Vehicle handover at Munich Airport: keys, photos and security

When you entrust your car to a parking service for a trip, you are handing over a valuable item – with valet parking even including the key. As a rule this works smoothly. To be well prepared in the rare event of a problem, a clean handover is worthwhile. This guide shows you how to document the vehicle handover at Munich Airport and what you should know about keys, photos and liability.

Why good documentation matters

Munich Airport is busy: on holiday days, many travellers hand over their cars almost simultaneously, and the providers' drivers also work under time pressure. A short, careful documentation creates clarity for both sides. It takes a few minutes but can be decisive in the event of a dispute.

Step by step: how to document correctly

1. Walk round with your phone: photograph all four sides, the corners, the bumpers, the wheels and – if possible – the roof. A short video all round is a good addition.
2. Record existing damage: photograph scratches, dents and stone chips in the windscreen specifically and close up.
3. Interior: seats, dashboard, boot.
4. Record the mileage and fuel gauge or battery level with the ignition switched on.
5. Time stamp: the photos save the date and time automatically – do not delete them until after the return.
6. Provider's report: if the provider prepares a handover report, read it before you confirm.

The key: what happens to it

With valet parking you always hand over the key, because the driver has to move the car. With shuttle parking it depends on the provider: some let you park yourself and keep the key, others need it to move vehicles around. Read the offer description before you book. Only hand over the vehicle key – remove house and flat keys from the bunch beforehand.

What should not stay in the car

• Valuables, cash, electronics
• Vehicle registration document and other documents, unless required
• Garage door openers and house keys
• Food and drinks, especially on long trips

On return: a quick check

After landing in Munich you may be tired and just want to get home. Take two minutes anyway: walk round the car once, compare it with your photos and check the mileage and fuel gauge. If you notice something, raise it immediately – before you drive off. Later it is much more difficult to prove that damage occurred during the parking period. More on the return in the guide Returning: collecting your car at Munich Airport.

If something has happened after all

1. Photograph the damage on site, including the surroundings and the time.
2. Inform the provider's driver or staff member and have the damage recorded in writing.
3. Have your handover photos ready.
4. Contact the provider and, for a booking via Friend-Park, also inform our support team via the contact form.

Security of the parking location

How and where a provider parks your car during your trip – fenced site, video surveillance, multi-storey car park or open-air area – varies. Reputable providers describe this openly. Pay attention to this when choosing; you will find a checklist in the guide Choosing a parking service at Munich Airport. On Friend-Park you can see the features of an offer, as far as the provider states them.

What a handover report should contain

Many providers prepare a report at the handover – on paper or digitally on a tablet. A good report contains at least the date, time and place of the handover, the number plate and model, the mileage, the fuel or battery level and the known existing damage. Some providers photograph the car themselves; this does not, however, replace your own photos. Read the report before you confirm and have any missing existing damage added. Keep your copy or the receipt until after the return.

Storing photos properly

Your handover photos are only as good as their availability. Save them in a separate album or back them up in the cloud so that they do not disappear among hundreds of holiday pictures. Make sure that the date and time information on the photos is correct. Only delete the pictures once you have your car back and everything is in order. If there is a discussion later, you can then quickly prove what the vehicle looked like at the handover.

Special features in winter

In the Bavarian winter, cars are often dirty or covered with salt. Scratches and dents are then hard to see – including for the provider's driver. A wash before the trip makes the documentation more meaningful. If that is not possible, photograph close up and note that the car was handed over dirty. If there is snow on the roof, the vehicle should be cleared before the handover anyway, because snow sliding off the roof is dangerous while driving.

Electric cars and vehicles with special technology

With electric cars, the battery level belongs in the photo. If you have booked charging as an additional service, check on return whether the battery has been charged accordingly. Modern vehicles often have special features: keyless go, an electric parking brake, assistance systems that beep when manoeuvring, or an alarm system with interior monitoring. Briefly explain to the driver what they need to know, for example how to start the car or release the parking brake. Vehicle apps with location display keep running during the parking period – this is normal and no cause for concern, as long as the location shown matches the provider's parking location.

If you leave special equipment in the car

Child seats, a roof box, a bike rack or a tow bar with a removable head: you should state such equipment when booking and record it in the photos. Removable parts that you do not need are best taken off before the trip and left at home.

Keeping an eye on your own insurance

How damage is settled depends on the provider's conditions and your own insurance. It is worth briefly checking before the trip what your car insurance covers – for example in the event of vandalism, hail or theft during the parking period. Also read the liability rules in the parking provider's conditions. If you know both, you know whom to contact in an emergency and can react calmly.

A short handover checklist

• Photos all round, wheels, windows, interior
• Mileage and fuel or battery level
• Report read, existing damage added
• Only the vehicle key handed over
• Valuables, documents and garage door openers taken with you
• Receipt or copy of the report stored safely

With this list, the handover at Munich Airport takes only a few minutes – and you go on holiday with a good feeling.

If someone else collects the car

Sometimes you fly out, but someone else collects the car – for example because a family member returns earlier. This must be agreed with the provider, because reputable providers do not simply release vehicles to third parties. Enter the name of the person collecting the car in the notes field of the booking, and give them the booking number and the handover photos. That way they can check the condition on return and raise anything unusual on site.

The moment after the return

Even if everything seems fine: drive the first few metres attentively after the return. Check whether warning lights come on, whether the car feels normal and whether the mirrors and seat are adjusted the way you need them. Drivers sometimes adjust the seat or mirrors when manoeuvring – set them correctly before you set off and before you drive onto the A92.

One last tip: also photograph the handover receipt or report itself. Then you have all the documents in one place on your phone in case the paper gets lost on holiday.

Conclusion

A good vehicle handover at Munich Airport does not take much: a few photos, a look at the report, an empty glove compartment. This prepares you for the rare problem case and lets you start your trip relaxed. Which parking services at Munich Airport can be booked through Friend-Park is shown on the page Parking at Munich Airport.