Gatwick Terms: The Clauses That Change What You Pay or Can Do

Before you book airport parking, the terms you accept can change what you pay, what you can do with your car, and what happens if your plans shift. This article pulls out the clauses that matter most for those decisions: entry, exit, overstay and vehicle size. It relies on the London Gatwick terms and conditions page, last updated 10 August 2023, as checked on 6 October 2026, plus the related clauses on vehicle handover.

Where the evidence bundle does not state a specific price, fee, time limit or size rule, this article says so and points you to the official page to confirm.

Which clauses matter

The terms on the London Gatwick site are the starting point. The page is titled "Terms and Conditions" and states that it was last updated on 10 August 2023. That update date matters because terms can change, and the version you accept at booking is the one that applies to your stay.

For a driver, the clauses that change what you pay or can do fall into a few practical groups:

• Entry and handover clauses — what you must do with your vehicle, keys and belongings when you arrive.
• Exit and collection clauses — what the operator must do when returning your vehicle, and what you must do to collect it.
• Overstay clauses — what happens if you stay longer than booked, and whether extra charges apply.
• Vehicle size and condition clauses — restrictions on the type or size of vehicle accepted, and the condition your vehicle must be in.

The bundle includes a clause describing the handover process at the reception area. It says: "When you have parked your vehicle at the reception area you should: a) lock your vehicle securely, and leave the keys with the car park operator (you only need to leave the keys that are needed to move the vehicle); b) fully close all the windows; c) put your handbrake on properly; d) use any steering lock, alarm or immobiliser you have; e) do not leave any animal or person within your vehicle; and f) make sure that any belongings you leave in the vehicle are in a locked boot and not on display."

The same clause adds a responsibility limit: "We cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage that happens to your vehicle or belongings if you fail to do these things." That is a clause that changes what you can do — and what you can claim — so it belongs in your pre-booking reading.

Another clause in the bundle says: "Before you leave your vehicle and the keys, you must make sure the vehicle is properly secured, is roadworthy, has a current MOT certificate and has valid tax cover for the length of its stay." This is a condition of using the service. If your vehicle does not meet it, the operator may not be able to accept it, but the bundle does not state what happens in that situation.

You should also read the specific product terms for the car park or meet and greet service you are booking, because the general website terms may sit alongside separate service conditions. The bundle does not include those separate service conditions, so check them on the official page before you pay.

What about overstay

Overstay is one of the clauses most likely to change what you pay. If you return later than the booked period, the car park may charge for the extra time or treat the booking differently. The bundle, however, does not include a specific overstay clause, an overstay rate, a grace period, or a stated time limit.

Because the evidence does not cover overstay in detail, this article cannot state what Gatwick charges or what the exact rule is. A reader who needs that answer must check the official London Gatwick terms and conditions page, and the terms for the specific car park booked, before relying on any assumption. The bundle's terms page is at https://www.gatwickairport.com/terms-and-conditions.html.

What the bundle does show is that the terms page exists, is owned and operated by GAL, and was last updated on 10 August 2023. That gives you the right place to look, but not the overstay number itself. Treat any overstay figure you see elsewhere as unverified until you find it on the official page or in the booking terms for your chosen car park.

For context on how different booking options compare, see /compare/. That page can help you line up products, but it is not a substitute for the official terms on overstay.

What about vehicle size

Vehicle size is the other clause that can change what you can do. Car parks often restrict the dimensions or type of vehicle they accept, because larger vehicles may not fit in standard spaces or may need a different product. The bundle does not include a size limit, a height restriction, a length restriction or a list of accepted vehicle types for Gatwick.

The bundle does include a condition that affects vehicle acceptance more broadly: the clause requiring the vehicle to be properly secured, roadworthy, have a current MOT certificate and have valid tax cover for the length of its stay. That is a condition about the vehicle's legal and mechanical state, not its size, but it shows that the terms do impose vehicle-level requirements before handover.

If your vehicle is larger than a standard car — for example a van, a motorhome or a vehicle with roof equipment — you should not assume it is accepted. The bundle does not state whether such vehicles are allowed, so you must check the official terms page and the specific product page for the car park you intend to book. Look for a stated size limit, a height barrier note or a product description that names accepted vehicle types.

Until you find that wording, treat vehicle size as an open question. Booking a standard space for an oversized vehicle without confirming acceptance could lead to refusal at the barrier or reception, but the bundle does not state what the consequence would be. That is another reason to check the official page before paying.

Entry, exit and handover: what the terms actually say

The bundle's handover clause is the clearest entry-related wording available. It tells you what to do when you park at the reception area:

• lock the vehicle securely and leave the keys with the car park operator, leaving only the keys needed to move the vehicle;
• fully close all windows;
• put the handbrake on properly;
• use any steering lock, alarm or immobiliser you have;
• do not leave any animal or person in the vehicle;
• make sure belongings left in the vehicle are in a locked boot and not on display.

The same clause states that the operator cannot be held responsible for loss or damage if you fail to do these things. That is a direct link between your actions at entry and your ability to claim later.

On exit, the bundle includes a clause that says: "We are responsible for making sure that your vehicle is driven carefully wh" — the excerpt is cut off at that point, so the full sentence is not available here. What can be said from the fragment is that the operator accepts a responsibility to make sure your vehicle is driven carefully. The rest of that clause, including any conditions or limits, is not in the bundle. Check the official terms page for the complete wording.

The bundle also notes that you must follow all direction signs and other instructions when in the reception area. That is an entry and exit conduct rule, and it is one of the clauses that can affect whether the handover proceeds smoothly.

How to use these clauses before booking

Before you book, read the terms with four questions in mind:

1. What must I do at entry, and what happens if I do not?
2. What does the operator promise at exit, and what is excluded?
3. What is the overstay rule, and where is it stated?
4. Is my vehicle the right size and in the right condition for the product I am buying?

The bundle answers the first question in part, gives a fragment for the second, and does not answer the third or fourth with specific numbers. That is not a gap in the official terms — it is a gap in the evidence bundle used here. The official page is where the full clauses live.

For general background on the site and how it is run, see /about/. That page explains the scope of the reference material, but it does not replace the official terms.

One final point on version control: the terms page carries a "Last updated: 10th August 2023" marker. If you are reading this after that date, check whether the page has been updated again. The clauses you accept are the ones in force when you book, so a later update could change entry, exit, overstay or vehicle size rules.

What this article cannot tell you

This article cannot give you a price, a fee, a time limit, a size limit or a refund rule for Gatwick parking, because the evidence bundle does not contain those numbers. It also cannot tell you what happens if you overstay, what vehicles are accepted, or what the full exit clause says. For those answers, go to the official London Gatwick terms and conditions page at https://www.gatwickairport.com/terms-and-conditions.html and to the terms for the specific car park or service you are booking.

If a point is not stated on that page, treat it as not stated, and ask the operator directly before you book. That is the safest way to avoid a clause changing what you pay or what you can do.

Checked 2026-10-06. This source check uses Terms and Conditions. It is not a live availability check, booking or personal test.