Airport parking conundrum
 

Ok, this is an interesting one! A friend of mine owns somewhat of a beater car that he was letting a relative of his use as a daily driver. This relative drove the car to the SF airport, left the country for a couple months, and when they came back, they didn't have the cash to get it out of long-term parking, so they bummed a ride home and just left the car there. It's been there for 4 months now, @ $25/day. The parking bill (probably in the neighborhood of $2500-$3000) far exceeds the value of the car (probably $500) at this point. He doesn't want to pay $3k to get a $500 car out of hock, but at the same time doesn't want this to come up and bite him in the ass at some point in the future.

What should he do?

Take them the title?

Leave it there ! After a certain amount of time (it could have happened already) the car will be confiscated by the city and sold at auction.

If you really want the car it's possible that you could find out when the auction is and go buy it . . . .

My neighbor works out at the airport and bought a really nice mid-nineties Pathfinder at the auction a few years ago. Guy who owned the car traveled abroad and unfortunately didn't make it back. His relatives never even thought about the car and it was in the lot for monts and months.

This is why I take a cab.

Would it even be possible for the airport to go after the guy through collections for the parking fees after X amount of days? That's what I would worry about...

I wouldn't be surprised if they turned it over to DMV and it was attached to his drivers license and registration for other cars. Cmon its freakin commie San Francisco. Do you think they're just going to roll over?

If you lost the original ticket wouldn't you just have to pay their fine for that?

One trick that can work depending upon the gate system. Walk through the entrance gate and push the button for a current ticket. Then drive out and present the current ticket and pay the minimal fee . . .

Ian

Nope.

In Denver anyway, there is a camera that takes a pic of your license plate as you enter the lot and get your ticket. The ticket is actually not even 'necessary', they know when the car entered and how long it's been there just by the plate.

Change/remove the plate...

JR

i have no good answer. but, are the two parties (relatives) still friends? that must have been an interesting conversation. no way that car would have been returned with a full tank of gas..hahah.

Kick the ever livin crap out of deadbeat relative is the first thing that comes to mind.

Could you try and bribe the ticket guy? Maybe hint around that if he let's you out, there's a Benjamin or two and a case of beer in it for him. I'd pitch it to one of the graveyard guys.

I'd definitely switch the plate, maybe even try to find an identical car to rent or borrow and drive it in to confuse the cameras. Just leave it there for a day, drive the old car out with the new car's ticket. When they stop you trying to take the new car out later, you can claim you've only been there a day or two. I've had a problem taking my bike to the airport, where they have special parking for bikes, but the bikes don't weigh enough to trip the sensor to lift the gate arm. I've had to follow cars in on their bumpers. Airport parking is such a PITA in every possible way.

BTW, all the suggestions for "beating" the charge amount to theft of services which is a prosecutable crime.

Not sure what the $ limit is in CA but seems this may be approaching an amount that makes it a felony charge.

Just sayin.

The first thing I'd do is go down there and see if the car is still where it was parked. Then I'd read the T&Cs on the parking garage website.

That should give you an idea of where you stand, and what your best recourse is. You may be able to negotiate a lower rate to get the car back, or walk from it.

Personally I would not fk with the Denver airport, switching out plates, etc. As Gogar mentioned they take a pic of the car and licence plate when you come and go. That place is like Fort Knox since 9-11.

Not sure what SFO is like but at DEN they don't mess around.

also look to see if there's a maxmium charge for the parking fee. sometimes there is.

Even if they sell the car at auction they will probably go after the registered owner for the difference of what the car was sold for and how much in parking fees, towing, storage, and auction fees added up to.

I gave a vehicle to a friend who was in a hard spot and I never bothered sending in the release of liability portion that you tear off the title. Months later the car got impounded and my friend figured it would be better to let them sell the car at auction and it should pay for the towing and storage.....nope! Someone bought the car that was worth about $2200 for $300 and there was a remaining balance of about $800 that I was now responsible for because I never sent in the release of liability. Fortunately when I called my friend he apologized up and down and showed up later that day with the cash to cover what I now owed.
-Shawn

I would not even contemplate switching plates, etc...a friend of mine works at Homeland Security and has told me that airport parking garages are extremely well covered. Look, even if the boys at DHS are Barney Fife in a suit, I wouldn't risk the consequences.

And bribing the checkout folks would occasion a visit...they are under surveillance 24/7. It is all automated.

I heard of a guy who brought his expensive car (let's say......a Bentley) to the bank and used it for security against a loan. The bank took possession of the vehicle until the loan was repaid, and gave the guy a ride to the airport. The owner went abroad for a while, returned and repaid the loan. Cheap parking.