Back from your flight: collecting your car at Frankfurt Airport
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Back in Frankfurt after your holiday or business trip: the plane taxis to the gate, and all you really want is to get home. But Frankfurt is big – three terminals, long walks, passport control on long-haul flights and busy baggage belts. To make the way back to your car go smoothly, it pays to know the process. In this guide we go step by step through what happens after landing, when to call the provider, how the return works with shuttle and valet parking and what you should do in case of delays and damage.
Key facts at a glance
- Contact the provider after baggage reclaim and name your arrival terminal (1, 2 or 3).
- On long-haul flights it often takes 45 to 75 minutes to reach the exit – allow for passport control and luggage.
- Compare the car with the handover report before driving off; report damage on the spot immediately.
- If you return later, inform the provider early – extra days usually cost the daily rate.
Step 1: Landing and terminal
After landing, the plane taxis to its parking position – at an air bridge or on the apron with a bus transfer. Switch on your phone and check for messages from the provider. Remember which terminal you arrived at: in Frankfurt this is crucial for your pick-up. If you entered your return flight number when booking, the provider can often already see that you have landed.
Step 2: Passport control
On flights from outside the Schengen area, you first go through passport control. If several long-haul flights land at the same time, this can take a while. Keep your ID card or passport ready.
Step 3: Luggage and customs
Screens show the baggage belt for your flight. With large aircraft it often takes a while until all suitcases have arrived. If your luggage is missing or damaged, report it immediately at the baggage tracing desk – more in the guide Luggage lost or damaged. Then you go through customs: the green exit if you have nothing to declare, the red one for goods above the duty-free allowances. More in the guide Customs and entry at Frankfurt Airport.
Step 4: Contact the provider
Call the provider or send a message – as stated in your booking confirmation. Give your name, booking number, registration number and above all the terminal. The provider will tell you how long it will take and where you will meet. Save the number before you fly out. If you cannot reach anyone, the entry in the frequently asked questions about reachability will help.
Step 5a: Valet parking – car at the meeting point
With valet parking at Frankfurt Airport, the driver brings your car to a meeting point near your arrival terminal. You go there, check the car, get the key and drive straight off – ideal after a long flight. More in the frequently asked questions about the valet process.
Step 5b: Shuttle parking – pick-up at the terminal
With shuttle parking, the bus picks you up at an agreed point at your arrival terminal and takes you to the car park. At peak times after the end of the holidays it may take a few minutes. More in the frequently asked questions about the shuttle process.
Step 6: Check the car
- Bodywork: any new scratches or dents?
- Rims and tyres: kerb damage, tyre pressure plausible?
- Mileage: does it match the report?
- Fuel or charge level: the same as at handover?
- Interior: is everything there?
Compare with the handover report and your own photos.
If you discover damage
Raise it on the spot immediately, before you drive off. Have the damage noted, photograph it from several angles and then report it to the provider in writing. Because the condition was documented at handover, it can be compared easily. We will support you with your booking number. More in the frequently asked questions about damage.
Payment
With online payment there is usually nothing left to do, except for extra days or additional services. More in the frequently asked questions about payment.
Delayed return flight
Inform the provider as soon as you know about a delay. If you entered your return flight number, many providers detect delays themselves. Extra days are usually charged at the daily rate. Keep the invoice – depending on the cause, you may be able to claim the extra costs from the airline. More in the guide Flight delayed or cancelled.
Late landing and night-flight rules
In Frankfurt, a night-flight ban for scheduled flights applies during the core night hours. If a flight is heavily delayed, it may be diverted to another airport. In that case inform the provider immediately so that they can plan the return for the next day. When booking, check whether the provider operates at late landing times.
Tired after a long-haul flight
After a night flight across time zones you are more tired than you think. Take a moment before setting off, adjust the seat and mirrors and start the satnav. If you are very tired, it is better to take a break. After the car has been parked for a long time, the brakes may feel unfamiliar at first – that passes quickly.
Back to the car with children
With tired children, valet parking is especially valuable: no shuttle, no reloading. With shuttle parking, one parent waits with the children and luggage while the other handles communication. More in the guide With children at Frankfurt Airport.
Forgotten items
Left something in the shuttle or at the provider? Report it directly to the provider. On the plane: the airline. In the terminal: the airport’s lost property office. More in the frequently asked questions about forgotten items.
Leave a review
A review helps other travellers. Customers with an account receive coins from Friend-Park as a thank-you. More in the frequently asked questions about reviews.
Checklist
- Provider’s phone number saved
- Return flight number entered when booking
- Arrival terminal given to the provider
- Car compared with the report
- Damage reported on the spot immediately
Returning to Terminal 3
If you arrive at Terminal 3, note that the terminal is located in the south of the site, separate from Terminals 1 and 2. Tell the provider explicitly that you landed at Terminal 3, so that the shuttle or valet driver does not wait at the wrong building. If you continue by train, take the Sky Line to the stations at Terminal 1. More in the guide Terminals at Frankfurt Airport.
If the shuttle keeps you waiting
At peak times, for example on the last weekend of the holidays, many travellers return at the same time. Then it can take a while until the shuttle picks you up. Stay at the agreed point so the driver can find you, and call the provider if nobody comes after the stated time. With children, snacks and drinks help bridge the wait. With valet parking this waiting time usually does not apply, because the car is already at the meeting point.
After a long-haul trip: customs and purchases
If you are coming from a country outside the EU, you go through customs after baggage reclaim. If you have goods above the duty-free allowances with you, take the red exit. That can take extra time – let the provider know if it takes longer. More in the guide Customs and entry at Frankfurt Airport.
Benefit on your next booking
If you have a Friend-Park account, you can see all your bookings in one place after your return and collect coins for every full euro of booking value. On your next trip you can redeem coins for up to ten percent of the price. More in the frequently asked questions about coins.
Keep invoices and receipts
Keep your booking confirmation, invoice and handover report until you are sure everything is in order. For business trips you need the invoice for your expenses, and in case of delays possibly for claims against the airline.
Conclusion: name your terminal, call, check, drive off
Returning at Frankfurt Airport is straightforward with a booked parking space if you tell the provider your terminal and get in touch after baggage reclaim. For your next trip you can compare the offers here: Find parking at Frankfurt Airport. All options are on the page Parking at Frankfurt Airport.
