Paying for parking
When you park in an ACT Government car park, you’ll need to pay a parking fee.
Check the signs for the paid parking hours of operation.
You can either:
- display a prepaid multi-day parking ticket
- pay with coins, cards or your smartphone at the ‘pay and display’ machine
- use the EasyPark app to pay online.
If you don’t pay for a ticket, you risk getting a parking infringement.
Read about traffic and parking infringements.
Prepaid multi-day parking tickets
Prepaid multi-day parking tickets give you a discount for parking in all-day car parking areas.
You can choose from a:
- weekly ticket which gives a 5% discount on the day rate. Valid for 7 days from the start date you select.
- monthly ticket gives a 6% discount on the day rate. Valid until the same day of the following month.
You can use a prepaid ticket in any ACT Government all-day car park. The fee needs to be equal to or less than the fee displayed on the ticket.
Prepaid tickets don’t reserve you a park or guarantee parking availability.
You can’t use prepaid tickets in short-stay car parks.
No refunds or credit is available for lost or stolen prepaid tickets.
Buy prepaid parking tickets
You can buy prepaid tickets:
- online using the Purchase Prepaid Parking Ticket form
- at an Access Canberra Service Centre
- by calling Access Canberra on 13 22 81.
You’ll need either:
- your ACT driver licence number and date of birth
- your full name and postal address
Payment options are VISA or MasterCard.
Access Canberra will post your parking permit to the nominated address.
The fasted way to get a permit is to visit an Access Canberra Service Centre where permits are issued on the spot.
Pay and display parking machines
Pay and display parking machines are available at all ACT government paid car parks.
You can pay with:
- coins: the machines accepts 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2 coins
- VISA and MasterCard: you can insert the card or use the contactless card reader
- the smartphone app EasyPark: use the number on the side of the pay and display machine to make sure you have the right car park location.
The machines don’t accept banknotes. If you leave your car to get change for a machine, you risk getting an infringement notice.
Paying by card automatically selects the maximum parking duration. You can reduce the duration by pressing the minus button on the machine.
Faulty machines
To report faulty or damaged pay and display parking machines phone 13 22 81.
Display the ticket
If you’ve paid at the machine, place the ticket face-up on your dashboard so it’s visible from outside the car.
If you’ve paid using EasyPark you don’t need a ticket. The Parking Officer can look up your numberplate in the system. You can increase or decrease the duration remotely from the app.
Visit the EasyPark website.
Overnight parking
Once the signposted hours of operation in the evening have passed you can park for free.
When they recommence in the morning you need to pay the fee. If you leave your car overnight, you risk receiving a parking infringement in the morning.
To avoid this, you can purchase time for the next morning’s hours. The machine will only accept payment again when the new day has started (after midnight).
Park and Ride permits
Park and Ride permits allow you to park in permit-only spots near bus and light rail stops so you can continue your journey by public transport.
Read about Park and Ride on the Transport Canberra website.
Paid parking on National land
On behalf of the Australian Government, the National Capital Authority is responsible for implementing and enforcing pay parking arrangements on National land.
Visit the National Capital Authority website.
Motorcycle parking
Parking rules and restrictions apply to all vehicles including motorcycles. If you ride a motorbike, you must follow all parking rules.
Up to 3 motorcycles can park in a single car parking bay if each rider can still get in and out of the park.
Each rider individually needs to pay the parking fee.
Some parking areas have designated motorcycle parking only zones.
If you park in a designated motorcycle parking zone you can park for free.
If no spaces are available in the zone you need to park in a car parking bay and buy a ticket.
Display the ticket in a prominent position on the bike. You may wish to write your registration number on the ticket and take a photo of it in the event it’s stolen or blows away.