Parker Guide
Your First Parking Booking
From search to check-in. Everything you need for a smooth first booking.
STEP 1
Before you search
- Know your vehicle dimensions, width, length, and height including any roof racks.
- Decide whether you need covered parking (important for long stays or hail-prone areas).
- Set your budget. Monthly rates are typically 40–70% below commercial carpark rates nearby.
- Check your walking tolerance from the space to your destination.
STEP 2
Reading a listing
- Photos: check that the access route is clear, the space fits your vehicle, and that covered means actually enclosed.
- Access method: key fob, coded gate, or turn-up arrangement. Make sure it works for your schedule.
- Cancellation terms: shown before you confirm. Understand what happens if you need to cancel early.
- Host response time: good hosts respond within a few hours.
STEP 3
Booking
- Instant Book spaces are confirmed immediately. Request spaces need host approval, typically within 24 hours.
- Payment is processed by Stripe. You are charged when the booking is confirmed.
- You receive a confirmation with the access details and any host notes.
- For monthly arrangements, your booking renews automatically unless you cancel with the agreed notice.
STEP 4
Check-in: The Handover
- Take a photo of the space when you arrive. It takes 10 seconds and timestamps the starting condition.
- If access fails, coded gate not working, fob not provided, contact the host immediately via platform chat.
- If you cannot reach the host within a reasonable time, contact ParkingFinder support.
- Do not leave the space without confirmation that the access issue is resolved.
STEP 5
Check-out
- Take a departure photo before you leave. This closes the Handover record for that booking.
- Return any access equipment, fob, remote, or key, as agreed with the host.
- Leave the space in the condition you found it.
- For monthly arrangements, notify the host in advance if you are not returning.
Monthly arrangements
Monthly parking is the most common arrangement on ParkingFinder. Once set up, it runs automatically. Your payment is processed on the same day each month. The space is yours during agreed hours without any re-booking needed.
To change spaces, different location, better rate, give your current host the agreed notice, then book the new space. You can have both bookings briefly overlapping if you need a transition week.
Common Questions
Can I inspect the space before booking?
For monthly arrangements, it is reasonable to ask a host whether you can view the space before committing. Most hosts will agree. Mention it when you send your initial message. For short-term or daily bookings, the listing photos and description should give you enough information to decide.
What if another vehicle is in my spot when I arrive?
Contact the host immediately via platform chat. Describe the situation with a photo. The host is responsible for ensuring the space is available at the agreed time. If the host does not resolve it quickly, contact ParkingFinder support. Do not confront the other vehicle's owner directly.
How do I cancel a monthly parking arrangement?
Give the host the agreed notice period, typically 14 to 30 days as set at the time of booking. Send a cancellation request through the platform. Monthly payments will stop once the notice period ends. Review the cancellation terms on your booking confirmation for the specific notice period.
Is my car insured while parked at a private space?
Yes. Comprehensive car insurance covers your vehicle regardless of where it is parked, a private driveway is treated the same as any other location. Your existing policy applies. The Handover photos taken at check-in and check-out provide a condition record if you ever need it.
What counts as damage I can report?
Anything that was not present when you arrived and is documented in your Handover photos. Scratches, dents, or other vehicle damage attributed to the space itself, such as a low-clearance structure that was not correctly disclosed, can be raised with support. Your Handover photos are the evidence record.
Search for Parking
Or read the Parking Safe & Sound guide first.