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How to Save on Parking

  • Parking
  • Jeannie Assimos
  • 6 minutes

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Want to save money on parking in your city but unsure about where to start? Stop paying full price on parking all of the time. If you think that’s hard, we got you covered. There are plenty of ways to save time and money on parking. From using offsite parking services, to booking your parking ahead of time, options are many. Here is a complete guide on everything you need to know about how to save on parking. 

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How Much Does it Cost for Parking in the United States?

Before we jump into some of the best ways to save on parking in your city, let’s take a look at some interesting numbers. As studies have been very limited on the parking industry, we’ll have to back to a study by INRIX that was completed in 2017. According to data from their research, an average American driver spends at least $3000 on parking every year. The study also highlights the fact that traffic and parking-related costs made up around 45% of the total cost of car ownership in the US.

It goes without saying that parking is an expensive affair. When it comes to city parking, you can easily put a dent in your wallet if you are not careful. That’s why it’s even more important that you spend some time finding the best ways to save money on parking.

Is It Easy to Find Parking in the United States?

How to Save Money on Parking
Image by Matt Alaniz on Unsplash

No, it’s definitely not. On average an American spends more than 17 hours a year to find a parking space. This gets worse in cities that are known to have some of the biggest traffic bottlenecks. While we might keep track of all the time that we lose, we don’t usually take other things into consideration.

All the detours you take and all the extra miles you drive – eats up a lot of gas! On top of increasing the scale of emission, it also ends up giving a very frustrating experience overall. That’s why it is important that you drive out to a destination, find parking at the soonest, and get the best prices. But how?

What are the Different Parking Options You Have?

When it comes to city parking, you are restricted with choices. You still could go for covered parking or outdoor self-park. There are street parking spaces, but they are always in huge demand. Parking meters can also be expensive if you overpark and end up getting parking tickets. You also end up leaving your car in the street, which is not always the best choice. From weather hazards to unfortunate cases of vandalism, the problems are definitely many. Your best bet to bag that safe and affordable spot for parking in your city would be to pre-book parking through apps like the Way App.

What Makes Parking Expensive in the United States?

How to save money on parking
Image by: Sinuswelle

Parking in a city near you is always a challenge, because of its high demand. Just like how important that hourly parking spot is for you, it is the same for everyone around you as well. There are also external factors that vary from one person to the other. The location you are heading to, also contributes to the cost of parking. If you are parking in a busy street with multiple commercial buildings, parking rates will be high, because of the demand and supply they offer.

However, locations that are not in high demand would have lower rates. How close you park to a particular street or location also contributes to the overall parking rates. There are also other contributing factors that can significantly alter the cost of onsite and offsite city parking.

Where Are You Parking Your Car?

Are you going to a place that is usually busy or crowded at most times? Is that a point of interest or a landmark people usually visit? If so, expect high costs for all available parking garages. You’ll also have to hope and pray that there are vacant spots for city parking in high-demand zones. For instance, imagine that you are driving to New York City. Do you think you can simply drive into a vacant parking spot? 

NYC is almost parking madness redefined. Unless you are familiar with how the parking works, or drive into a parking as someone leaves, it would be impossible to get a spot. If you do have plans to head to NYC, regardless of which borough you choose, consider reserving NYC parking in advance before heading out.

What Are the Best Ways to Save More on Parking?

Cars parked on either side of Larimer street in Denver
Image by: islandworks on Pixabay

All that said, there are still a few smart ways to find yourself a discount or two on city parking. It is said that where there is a will, there is a way (and where there is Way, there are parking spots available!). Forget all your parking woes for good, and start saving from cents to dollars, one day at a time. Let’s dive straight into the best ways to save on parking:

Reserve Parking in Advance

The best way to save more than ever on parking is to reserve parking in advance. Not only does it ensure the best prices for close proximity parking to the location you are visiting, it also avoids all unnecessary hassles. You can drive at ease, knowing that a safe for secure parking at your convenience is ready and waiting.

There are also plenty of apps like the Way App that let you book city parking with ease. Most of these apps also have price drops and offers that let you save even more. This is also a useful strategy to secure a spot in busy cities like New York City, and San Francisco.

Plan Ahead of Time

When it comes to parking at a busy city or airport, your best bet to enjoy a stress-free parking experience would be to plan ahead of time. It’s easy to plan your parking, if you are planning in a city that you know. However, if you are parking at a new city, it helps to know, where you park, how you park, and when to park. Research the hotspots of a town and stay away from places that have mad rush. Avoid peak business hours, so that you don’t end up driving in circles looking for a parking spot.

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