Parking Meters

Pay-By-Plate is the new way to pay for parking in New York City. Motorists must enter their license plate information to complete a metered parking transaction. You no longer have to display a receipt on your dashboard as proof of payment. A receipt is available if requested during your transaction for your records. ParkNYC already allows drivers to pay-by-plate, and will continue to be a payment option. ParkNYC already allows drivers to pay-by-plate, and will continue to be a payment option.

Pay-By-Plate parking provides an enhanced parking experience for motorists, as well as improving the overall performance of the parking system and streamlines curbside management and enforcement.

Improved touchscreen user displays, brighter graphics visible in all conditions, additional language options, improved meter performance and functionality and Tap to Pay contactless payment option.

Beginning in May 2024, NYC DOT will begin retrofitting existing meters to the new enhanced operating system. While similar in appearance, the newly retrofitted parking meters will be identifiable by new graphics on the side of the meter and are most easily identifiable by the presence of a large touchscreen on the meter front and larger solar cap.

The new Pay-By-Plate meters feature a large full-color touchscreen that provides a bold yet simple interface. Start by engaging the Start Button located below the touchscreen.  Rate information, instructions on license plate entry, as well as buying parking time is clearly relayed to customers on-screen.

Motorists should enter their license plate information exactly as it appears on their license plate. If in doubt, motorists should refer to the state registration document regarding the order of characters, as well as “stacked” or “abbreviation” characters that may be a prefix or suffix to the main plate characters. In addition, motorists should enter the information in the order that they appear from left to right. Motorists should ensure that the plate numbers AND state are correctly entered on the meter.

Examples:

	Plate Entry: ABC1234
	Plate Entry: 19999MP
	Plate Entry: 23955NE
	Plate Entry: T808299C

Vehicles with out-of-state plates can choose from the menu of plates listed on the plate entry screen. The most frequently used plates are featured on the initial screen (e.g., NY, NJ & Penn).  To find another state, enter the state in the prompt space and select from the pull-down menu. Specialty Plates, vanity plates, or temporary plates should be entered as viewed from left to right including all letters and numbers on license plate.

	Plate Entry: 2345EMT
	Plate Entry: NYP7650
	Plate Entry: C000192
	Plate Entry: BBSAMP

Motorists should review all their parking information before purchasing time at the parking meters. Motorists can cancel their session prior to confirming payment but cannot cancel once they complete the transaction. Motorists must start another parking session with the correct license plate if their plate is entered incorrectly.

No. Parking sessions and transactions are unique to a specific block face and parking meter zone. Motorists can only buy time at the parking meter located on the block face or lot where they are parked. As per NYC Parking Rules Section 4-08 (h)(4), parking time purchased is not transferable. If you move to a new block, you must start a new transaction.

If a parking meter is out-of-order and there are no additional parking meters on the same block face, motorists are permitted to park for the maximum time posted without payment but must move their vehicle once the time limit is exceeded (i.e., 2-hour parking meters = 2-hour limit). However, if another operating parking meter does exist on the same block face, please complete your transaction there. You cannot use a meter located on a different block face.

Please report damaged, malfunctioning, or missing meters by calling 311 or visiting NYC311 Online. Please make note of the parking meter number found on the front of the meter, if possible. The meter number is a seven-digit number found on the front of the machine, typically indicated by a three-digit number followed by a four-digit number, such as Meter # 321-1234. Please keep in mind that the parking meter zone number is a different number as ParkNYC zone numbers are always six-digit numbers.

Parking meters and ParkNYC mobile parking app transactions instantaneously sync with the NYPD parking enforcement systems. Enforcement personnel match the ParkNYC Zone ID# (e.g. 123456) with the license plate of the vehicle to verify payment.

After you have confirmed your purchase, you can request a printed paper receipt for your records. The Department of Finance – Parking Violations Bureau has access to all parking transactions should you, inadvertently receive a summons. Additionally, motorists can contact NYC DOT to request verification of a parking transaction by calling 311 or visiting NYC311 Online.

For those that do request a receipt, please retain for future reference and information. In addition to transaction information, the new receipts feature enhanced security features to reduce fraud. Please note receipts are only valid for the time and block face for which they were purchased.

No, the receipt from a Pay-By-Plate meter does not need to be placed on the dashboard, keep it for your records only. Motorists must still place the receipt on the windshield for non-Pay-By-Plate parking meters.

The time purchased will be indicated on the touchscreen, like in previous meters. Motorists may purchase time in increments by touching the + button on-screen to add more time or reduce time by pressing the – button. You can also purchase the max time allowed at the meter by pressing the MAX button. The start and end of your parking transaction will be clearly displayed on-screen, as well as on the printed receipt, if you choose to print.

Motorists are permitted to park for the maximum time posted and cannot increase their time once purchased at a meter. Increased flexibility in adding time is available in the ParkNYC app.

No. As per city traffic rules, there is no transferability or “portability” of time from one metered block to another. Time purchased at a Pay-and-Display meter and a printed receipt are not transferable to a Pay-by-Plate blockface and vice-versa. If you move your vehicle to another block or parking facility, you will need to perform a new transaction.

Transaction and license plate data is held in a secure system so Enforcement can ensure you’ve paid for your parking. The company providing the meters, Flowbird, receives annual certification from a third-party Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) recognized for both Payment Card Data Security Standards (PCI_DSS) as well as payment Application Data Security Standards. The meters, as well as the payment gateways and software, undergo external security scanning to meet various credit card security programs.

The rates for metered parking vary across the city. There are six different meter zones, as well as differences between passenger and commercial meter rates and regulations. Additional information on meter rates can be found at nyc.gov/paythemeter.

If your credit card was charged an incorrect amount or you believe you are entitled to a refund, please call 311 or visit NYC311 Online.

The new meters accept credit cards, NYC DOT parking cards and coins. Mobile phone payments are separate and can be made through NYC’s app, ParkNYC. Credit card payments are accepted via the credit card reader or contactless Tap-And-Go NFC card reader. Please follow on-screen prompts for instructions.

Currently, no. A payment at the meter cannot be extended on the app or vice-versa. Each transaction is independent of the other payment channel.