5 Ways to Find Cheap Parking in NYC

Ask anyone who owns or drives a car in New York City what their worst nightmare is about driving in NYC, and you are bound to get just one answer – parking in NYC!

Considered one of the worst cities for parking in the United States, you can always expect challenges for finding parking in NYC. If finding parking garages in New York City is difficult, you can imagine how difficult it would be to find cheap parking in NYC.



It’s not that there are not enough options for parking in NYC. New York City has one of the highest numbers of onsite and offsite parking garages and metered parking spots in the country. So how can you get access to cheap parking in NYC?

Cheap Parking

There are several ways to get cheap parking in NYC, depending on the choices you make. For instance, if you are okay with a brisk walk, you can access plenty of cheap deals that offer parking in New York City for lower rates. If you are okay to park without covered parking, you can go for metered parking spots that provide cheaper rates with limited features and facilities. If you want to get access to cheap parking in NYC, here are five New York City street parking hacks that let you save money and time!  

1. Have a basic understanding of NYC parking rules  

New York City has some of the most complicated rules and terms related to city parking in the country. This could make the task of finding legal parking spots in NYC that much difficult. Having a general idea about the main things to look out for before parking in New York City can help save you from unnecessary troubles and expensive parking citations. Alternate Side Parking (ASP) is one term you’d be likely to hear the most when it comes to NYC parking rules. The majority of the streets in NYC have alternate side parking regulations to help street cleaning. When ASP is in effect, you are only allowed to park at one side of the road. Keeping an eye out for signboards that restrict parking can help you drive without worrying about expensive NYC parking citations. If you keep these two crucial NYC parking rules under check, you can stay clear of most of the parking citations in New York City. 

Also Read: Best Way to Save on Car Insurance

2. Utilize free parking zones in New York City 

Plenty of streets across New York City offer free parking for limited durations. All metered spots across the city also offer free parking on Sundays and holidays. However, many people often fail to utilize these freebies in most scenarios. The only downside to parking at the free parking spaces in New York City is the challenge of finding free parking in New York City at the first places. Most of the free parking zones get full within seconds of being available. If you are fortunate, you can get free parking zones in New York City. There are plenty of websites that offer all kinds of New York City parking deals for rates as low as $2 per hour; you can always find alternative spots for parking without too many hassles.   

3. Look around for cheaper parking garages 

If you drive around NYC, you’ll realize that there are plenty of parking garages in and around the area. Some of them provide parking at rates much lower than those offered by known parking service providers. Do your research before zoning in on an NYC parking garage. Way.com has plenty of parking garages listed on their website that offer cheap parking deals with premium parking services like contactless parking, covered parking, outdoor self-parking, valet parking, and much more. You can also check out reviews, compare prices of parking offered at these lots, and pre-book parking before heading out when you checkout parking websites and apps. You also stand a chance to win exclusive discounts now and then when you book parking online through these parking websites.  

4. Metered parking lots are cheaper, but! 

Yes, you read it right. Metered parking lots are cheaper than New York City parking garages. However, they do not come with extra value-added services like covered parking or valet parking. You will also end up paying more money as a citation if you don’t move your vehicle out of the metered parking spot when the timer expires. Another drawback for parking at metered parking garages is that they do not offer cover from external hazards like fender benders from oncoming traffic sharing the same road, break-ins, and environmental hazards like natural calamities and tree falling. If your parking is short and you are okay with taking minimal risks that come with parking on the metered parking, yes, metered parking spaces can help you save time and money. However, always remember that if you are not careful, this could also land you in a heap of parking citations in a city like NYC 

Also Read: All You Wanted To Know About Midway Airport Parking

5. Be street smart and updated about city parking 

Being updated about the latest technology can help make your parking experience a lot more stress-free and cheaper. As smartphones’ capabilities continue to expand at a rapid pace, more and more services are now becoming accessible at your fingertips. Having access to parking apps like the Way App lets you book a parking spot instantly at the click of a button. All you need to do is search for a venue, choose a parking spot, and click book now. Once you get confirmation that a spot has been booked, all you need to do is drive into the spot and park your car. The best thing about booking your spot through a parking app is the flexibility the system provides to the user. You can choose a spot to your liking from a list and only opt for services you require.   

It’s not that there are not enough cheap parking spots in NYC. It usually comes down to our inability to make the most out of a situation. With proper research, you can always find great parking deals with all premium facilities for affordable rates.

Always parking according to your requirements, and don’t overpay for parking in NYC. As parking spots are hard to come by in a busy city like New York, it’s always best to pre-book parking in advance before heading out. 

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