Which Permit Is Right For You?

When do you need to park?

If you need to park during typical commute hours (6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday)

How long do you need to park?

The virtual permit system provides the option to choose between 'Short-term/Daily' or 'Long-term/Commuter' (monthly) permits according to your needs. Determining the permit that is right for you depends on how often you need to park on campus. 

If you are commuting part-time, purchasing daily permits for days you need to drive to campus could be a savings for you. We have developed the following to help you determine how many days it makes financial sense to purchase a daily versus a monthly permit:

Where do you need to park?

Main Campus parking

Stanford affiliated or sponsored commuters may park in 'A,' 'C,' or 'Z' parking zones with the purchase of an 'A,' 'C,' or 'Z' permit. A limit of one permit type per customer applies. Commuters are not allowed to purchase Resident zone permits.

An 'A' permit is also valid in 'C' and 'Z' parking zones (except Hoover Pavilion Garage). 'C' permits are also valid in 'Z' parking zones when shared signage is present. 'Z' permits are valid in Searsville Lot (L-22) and Hoover Pavilion Garage.

Pricing is based on location and convenience (See the Parking and Circulation Map or Stanford's Searchable Map for the locations of these areas):

  • 'A' spaces
    • 'A' permits cost more, but are closest to buildings and generally offer greater availability throughout campus.
    • They also allow you to park in 'C' and 'Z' spaces (except Hoover Pavilion Garage).
    • If you frequently need to use your car during the day for travel around campus or return trips to off-campus sites, consider an 'A' permit to increase the chances of finding convenient parking.
  • 'C' and 'Z' spaces
    • 'C' and 'Z' spaces provide parking at a lower cost, but are in higher demand and generally located a greater distance from buildings and the center of campus.
    • If you purchase a 'C' or 'Z' permit, expect to walk or bike some distance, or take a free Marguerite shuttle, to/from your workplace/classroom/lab. Please expect these spaces to fill by mid-morning close to buildings with higher demand.
  • Motorcycles, scooters and mopeds
    • All motorcycles, scooters and mopeds need a permit.
    • ‘Motorcycle’ permits are valid for lower-priced ‘Motorcycle’ spaces 
    • To park in higher-priced and higher-demand spaces,  purchase an 'A,' 'C,' or 'Z' permit, which are valid in their respective spaces and in ‘MC’ spaces.
    • Do not park them in bike racks.

Stanford Redwood City parking

Stanford affiliated or sponsored commuters are able to park in SRWC ‘C’ parking zones with the purchase of a 'C-SRWC' permit. The cost to purchase a permit is equivalent to the price of a ‘C’ permit on the main campus.

All motorcycles, scooters and mopeds at SRWC need a parking permit. They may be parked at either SRWC-“Motorcycles” spaces or ‘C-SRWC’ spaces. 'C-SRWC' parking lots are enforced Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., unless otherwise posted.

If SRWC commuters need to park on the main campus, their ‘C-SRWC’ permit is valid in 'C' permit spaces during typical commute hours.

Off-campus work site parking

Virtual permits

Instead of displaying a physical parking permit, your license plate is your virtual permit. Use our online system to purchase, exchange, or return virtual permits. Your permit will be valid immediately after you purchase it and enter your vehicle information.