If you're leaving your car for several days — or several weeks — there are a few things worth checking before you go. A couple of minutes of preparation can save you an unpleasant surprise when you get back.
Leaving your car at a trusted parking facility next to Málaga Airport is the easy part. What sometimes gets overlooked is preparing the vehicle properly before you leave it. You don't need to be a mechanic or work through an endless checklist — a few basic points are enough to make sure your car is in perfect condition when you return.
These tips are particularly relevant in summer, when Málaga's high temperatures can affect a vehicle if certain details aren't taken into account. But they apply equally at any time of year and for any length of stay.
1. Document the condition of your car before you leave
Before leaving your car at any parking facility, take a moment to photograph the exterior — front, back and both sides. It's not a matter of distrust, it's common sense. If you come back to find a scratch or dent you don't remember, you'll have a clear reference for how the car looked when you left it.
At Parking San Isidro we've been looking after vehicles next to Málaga Airport since 1987, with uninterrupted 24-hour surveillance. But documenting your car's initial condition is a habit every traveller should have, regardless of where they park.
2. Check the battery
A battery in poor condition can discharge during a longer stay, especially if the car sits unused for several days. If your battery is more than four or five years old or you know it's borderline, it's better to have it checked before your trip than to come back to a flat.
Modern cars have many systems that draw power even with the engine off — the alarm, the clock, the on-board computer memory. Over a longer stay, that residual consumption can take its toll on a weak battery.
3. Check your tyre pressure
An underinflated tyre subjected to the heat of a Málaga summer can deteriorate faster than usual. Before leaving your car, make sure all tyres — including the spare, if you carry one — are at the manufacturer's recommended pressure. You'll find this in the vehicle handbook or on the sticker inside the driver's door frame.
4. Close all windows and the sunroof properly
It sounds obvious, but it happens more often than you'd think: a slightly open window or an improperly closed sunroof left for days in the heat or rain can have unpleasant consequences inside the car. Check everything before you walk away.
5. Leave enough fuel in the tank
You don't need to fill it up, but it's worth not leaving it on empty. If you need to stop for fuel on the way home after collecting your car, it's far more comfortable to do so with some margin than with the warning light already on.
6. If you have an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle, ask us
Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles require special consideration for longer stays. At Parking San Isidro, if you need to keep your traction battery at a certain charge level during your stay, get in touch when you make your booking or when you arrive and we'll look at the options available.
7. Request the car wash service and come back to a spotless car
One of the advantages of leaving your car at Parking San Isidro is that you can request a car wash during your stay. While you're travelling, your car gets cleaned — and you collect it in perfect condition. It's a particularly practical option in summer, when dust and heat leave their mark on the bodywork.
8. Book in advance and choose the right type of space
The last tip, and not the least important: if you're leaving your car for several days, book in advance and consider a covered space. In Málaga, summer sun can reach 40°C, and a covered space protects your car from extreme heat, rain and the elements.
Covered spaces at Parking San Isidro are the first to be reserved during peak season. If you want one, don't leave it until the last minute.
Book your space at Parking San Isidro
Quick checklist before leaving your car
- Photos of the vehicle exterior taken
- Battery in good condition
- Tyre pressure correct
- Windows and sunroof properly closed
- Enough fuel in the tank
- Electric vehicle: charging options discussed
- Car wash requested if desired
- Covered space booked if travelling in summer
Parking San Isidro — private parking next to Málaga Airport since 1987
