How to pay for parking in a council car park

You can pay to park in a council car park in a few different ways.

Not all these payment methods are available in all our car parks. See individual car park listings for payment options

Pay at a machine by cash

When paying by cash at a machine on site, the machine will clearly indicate if the payment has been accepted.

If the machine produces a ticket you must make sure it is clearly displayed in your vehicle before leaving the car park. Put the ticket on your dashboard, and check the details can be read from the outside.

If you pay using coins, you will not be given any change.

Pay at a machine by credit or debit card

When paying by credit or debit card at a machine on site, the machine will clearly indicate if the payment has been accepted.

If the machine produces a ticket you must make sure it is clearly displayed in your vehicle before leaving the car park. Put the ticket on your dashboard, and check the details can be read from the outside.

Ring the PayByPhone automated phone line

Use your credit or debit card to pay by phone. The telephone number and instructions are displayed on signs in the relevant car parks and streets.

Download and use the PayByPhone app

To pay for parking using the PayByPhone app:

  1. Download the PayByPhone app from Google Play or the App Store.
  2. Register for parking. You'll need your email address, mobile telephone number, vehicle registration and a valid credit or debit card.
  3. Enter your location code. This can be found on the car park or street signs.
  4. Add the amount of time you wish to park for.
  5. You can top-up your parking time wherever you are. Simply open the app and add the time to your current parking meter. Please note the ability to extend parking depends on local parking restrictions and regulations.

Benefits of using PayByPhone

The benefits of using the PayByPhone automated telephone line or app to pay for your car parking include:

  • You don't need to put a ticket on your dashboard.
  • You can choose to receive a text message to let you remind you if your parking session is about to expire.
  • If you're running late or need a bit more time, you can top-up your parking wherever you are.
  • Receiving reminders and being able to top-up your parking can reduce the risk of receiving a penalty notice charge.
  • You can opt-in or out of notifications in the PayByPhone app account settings.

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