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Beginning July 1, 2022, the department will implement virtual parking permits for faculty, staff and students. The virtual parking system allows you to use your license plate number as your parking permit.

Purchase a Permit

There are three options when purchasing virtual permits:

  1. 365 Day Permit Valid from date of purchase
  2. 150 Day Permit Valid from date of purchase
  3. Daily Permit:
    • $5 Pass Expires at 11:59 PM
    • $8 Pass Expires 24 hours from time of purchase

Individuals who would like to register a second vehicle to their account can do so for an additional fee of $15. However, only one vehicle per account can be parked on any one of the UCF-owned properties (Main campus, Research Park, UCF Lake Nona Cancer Center and the Rosen College, Health Sciences and Downtown campuses) at the same time. If shared vehicles are found parked on campuses at the same time, the account-holder can be subject to a $100 parking fine. Vehicle in the shop for repairs? You can manage the vehicles linked to your permit by going online to your parking account. The account holder can perform a temporary vehicle substitution by manually switching the vehicle’s tag number online.

License Plate Recognition (LPR) is a virtual permit system with parking validation software that allows you to use your license plate as your parking permit. No more worrying about properly displaying your parking permit or transferring your permit between vehicles. With LPR, your license plate is your virtual permit! The license plate is captured by cameras mounted on enforcement vehicles or inside parking garages. When read, the numbers of your plate are automatically referenced against the parking database to verify proper parking privileges for the designated location. If a license plate is not registered in the LPR system or is not visible for scanning, a citation will be issued.

FAQs

I’m going to live on campus, when should I order my parking permit?

Housing students should take into consideration date of move in and enrollment periods. It is recommended to order your virtual parking permit 1 week prior to the beginning of the semester so that you maximize your parking permit’s full time frame. If you will need to park prior to move in, consider purchasing a daily virtual parking permit for short term parking needs.

Do I need to buy a virtual permit if I still have a valid physical permit?

Beginning July 1, 2022, the department will implement virtual parking permits for faculty, staff and students. The virtual parking system allows you to use your license plate number as your parking permit. If you have a current permit purchased prior to July 1, it will be valid until August 31. You may use that permit up to its expiration before you purchase your new Virtual Permit if you choose to do so.

How will motorcycle permits be handled?

The new LPR system will read motorcycle license plates in the same manner as vehicle license plates.

Will parking permit fees increase fall of 2022?

Single vehicle permit fees will remain the same price. Customers who desire to register a second vehicle under their account, will be assessed a $15 fee per vehicle. Costs associated with virtual permitting include outfitting multiple vehicles and garages with LPR technology, hiring and training of enforcement personnel to ensure parking compliance, and responsibility of paying contractual fees for product support.

What do I do if my license plate changes after I have purchased a virtual permit?

To update your license plate on your virtual permit, visit the Parking Portal and select “Change license plate”. There you will have the option to make a permanent or temporary license plate change to your vehicle.
Permanent Vehicle Change:
You can change your vehicle information online, free of charge as follows:

  • 365 DAYS permits allow 3 changes per active permit.
  • 150 DAYS permits allow 1 change per active permit.

Temporary Vehicle Change:
You can temporarily change your vehicle information online, free of charge as follows:

  • 365 DAYS permits allow 6 temporary changes.
  • 150 DAYS permits allow 3 temporary changes.

Each temporary change can be up to 14 calendar days. The temporary vehicle information will auto revert to the original vehicle information when the temporary change expires. No user action is required. You can change your temporary vehicle’s End Date within 14 days from the registration date.

If you need assistance please call UCF Parking and Transportation directly at (407) 823-5812.

As a Retiree of UCF, will I have a virtual or physical permit?

The department will continue to issue physical permits for retirees. Please email decals@ucf.edu to request a retiree application form or call use at (407) 823-5812.

Will there be specific tags that designate residents, staff or faculty members?

LPR will automatically verify students, residents and employees’ virtual permits via their license plate. Vehicles parked in areas on campus not associated with their virtual permit type will be subject to a citation.

What happens if I do not have access to a smart device?

Please stop by the Visitor and Parking Information Center during business hours so we can assist you with our smart device.

Sustainability practices and promoting efficiency

The change to LPR and virtual permits makes the permit process more sustainable by removing waste created by using physical permits. About 250,000 physical permits were issued to faculty, staff, and students over the last five years, resulting in a cost savings of $245k annually. Physical permits are treated as cash and switching to virtual reduces the need to track and inventory permits. Customers will no longer need to drive to the Parking Office and stand in long lines during the rush of the semester. It’s simple–purchase parking credentials at your convenience via smart device.
The bottom line is that this technology is designed to improve our efficiency and your experience with us.

  • Greater convenience to the permit renewal process – no extra trips to pick up permit, no waiting in line and no waiting for your permit to arrive in the mail
  • Once LPR is fully implemented, there will be no need to:
    1. Visit our office if you forget your permit
    2. Worry about your permit falling from rearview mirror or being improperly displayed
    3. Pay a fee for lost permits
    4. Remember to switch your permit to another vehicle

How does virtual permitting benefit me?

  • Eliminates the need to display physical permits and the need to move permits from vehicle-to-vehicle
  • Increased cost effectiveness with the reduction of printed permits and postage fees
  • Returning to your vehicle to display a paper permit will no longer be necessary
  • Lost or stolen permits and the associated replacement fees, police reports, and processing times will be eliminated
  • No more forgetting your permit, a permit falling from a rearview mirror or being displayed improperly
  • Reduced waste and promotes campus sustainability:
    • Reduced paper, plastic, envelopes, and ink used in permit production and distribution
    • Reduced waste and litter in all campus lots

What if I am a visitor?

Virtual daily parking permits are available $5.00 per day and are allowed in D (green) student spaces. After 5:30pm, virtual daily parking permits are allowed to park in faculty, staff, unreserved, or student spaces. Visitors can register their vehicle’s license plate information into the online parking system.

What if I am working remote or taking classes online?

Virtual daily parking permits are available $8.00 per day (24 hours) based on transaction date/time and are allowed in D (green) student spaces. After 5:30pm, virtual daily parking permits are allowed to park in B, C, unreserved or student spaces. $5-day passes are also available and expire 11:59pm date of purchase.

What if my vehicle is in the shop for repairs and I am driving a rental vehicle?

If you are driving a temporary vehicle, you will need to login into your parking portal and update your vehicle information by making a “temporary vehicle change”.  Each temporary vehicle change has a maximum time of up to fourteen(14) days.  If no action is taken to change temporary  vehicle after 14 days, the permit will revert back to the original license plate.

For 365 day virtual permit holders, you are allowed six (6) temporary vehicle changes for the life of the permit.  For 150 day virtual permit holders, you are allowed three (3) temporary vehicle changes for the life of the permit.

What happens if I own multiple vehicles in my household?

In addition of purchasing 365 annual or 150-day permit, the account holder will have the opportunity to add a second vehicle for a cost of $15. Only one vehicle per account can be parked on any of UCF campus at a time or a $100 parking fine can be assessed to the account holder. The virtual parking system allows you to use your license plate number as your parking permit.

When are virtual permits valid?

Annual virtual permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase. For those who would like to purchase parking by semester, there will be a 150-day virtual permit valid 150 days from date of purchase. Daily permits are valid from date and time of purchase and are allowed to park in green D spaces (or faculty, staff, or unmarked spaces only after 5:30pm).

How do I purchase a UCF parking permit and how does LPR work?

Faculty, staff, and students can register their vehicle’s license plate information into the online parking system when purchasing their virtual permits. The virtual permitting system then combines this information with your payment and generates a virtual permit linked to that vehicle’s license plate number. When a vehicle parks on campus, the license plate is captured by cameras mounted on enforcement vehicles. When read, the numbers of your plate are automatically referenced against the parking database to verify a valid permit and the proper parking privileges for each parking facility. If the license plate and vehicle information are not associated with a valid virtual permit or the vehicle is parked in an inappropriate lot (Employee vs. Student), then the vehicle can be subject to a citation.

What is LPR?

License Plate Recognition (LPR) is smart parking technology that provides virtual permits through a vehicle’s license plate instead of paper permits or plastic hangtags. LPR increases parking efficiency on campus, provides convenience for UCF’s constituents and offers a touchless approach to attaining permit credentials. It also promotes sustainability by eliminating plastic and paper tags and greatly reduces the amount of time spent to obtain a parking permit.