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Home › Pay › Common problems › Parking fees and parking apps
Fees and services

Parking fees and parking apps

Paying for parking with your phone is handy, but it can come with extra service fees, auto-renewing memberships and, sometimes, fake payment codes. Some private lots also send charges by mail when signs were hard to read. Knowing the official ways to pay, and checking before you scan, can help you avoid paying more than the posted rate.

Common problems to watch for

  • A per-transaction 'convenience fee' added on top of the parking rate
  • Fake QR code stickers placed on meters or signs that lead to lookalike payment pages
  • App subscriptions that renew automatically for 'premium' parking features
  • Lots with small or confusing signs that later mail a charge
  • Reminder texts from unknown numbers asking you to pay an 'unpaid' parking bill

Had one of these happen? Telling others what you were charged helps them avoid it.

Report it

Free and low-cost alternatives

Pay at the meter or kioskMost city meters and kiosks still take coins or cards. Paying there usually avoids an app's added service fee.
Your city's official parking infoYour city or parking authority's official website lists rates, accepted payment methods and the app it actually uses, if any.
Built-in phone remindersSet a free timer or reminder on your iPhone or Android phone so you don't overstay and get a ticket.

Availability depends on your device and model. AblePro has no relationship with any company named here.

How companies charge more here: Surge and dynamic pricing

What fair pricing looks like

A fair parking payment shows the full price, including any service fee, before you pay. A small fee for the convenience of paying by phone may be reasonable; a recurring membership you didn't ask for is not.

Before you pay

  • Look closely at QR codes for stickers placed on top of the original
  • Check the payment page web address matches the city or lot's official site
  • Look for the total, including any service fee, before confirming
  • Read the lot's posted signs and take a photo of them
  • Watch for checkboxes that start a paid membership

How to cancel

  1. Cancel parking app memberships in your App Store or Google Play subscription settings; deleting the app does not cancel them.
  2. If you subscribed on the app's website, cancel in your account settings there.
  3. Remove saved cards from apps you no longer use.
  4. If you paid through a fake QR code, contact your bank or card issuer right away.

Step-by-step cancel guide for iPhone, Android and PayPal →

Common questions

How can I tell if a parking QR code is fake?

Look for a sticker placed over the original sign or meter, misspellings, or a web address that doesn't match your city or the lot owner. When unsure, pay at the meter or open the city's official app or website yourself instead of scanning. Report suspicious codes to the city or lot owner.

I got a text saying I owe for parking. Is it real?

Be careful. Scammers send texts about unpaid parking or tolls with links to fake payment pages. Don't click the link. Look up the parking authority's official website or contact information yourself and check whether you really owe anything.

Why does the app cost more than the meter?

Many parking apps add a service or convenience fee to each session. The amount may depend on the city or lot. If you want to avoid it, pay at the meter or kiosk when that option is available.

General consumer information, not legal or financial advice. Reports reflect the experiences and opinions of their writers, not AblePro, Inc. We check reports against our posting rules but do not verify them.