on site. More: Returning: collecting your car at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
If damage is noticed
- Photograph the damage, with its surroundings.
- Inform the provider's staff member and have it recorded in writing.
- Have your handover photos ready.
- Contact the provider in writing; for Friend-Park bookings, inform our support via the contact form.
When several customers arrive at the same time
Before big holiday waves, many flights depart from Cologne/Bonn within a short time, and the meeting points are correspondingly busy. Don't let that rush you: still take the two minutes for photos and the report. If you are at the meeting point earlier than necessary, you will have time for it anyway. Feel free to ask the driver to walk around the car with you briefly – reputable providers are just as interested in this as you are, because joint documentation prevents later misunderstandings.
Parking location and facilities
Good providers describe openly whether the car is parked on a fenced, lit, video-monitored area or in a hall. Pay attention to this when choosing: Choosing a parking service at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
Why photos are so important
A small scratch on the bumper, a dent in the door or a stone chip in the windscreen – after a trip, hardly anyone remembers exactly whether that damage was already there before. Photos with date and time create clarity. They protect you if damage occurs during the parking period, and they protect the provider from unjustified accusations. That is why reputable providers are just as interested in good documentation as you are. Take the two minutes – they are the best insurance against later disputes.
The right order for taking photos
Start at the front left and go once around the car clockwise. Photograph each side once completely and then the details: bumpers, wheel rims, wing mirrors, door edges, windows and roof, as far as you can reach. Then come the interior, boot, mileage and fuel or battery gauge. A short video complements the photos well but does not replace them, because details in videos are often blurred. Save all the shots in a separate album so that you can find them quickly on return.
Taking the Rhineland weather into account
Rain is not unusual in the Rhineland. Scratches are hard to see on wet paintwork, and water drops on the lens make photos blurry. Wipe the lens before taking photos and photograph from different angles. If possible, use a covered spot at the meeting point. In heavy rain, you can also take the photos beforehand at home in the garage and just add the mileage and fuel gauge at the meeting point.
Handing over the key correctly
Hand over only the vehicle key. House keys, letterbox keys and key rings with address details stay with you. If you have a spare key, keep it at home, not in the car. For vehicles with a key card or smartphone key, clarify with the provider in advance how the handover works. Some manufacturers offer digital keys that you can release for a limited time.
Personal items
Decide consciously beforehand what stays in the car. Child seats, a high-visibility vest and the first-aid kit naturally stay in. Satnavs, sunglasses, charging cables and cash go with you or are stowed out of sight. Garage door openers and residents' parking permits do not belong in the car, because they give clues to your address. A tidy car also makes documentation easier.
On return in the dark
Many return flights land at Cologne/Bonn in the evening or at night. Then checking is more difficult. Use your phone torch and walk slowly around the car. Pay particular attention to the areas that were clean on your handover photos. If you notice anything, take photos immediately and speak to the driver. Have the remark confirmed in writing before you drive off. Later, damage can hardly be clearly attributed.
If you only notice damage at home
If you only discover damage in daylight at home, report it to the provider as quickly as possible – in writing, with photos and your booking number. The more time passes, the more difficult it becomes to attribute it. Your handover photos are now particularly valuable. For Friend-Park bookings, also inform our support so that we can accompany the process.
In brief
A good vehicle handover at Cologne Bonn Airport only takes a few minutes: take photos, read the report, hand over the key correctly, take your valuables with you. Check just as carefully on return – even if it is late and everyone is tired.
What should be in the handover report
A good report contains the date and time, number plate, mileage, fuel or battery level and an overview of known existing damage. Some providers use a sketch of the car on which damage is marked; others work with photos in an app. Make sure you receive a copy – printed, by email or as a link. Don't sign anything that does not correspond to the actual condition. If something is wrong, ask for a correction before you hand over the key.
Particularities with leased and rental vehicles
With leased or rental vehicles, strict rules often apply to damage when the vehicle is returned to the lessor. That makes complete documentation all the more important. Also check whether your lease allows the car to be handed over to a valet driver. In most cases this is not a problem, but a look at the conditions provides certainty. Keep photos and the report at least until the end of the lease.
Handover with children in the car
If you are travelling with children, the handover is often hectic: children want to get out, luggage has to be unloaded and the driver is waiting. Divide up the tasks. One person takes care of the children and luggage, the other walks around the car with the driver and takes the photos. That way nothing gets missed. The same applies on return: first get the children safely into their seats, then check the car calmly. With a clear division of roles, the handover stays relaxed even with small children.
This way you are on the safe side at every handover at Cologne Bonn Airport – whether at dawn before the holiday flight or after a landing shortly before midnight.
Particularities of modern cars
Electric cars: photograph the battery level and, if applicable, note charging as an additional service. Vehicles with keyless go, an electric parking brake or a special starting procedure: briefly instruct the driver. Vehicle apps with location sharing keep running – that is normal.
Which providers can be booked via Friend-Park at Cologne Bonn Airport is shown on the page Parking at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
