FAQ: Departments and the Virtual Parking Permit System
What is the process for purchasing department, vendor, and contractor parking permits?
The permit purchasing process varies depending on the type of permit. Please refer to the table below for guidance on how to purchase Department 'A' Daily, 'C'-SRWC Daily, 'Event' Daily, Service Vehicle ('SV') Daily, Department long-term, vendor, contractor, and group/reserved event parking permits.
Permit | Process | Where the permit is valid: | |
|
|
||
Department 'A' Daily permits | Purchase through the virtual parking permit system (pre-registration required). |
|
|
Department 'Event' Daily permits |
|
|
|
Department 'C-SRWC' Daily permits |
|
|
|
Service Vehicle ('SV') Daily permits |
|
|
|
Department long-term permits (pre-registration required) | Fill out the Department/Vendor Permit Order Form. |
|
|
Vendor permits (Eligible businesses for vendor permits include banking, janitorial and food service businesses, consultants, and auditors) |
To purchase a Service Vehicle (SV) Daily permit, vendors can log in as a visitor through our online ordering system. Please note that to be able to log in you must create a visitor account. To purchase an 'A-Business' permit, the Stanford sponsoring department completes the Vendor Sponsorship Form first. Then fill out the Department/Vendor Permit Order Form. |
|
|
Contractor permits (Eligible businesses for contractor permits include general contractors, electrical, painting, roofing, landscape, plumbing, and maintenance companies) |
To purchase a Service Vehicle (SV) Daily permit, contractors can log in as a visitor through our online ordering system. Please note that to be able to log in you must create a visitor account. To purchase a parking permit/identifier, fill out the Contractor Permit Order Form. |
|
|
Group/reserved event parking permits | Fill out the Event Parking Request Form. |
|
|
For assistance in using the virtual department parking permit system, we have developed these "How to" guides:
- How to Purchase Permits for a Stanford Department
- How to Add a Vehicle for a Stanford Department
- How to Assign a Permit to a Vehicle for a Stanford Department
- How to Purchase and Manage a Long-Term Permit for a Stanford Department
- How to Purchase a Permit as a Stanford Vendor
When purchasing department permits, please note the following:
- PCards are not accepted.
- University departments are required to provide a PTA.
- Hospital departments are required to provide a Cost Center account.
- Contractors and vendors are able to purchase permits with a credit card (i.e., Visa, Mastercard, or Discover). If purchasing daily permits, please call Stanford Transportation at 650.723.9362 or purchase visitor parking through the ParkMobile app.
Note: To purchase another permit, please fill out the Vendor Parking Permit Application.
If you have any questions, please contact us at transportation@stanford.edu or 650.723.9362
Do departments have to ask visitors for their license plate information, email, and name?
If purchasing a permit through the department portal, Stanford Transportation and parking enforcement require the license plate number, the state of origin, make of the vehicle, and the driver's name and email address when the permit is purchased. This information is needed in case either Stanford Transportation and/or parking enforcement need to reach out to the driver or department administrator who registered the vehicle around issues such as parking in a construction zone or an area reserved for campus activities or events, or the vehicle is reported as damaged, left lights on, etc.
If purchasing a permit through the Event Parking Request Form, please visit our Find Event Parking webpage to learn more about the event parking requirements. You can also contact us at eventparking@stanford.edu or 650.723.9362.
How will I get license plate information for department visitors? What if they arrive in a rental car?
If visitors can provide their license plates and vehicle information in advance, departments can assign permits to them before their arrival. If they are renting a vehicle or didn't provide the information in advance, the visitor can take a photo of the license plate, including the state of origin, and email or text it to the department contact, who can enter the information, and it will be valid in real time. Alternatively, they can present their rental-car keys to the department contact upon arrival, and the information needed should be attached to the keychain of the rental vehicle. It can be entered and then returned to the visitor..
We recommend that you communicate with your visitors about the virtual permit system's requirements in advance. Your communication should include the required information to register their vehicle if your department wants to purchase and accommodate their parking using daily passes in the department portal. Or, we advise you to give the information about Visitor Parking options on campus. Please visit our How to Purchase Visitor Parking page for more information.
We understand that there are special circumstances and needs for each department, and we are ready to work with you to identify any adjustments that may be needed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at transportation@stanford.edu.
Can departments purchase physical permits?
No. Department daily permits are only available online through our virtual parking permit system.
Please contact transportation@stanford.edu or 650.723.9362 if you have any questions.
Can departments return physical permits?
No. The deadline to return department daily physical "scratcher" permits was Nov. 29, 2019. As of Jan. 1, 2020, daily physical "scratcher" permits are no longer valid on the main campus or Stanford Redwood City.
How do I purchase event parking?
To order group/reserved event parking, please fill out the Event Parking Request Form. We have created a Department Parking Options Reference Guide to provide more information on the options available for university departments welcoming visitors.
Departments can set up a ParkMobile account to pay for visitor parking, or can purchase Department 'Event' Daily permits (main campus only), Department 'C-SRWC Daily permits (SRWC only), and/or Department 'A' Daily permits through the virtual parking permit system (pre-registration required). For assistance in purchasing a permit through the virtual system, please visit our "How to" guide: How to Purchase Permits for a Stanford Department.
If you have any questions, contact us at eventparking@stanford.edu.
Can multiple vehicles be assigned to the same daily permit in a day?
No. Only one vehicle may be assigned to a daily permit in a day. This is to help ensure that only one vehicle is using the respective permit at a time.
How will I get license plate information for department visitors?
If visitors can provide their license plates and vehicle information in advance, departments can assign permits to them before their arrival. If they are renting a vehicle or didn't provide the information in advance, the visitor can take a photo of the license plate, including the state of origin, and email or text it to the department contact, who can enter the information, and it will be valid in real time. Alternatively, they can present their rental-car keys to the department contact upon arrival, and the information needed should be attached to the keychain of the rental vehicle. It can be entered and then returned to the visitor.
We understand that there are special circumstances and needs for each department, and we are ready to work with you to identify any adjustments that may be needed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at transportation@stanford.edu.
Can contractors and vendors purchase their own permits?
Yes. Contractors and vendors are able to purchase their own permits with a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover credit card.
Contractors
Option 1: Can purchase a Service Vehicle ('SV') Daily permit, by logging in as a visitor through our online ordering system (visitor account registration required).
Option 2: Purchase a parking permit/identifier. Please fill out the Contractor Permit Order Form. If you have any questions, please contact parkingoperations@stanford.edu. Please note that businesses eligible for contract permits include general contractors, electrical, painting, roofing, landscape, plumbing, and maintenance companies.
Vendors
Option 1: Can purchase a Service Vehicle ('SV') Daily permit, by logging in as a visitor through our online ordering system (visitor account registration required).
Option 2: Purchase an 'A-Business' permit. First, please have your Stanford sponsoring department complete the Vendor Sponsorship Form. Refer to our "How To" page for more information.
Please have the Stanford sponsoring department fill out the Vendor Sponsorship Form first. Then complete Department/Vendor Permit Order Form. Please note that businesses eligible for vendor permits include: banking, janitorial and food service businesses, and consultants and auditors.
If you have any questions, please contact transportation@stanford.edu.
How is the list of department contacts updated when there is turnover?
To remove a department contact, please have the department manager send an email to transportation@stanford.edu with the name and email of the contact(s) we should remove.
To add department contacts, submit new contacts through the Department Contact Form, which requires the department organization code, department manager, and the department manager's email.
Approval process: Our office will confirm that the department manager listed corresponds with the department. If so, we will send a message informing the department manager of changes to their authorized contact list. Stanford Transportation will send a list of department contacts to the department manager on a quarterly basis.
If a University staff member makes an error when entering a license plate number for a visitor, and the visitor gets a parking ticket, can the Stanford staff member handle the paperwork and pay for the ticket?
No. The customer/visitor must submit an appeal. Stanford Transportation recommends that the department provides the customer/visitor with documents to support their appeal, including a screenshot of the valid parking permit, a parking receipt, correspondence with the department to add license plate information, or a screenshot of the license plate information provided to the department.
Visit our Appeal a Parking Citation webpage to learn more.