Leaving Your Car Keys While You Travel: Battery Care and Vehicle Maintenance at Faro Airport

Why Long-Term Parking Can Affect Your Car Battery

Even when a car is switched off, it does not necessarily stop using electricity completely.

Modern vehicles can continue to use a small amount of electrical power for systems such as:

• Alarm and security systems.
• Central locking.
• Vehicle computers and electronic modules.
• Keyless-entry systems.
• Clocks and memory functions.
• Tracking or communication equipment fitted to the vehicle.

Normally this small electrical consumption is not a problem because the battery is recharged when the vehicle is driven.

However, when a vehicle remains parked for an extended period, particularly if its battery is already older or not fully charged, there is a greater possibility that the battery will become too weak to start the engine when the owner returns.

Imagine Returning from Your Flight to a Flat Battery

After a long journey, the last thing most travellers want is another problem before they can drive home.

You may have already:

• Completed a long flight.
• Waited for your baggage.
• Travelled back from Faro Airport to the parking facility.
• Loaded your luggage into the vehicle.

At that point, discovering that the car will not start because the battery has discharged can turn a straightforward collection into an unnecessary inconvenience.

For customers leaving a vehicle for a particularly long period, thinking about battery condition before travelling can therefore be worthwhile.

Leaving Your Keys Gives Us More Options to Help

If you take your vehicle keys abroad with you, Faro Park and Travel cannot access or operate the vehicle while you are away.

If you choose to leave the keys securely stored with our team, however, it may be possible to arrange additional assistance where required and agreed beforehand.

This can be particularly useful for customers using long-term parking near Faro Airport.

Depending on the vehicle, the length of the stay and the service agreed with the customer, this may include checking the condition of the battery and arranging appropriate battery charging or maintenance where necessary.

Any additional vehicle care or maintenance should be discussed and agreed with Faro Park and Travel in advance.

Keeping the Battery Ready for Your Return

Battery care can be particularly relevant when a vehicle will remain unused for several weeks or months.

The appropriate solution depends on the car and its battery. Where agreed with the customer, it may be possible to assess the situation and use suitable battery-maintenance or charging equipment if required.

The objective is simple: reduce the possibility of the customer returning from a trip and discovering that the vehicle does not have sufficient battery power to start.

This is especially worth considering for:

• Vehicles parked for several weeks or months.
• Cars with older batteries.
• Vehicles that are normally used infrequently.
• Cars with relatively high standby electrical consumption.
• Seasonal vehicles.
• Vehicles belonging to owners who spend long periods outside Portugal.

Long-Term Parking Is Different from Leaving a Car for a Few Days

Parking a car for four or five days is very different from leaving it stationary for one, two or three months.

The longer the vehicle remains unused, the more useful it becomes to think about its condition rather than simply its parking space.

Depending on the vehicle and how long it will remain parked, owners may want to consider:

• Battery condition.
• Tyre condition and pressures.
• Fluid levels.
• Routine servicing that may become due while they are away.
• Cleaning before collection.
• Other maintenance requirements specific to their vehicle.

This is one reason why customers leaving their cars for extended periods may benefit from discussing their requirements with Faro Park and Travel before departure.

Vehicle Maintenance Can Sometimes Be Arranged While You Are Away

Another advantage of leaving your keys securely with Faro Park and Travel is that, depending on what your vehicle requires, certain maintenance or vehicle services may be arranged while you are travelling.

Instead of returning from a long trip and then having to find time to deal with a maintenance issue, it may be possible to arrange suitable work while the vehicle would otherwise simply be parked.

The exact possibilities depend on the vehicle, the work required and prior agreement with Faro Park and Travel, so customers should always discuss their requirements before travelling.

You can also read more about this service in Travel While We Maintain Your Car: Faro Airport Parking Services.

Use the Time Your Car Is Parked

For many customers, a vehicle sitting in an airport car park for several weeks represents time when the car is not needed.

That can make it an ideal opportunity to deal with certain vehicle-related tasks.

Depending on the service required and what has been agreed, the parking period may provide an opportunity to organise maintenance rather than having to schedule it after returning home.

This can be especially convenient for people who:

• Live abroad for part of the year.
• Travel frequently for work.
• Own a property in the Algarve but spend long periods in another country.
• Leave a second vehicle in Portugal.
• Regularly use long-term parking at Faro Airport.

Car Washing Can Also Be Arranged

Maintenance is not the only vehicle-related task that can be dealt with while you are travelling.

Faro Park and Travel also offers a car wash service, allowing customers to arrange for their vehicle to be cleaned while they are away.

For a customer returning after several weeks abroad, collecting a car that has been looked after and cleaned can make the final stage of the journey considerably more pleasant.

Why Leaving the Keys Can Be Particularly Useful for Expats and Seasonal Residents

The Algarve has many residents and property owners who divide their time between Portugal and another country.

A vehicle may therefore remain in Faro for several weeks or even months while its owner is abroad.

For these customers, leaving the car keys securely stored with Faro Park and Travel can provide considerably more flexibility than taking the keys abroad.

If an issue needs attention while the owner is away, having authorised access to the vehicle may make it possible to deal with the situation without waiting until the customer returns to Portugal.

Without the keys, those options are naturally much more limited.

Your Keys Remain Securely Stored While You Travel

Customers are not required to take their vehicle keys abroad with them.

If you choose to leave your keys with Faro Park and Travel, they can be securely stored in our vault while you are away.

This has the immediate advantage of preventing the keys from being:

• Lost during the trip.
• Forgotten in a hotel.
• Left in holiday accommodation.
• Misplaced inside luggage.
• Accidentally left in another country.

It also means that, where something has been arranged with the customer, access to the vehicle is possible while it remains parked.

Security and Vehicle Care Can Work Together

When choosing airport parking, security remains one of the most important considerations.

Faro Park and Travel uses measures including surveillance cameras and controlled access to help protect vehicles while customers are away.

You can learn more in our guide Is It Safe to Leave Your Car at Faro Airport?.

For customers staying away for longer periods, secure parking can also be combined with practical vehicle care where appropriate.

Parking Close to Faro Airport with Additional Peace of Mind

Faro Park and Travel is located approximately 1,100 metres from Faro Airport and provides complimentary airport transfers every day from 04:00 until 00:00.

Customers travelling by car can check current prices and availability on our Faro Airport Car Parking page.

For longer stays, tell our team how long you expect to be away and whether you would like to leave your keys securely stored with us.

If you have concerns about the battery or would like to discuss maintenance or other vehicle services while you are travelling, speak to the team before departure so that we can determine what may be possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I leave my car keys with Faro Park and Travel?

Yes. Customers can choose to leave their vehicle keys with Faro Park and Travel, where they can be securely stored in our vault while the customer is travelling.

Why is leaving the keys useful for long-term parking?

In addition to removing the risk of losing or forgetting the keys during your trip, leaving them securely stored provides access to the vehicle if battery care or another previously agreed service is required while you are away.

Can Faro Park and Travel help prevent my battery from going flat?

If you are leaving your vehicle for a long period, discuss this with our team before travelling. Depending on the vehicle and the arrangements agreed, it may be possible to check the battery and arrange appropriate battery charging or maintenance if required.

Will Faro Park and Travel automatically perform maintenance on my car?

No. Additional vehicle care or maintenance is not automatic. Any work or special requirements should be discussed and agreed with Faro Park and Travel before or during the parking period.

Can other vehicle maintenance be arranged while I am abroad?

Depending on the maintenance required and the arrangements made with the customer, Faro Park and Travel may be able to help organise certain vehicle services while the customer is away. Contact the team to discuss the specific requirements of your vehicle.

Can my car also be washed while I am travelling?

Yes. Faro Park and Travel offers a car wash service that can be arranged while your vehicle is parked.

Is this useful if I leave my car for several months?

Yes. Battery condition and vehicle care become particularly relevant when a car remains unused for a long period, making this especially useful for long-term parking customers, seasonal residents and people who spend extended periods outside Portugal.

Leave Your Car Ready for When You Return

Long-term airport parking should not only be about leaving your vehicle somewhere while you travel. It is also worth thinking about what condition you want the car to be in when you return.

By leaving your keys securely stored with Faro Park and Travel, you avoid carrying them around the world unnecessarily and create the possibility of dealing with battery or maintenance requirements while the vehicle is parked, where this has been agreed in advance.

If you are planning a long trip, speak to Faro Park and Travel before you leave. Tell us how long the vehicle will be parked, whether you want us to store your keys securely and whether there is any battery or maintenance requirement you would like to discuss.