Finding and using a parking meter
Project Status: When you need to do this
Around a quarter of our on-street parking is metered pay parking that accepts coins and credit cards.
Rates vary depending on the location and time of day or night.
Fees are indicated on the map below. These are a guide only and shouldn’t be used as an exact reflection of every parking meter in the City of Sydney local area.
What you need to do
All our parking meters accept payment by coin and credit card.
All parking meters display user-friendly instructions to help you with your transaction.
Making payment
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Paying with coins
To make a payment, simply insert coins.
When using a ‘pay and display’ parking meter, remember to collect your printed ticket and place it on your vehicle dashboard with the expiry time visible.
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Paying with a credit card
All parking meters accept Visa, MasterCard and Amex.
You may insert or tap your card if your card supports it. The tap and go facility is not currently available for American Express (Amex) cards.
To pay for parking using your credit card, simply follow the prompts on the meter.
- Press the top right button to start the payment process.
- Use the top left button to reduce the amount of time (the machine defaults to the maximum time allowed).
- When you’re happy with the parking time, press the green button (bottom right) to confirm the amount. Insert or tap your card when directed to process your payment.
- If you’re not using the tap and go facility, your credit card must remain in the meter until you are prompted to remove it.
- Press the red button (bottom left) at any stage to cancel the payment.
- Remember to collect your printed ticket and place it on your vehicle’s dashboard with the expiry time visible.
If non-cash payments are unsuccessful, you must pay by coins to obtain and display a valid ticket.
Reviews of fees and charges
- Each year, we review all our fees and charges, including parking charges.
- We seek comments and feedback from our communities on the proposed fees and charges before they’re adopted by council.
- The rates consider the areas of higher parking pressure in the city to help manage demand and turnover.
Ticket parking rates by area
Parking meter rates vary depending on the time and location.
The rates are defined as Area 1 and Area 2, and rates apply on public holidays. Fees indicated on the map below are a guide only and shouldn’t be used as an exact reflection of every parking meter.
- Area 1 all times – $8.20 per hour
- Area 2 peak period – $6.20 per hour
- Area 2 off-peak period – $4.20 per hour
Peak hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Off-peak hours are all other times.
If something doesn’t go to plan
- If you receive a parking infringement for not displaying a valid ticket and the machine is found to have been operating, then the infringement issued will stand.
- If non-cash payments are unsuccessful, you’re required to pay by coins and obtain and display a valid ticket.
- You must abide by the parking restrictions and time limits posted on the signs.
- All faults must be reported. Learn how to report a problem with a parking meter.
- No refunds or change are available at the meter.
