Pre-booked Car Parking - does anyone have experience?

[Crossover]

There are a number of car parks such as Q-Park that allow pre-booking, especially for city centres. It appears you pay in advance for a given time period and get a space reserved.

Has anyone had any experience of using such a service and how it works, in terms of what you do when you arrive etc?

I'm looking at using one of the ones in Leeds in a couple of weeks as what I am there for leaves me likely unable to make the last trains from Leeds (at least, if I did, I'd be clock watching, which I don't want to do) but with an event on at Leeds Arena, I need to really have something sorted beforehand

 

[EssexGonzo]

I can't talk for that particular car park or company but the many I've used seem to work in a similar way.

You turn up at the barrier, a camera reads your registration number (which you entered when you booked) and you take a ticket as normal. Your registration number should be printed in the ticket. if it is, all you have to do is insert the ticket at the exit and the barrier will open.

It's sometimes not that smooth and its best to have a paper or smartphone copy of the email and reference on you in case the barrier doesn't open at the exit.

You probably won't get a particular space and just use the first one you come across. Also, some larger car parks have special pre-booked sections so look out for any signs.

 

[Crossover]

Thanks for the reply

Regarding the "particular space", I didn't envision that would be the case, so that's fine. I just don't particularly want to end up driving round Leeds on a Saturday evening trying to find somewhere to park, so this appeals. Looks like £5 for the evening too, which isn't too bad

 

[me123]

I've only used this in airports before, and the mechanics vary from operator to operator. For example, the one in Aberdeen Airport was entirely driven by ANPR - no tickets, just drive up to the barrier and it opens. The one I use near Edinburgh Airport gives you a ticket but you don't actually need to use it to get out. The exact procedure at each car park is usually straight forward and well explained. Every time I've used something like this, it's been hassle free.

I expect Q-Park will use ANPR and give you a paper ticket. I've never used them for pre-booking before, but they're a reputable company and have a lot of pre-booked parking custom, so I suspect that it will work well. If it's a good deal, I'd go for it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Only ever done this at an airport, and the approach seems to vary - Luton seem to just rely on their car parks not all ending up full, and upgrade you to the shorter term one if there is an issue. Stansted seem to change to pre-booked only when things get busy. I don't know if any of them control to the precise one-space level, so it wouldn't surprise me if you got there and it was full and you got relocated to another of their car parks - but that isn't a disaster I suppose.

 

[Crossover]

Just in case it is of any use to anyone, the whole thing was a bit haphazard (I used the service in November 2015 but never reported back)

Arrived and took a token as normal and descended into what turned out to be a very flooded car park (heavy rains in the days before). Asked about the prebooking and was advised to go to the office to validate the token on returning to the car park.

I ended up not coming back to the car until 2am (around the time the pre-booked parking expired) and went to the office as mentioned whilst I despatched my friends to the lower level and said I'd meet them there. No-one in the car park office and I waited for probably the best part of 10 mins before I found a call button on the payment machine (very hidden). Explained the situation and was told to drive to the barrier and call them again and they'd let me through (which is when I found all the staff were still trying to remove the lake of water still with what looked like those floor buffers you see in shopping centres). Did this and I think the token is still in the car now!