How SpotHero Works
SpotHero is a parking reservation service that lets you find and reserve hourly, monthly, airport, and event parking at thousands of lots and garages across North America. When you book with us you'll get an instant prepaid parking reservation, backed by the SpotHero Guarantee. We operate in 300+ major cities in the US and Canada, and we've helped park 40 million cars since 2011.
Find Parking
Find and compare prices on hourly, monthly, airport and event parking at thousand of lots and garages across North America.
Pay and Reserve
Pay with fast guest checkout, and get a prepaid parking pass/reservation instantly via email. All reservations are backed by the SpotHero Parking Guarantee.
Arrive and Park
When you arrive, follow the instructions included on your pass. Typically you’ll either scan a QR code, show the attendant your reservation, or add your license plate #.
Frequently Asked Questions
SpotHero is a parking reservation service. We partner with different facilities nationwide to provide you with tons of parking options and premium rates.
While SpotHero does not own or operate any of these locations, we do work very closely with the operators we partner with to ensure you have a seamless parking experience every time you park!
Yes! When you book with SpotHero, we guarantee you will have a spot to park at the price you paid or your money back. While SpotHero does not physically hold a specific spot open for each reservation, we work closely with our partners to monitor inventory levels and avoid overbooking.
On the rare occasion that there is an issue or a lot is full when you arrive, call our customer support line at (844) 324-7768 immediately! Our customer heroes will work with you to rebook your parking at the closest available nearby facility at no extra charge or offer you credit or a full refund. For details, please refer to the SpotHero Parking Guarantee.
- Hourly Parking: cancel up to the minute your parking reservation begins for a full refund!
- Monthly Parking: cancel up to the minute your first month of parking begins for a full refund. The cancellation policy for subsequent months varies with the type of facility. Please refer to our monthly FAQ for more info.
- Airport Parking: the cancellation policy for airport parking reservations varies with the facility. Most allow free cancellation up to the reservation start time, but some are strict and don’t allow cancellations or refunds. We’ll indicate the specific policy at checkout!
Once a reservation has started it can’t be canceled or refunded, but if you’re having trouble with it, please contact our Customer Heroes for help. We’re happy to help resolve your situation!
Note: This is our standard cancellation policy, but in some cases, exceptions may apply. We will communicate where a different policy applies. For more information, refer to our Terms of Use.
Similar to how a hotel reservation works, you can enter at any time after the start time listed on your SpotHero reservation, and you can depart at any time prior to the end time listed on your reservation.
For example, if your reservation goes from 8 am to 8 pm, you can enter any time after 8 am, and must leave anytime before 8 pm. Please be aware that any time spent parked outside of your reservation is subject to a ticket, tow, or an additional charge (at the drive-up rate) from the parking facility.
Any time you make a reservation with SpotHero, we send you a parking pass to the email address you provide.
Your parking pass serves as your access pass to the facility, and it will have all the information you need for a smooth parking experience: date and time of reservation, the address, directions, map and photo, steps for redeeming your pass, and any other important details. You can also find the parking pass in “My Reservations” on the website and in the mobile app.
Having some trouble? Have no fear, our Customer Heroes are here! If you would like to report an issue please reach out to our Hero team either by phone (312) 566-7768, or email – support@spothero.com for a prompt resolution.
Please note – If you have already made a reservation, please have either the Rental ID number (located in the confirmation email) or the email address you used to book handy to help us quickly locate your information.
Our app and website set the default time to 3 hours, starting at the time you make the search. The rate listed in the green search bubbles reflects the price you would pay for your entire stay.
For a proper rate estimate, update your search by adjusting the times and you will be able to compare the cost of your reservation at various locations within a mile radius, (you can expand your radius to see more options).
Totally! After you reserve your space, you’ll be redirected to the confirmation screen where you should have the option to “Buy this spot again.”
If you want to purchase and share a reservation with someone else, simply forward them the parking pass after you receive your email confirmation.
Your reservations should always show up in the “Reservations” section of the app after you purchase.
If they’re not there, it’s likely that you’re not logged in to the account that purchased the spot, or a spot wasn’t purchased.
Try logging out and logging back in to double-check, and if you still can’t find it, contact our Customer Heroes who will be able to locate your reservation and resend the confirmation to you right away.
There are a few reasons why you may have trouble extending a reservation.
If the spot is sold out or the garage cannot accept extensions, unfortunately, an extension isn’t possible. Please do not purchase a second reservation if unable to extend as locations cannot process multiple reservations. You can always give us a call to see if we can help!
There are a few reasons why a spot may not appear on the site:
- We don’t partner with that location
- We don’t have any more inventory available
- We don’t offer parking at the location during the times you have selected
If you need help finding or booking a spot, you can always reach out to our Customer Hero team and we will work with you to find a spot that best meets your needs!
It’s easy to edit, extend or change your parking reservation at most facilities (pending availability). To do so:
- Log into your account
- Go to your reservations
- On the website, you’ll be able to make changes from there. On the app, click on the reservation you want to change and press “Edit.”
- You also can extend your reservation once it has started as long as the reservation is still in session and inventory is available!
If you need to make changes to the start time after the reservation’s started, give us a call at (312) 566-7768 and we can help look for what’s available for you!
While we never want you to have an issue with the scanners, you can still use your reservation so that you’re not paying to exit if scanner issues arise.
When you drive to the exit gate, press the call button for assistance and speak with an attendant. Let them know that you have a SpotHero reservation, and read them your Rental ID number.
If you pulled a ticket when you entered the garage, you may be asked to read the number on the ticket as well. As long as you are within your reservation times, the attendant will be able to lift the gate for you to exit!
Below is a guide to what types of vehicles are generally considered Oversized, or Specialty Oversize vehicles.
Note: Almost all New York City garages charge an extra fee for oversized vehicles. Users have the option to pay oversize fees through SpotHero for some garages. For others, this fee is assessed and paid upon arrival and determined by the on-site staff.
Though there is some variation between garages, SpotHero defines oversized vehicles as any vehicle 65″ to 75″ tall and over 181″ long, or any vehicle taller than 75″ regardless of length. SpotHero is intended for personal vehicles only and cannot guarantee reservations for commercial vehicles or large oversized vehicles.
Large oversized vehicles include but are not limited to, cargo vans, passenger vans, large trucks, rental moving trucks of any size.
Standard-Size Vehicles include but are not limited to:
2-door cars (Honda Civic)
4 door sedans (BMW 7-series)
Oversized Vehicles include but are not limited to:
SUVs (Ford Explorer | Any Jeep)
Minivans (Honda Odyssey)
Pricing & Fees
Prices and specials in the SpotHero marketplace are set by our operator partners. When you search for parking in the SpotHero app or website, we’ll show you prices for a 3-hour reservation, beginning with the current time when you make the search. To find the total price depending on your length of stay, adjust the reservation times and search for your destination.
A commuter special is a time-based reservation that requires you to enter by a certain time in order to receive the rate. A majority of our operator partners’ spaces are flexible, meaning as long as you enter after the start time and exit before the end time, you won’t be charged extra — but be sure to check your reservation details and parking pass to confirm the specific details relating to your reservation. A few of our operator partners offer a commuter special that is only valid if you enter by a certain time, otherwise, you will be subject to paying extra onsite. For instance, the parking pass might say ‘You can enter anytime between 7 am – 10 am to receive this rate. If you enter after 10 am, you will be subject to paying extra onsite.” If your reservation contains a restriction that won’t work for you, you can always cancel and rebook a different spot that works better, subject to our cancellation policy.
With SpotHero, you should never pay more than the drive-up rate. If you paid more, send us a picture of your receipt to support@spothero.com and we’ll credit the difference to your account immediately.
A service fee is added to each transaction on a per-reservation basis. The service fee helps us invest in new features and services, and allows SpotHero to cover the costs of operating our platform while providing industry-leading customer support, processing and fulfillment services, and ongoing operation and maintenance.
It’s common for New York City garages to charge an extra fee for oversized vehicles. All fees including the oversize fee will appear on the checkout page before purchase.
Though there is some variation between garages, based on guidance from our operator partners, SpotHero typically defines oversized vehicles as any vehicle 65″ to 75″ tall and over 181″ long, or any vehicle taller than 75″ regardless of length.
Standard-Size Vehicles include but are not limited to:
2-door cars (Honda Civic)
4 door sedans (BMW 7-series)
Oversized Vehicles include but are not limited to:
SUVs (Ford Explorer | Any Jeep)
Minivans (Honda Odyssey)
This amount covers fees charged by the facility operator for costs such as airport charges, facility fees, and additional operator expenses, as estimated by SpotHero.
You can apply a promo code before you book on both the app and website. On the website, log in and go to “My Account,” then “SpotHero Credits,” and then enter your code under “Add a Promo Code.” You also can enter the code on the checkout page by pressing “Have a Promo Code?” entering your code and pressing “Apply” before you book.
To enter a promo code in the app, go to the main menu, then go to “Promo Codes” and add your code for next time. You also can enter the code on the checkout page by pressing “Add Promo Code,” entering your code and pressing “Submit” before you book. The total price of the spot should reflect the promo code.
Yes! Click on “Promo Codes” from the main menu in the app once you’re logged in, and enter your promo code. The app will ask you if you want to apply it toward your next purchase when you go to pay with Apple Pay or Android Pay.
What is SpotHero?
SpotHero is a parking reservation service. We partner with garages throughout the country to provide you with a guaranteed parking reservation at a discounted price.
To use SpotHero, search for parking on our app or website before you arrive, choose the space that works the best for you, and book the space. You’ll know that there’s a space in the garage waiting for you, taking the stress out of parking so you can concentrate on the things that matter most.
We’re excited to have been featured on The Today Show, in The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, and NPR.
We work with owners and operators to help sell unused inventory, as well as point parkers toward spots they might not know about. In exchange, we get to offer the spaces at a discount and pass the savings onto you!
We’re always happy to help you get your spot listed on SpotHero. You can list your spot with us here. After submitting your information, an account manager that oversees the location will reach out to you to finalize details.
The space is still in your control! You get to set the prices and the times the space will be available, and you will have a dedicated account manager to help you work out the details and be your point of contact with SpotHero!
SpotHero can be found in over 300 major cities in the U.S. and Canada.
Yes, SpotHero is in Canada! In 2020, we acquired the parking company Rover, giving us locations in Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver. We’re always looking to expand. Read more here.
Because SpotHero does not own or manage the garages we partner with, SpotHero is not responsible for theft, damage to your vehicle, or personal property.
Just like any other time you park, please keep your vehicle locked and do not leave valuables in your car when you have a SpotHero reservation. You can find more information by reading our Terms & Conditions on the app or website.
Yes! Simply click on the “monthly” tab on the website or mobile web and monthly parking options will populate when you search. We also have an in-house monthly parking specialist who can help you find the perfect spot. Our monthly parking specialist can be reached directly at (804) 207-7768.
While SpotHero doesn’t partner with every garage, we are consistently looking to expand in order to be able to offer more parking in more places.
We partner with locations near several major airports nationwide. Many of these locations also offer complimentary shuttle service so that you can get to the airport with ease, so check the spot information for details!
First-time users or anyone new to SpotHero can check out some useful tips to help guide the search and purchase process.
- Set the location – We list the walking distance and give you an estimated time frame on the spot details.
- Confirm your dates and times – You set the times you need based on the earliest you plan on arriving and the latest you intend on staying. It is important to note that, like a hotel, you cannot enter a facility before your reservation begins, and you also need to leave before your pass expires. Parking passes can usually be altered and changed post-purchase but must be updated before you begin parking.
- Search for specific amenities or features on the website or mobile – You can search for garages that offer features such as in and out privileges, covered parking, valet, etc. Simply implement filters to update your search. On the app, click on the individual spot to see its available amenities.
- Checkout process and redemption – When you are ready for checkout, make sure to double-check your dates and times, and update any important information like email address, license plate number, and billing information. Once you confirm your purchase, we will process your payment and send you a parking pass, which will provide you with your redemption instructions and access to your parking location. No need to print anything out as most all facilities allow for mobile redemption. Simply follow the instructions outlined in your pass and you are good to go!
Yes! You can now use SpotHero with Apple CarPlay to search for parking, book a spot, and navigate there, all within your car’s dashboard. Read more about how it works here.
Booking
A service fee is added to each transaction on a per-reservation basis. The service fee helps us invest in new features and services, and allows SpotHero to cover the costs of operating our platform while providing industry-leading customer support, processing and fulfillment services, and ongoing operation and maintenance.
Yes! With Calendar Sync you can sync iCal and select the specific calendar to import into SpotHero. This will NOT automatically book parking for that calendar. Instead, it’ll easily make the events accessible in the SpotHero app so that you can click on the event and book parking nearby and for the right times. There’s no additional cost and no obligation to purchase the recommended spots, so go ahead and try it out in the app! Learn more about Calendar Sync on our blog. Available on iOS only.
How it works:
- In the app menu, go to Settings → Calendar Sync
- Choose the calendars you want to sync to SpotHero
- On the search screen, swipe up to see your events and tap an event to book parking
Only our marketing team can create and dispense coupon codes, and codes are regularly sent out by our marketing team to our users. As long as you have a SpotHero account, you’ll receive our marketing emails, including ones that contain promo codes.
Since garages have limited space, sometimes an extra fee is charged in order to accommodate larger vehicles, especially in New York City. An oversize fee is a fee charged on-site in some locations, generally for vehicles 65″ to 75″ tall and over 181″ long.
While oversize fees don’t apply to every spot, we’ll always make it clear in the spot details when an oversize fee is applicable. Depending on the spot, when booking on the website, there is an option to select your vehicle make and model to determine if there will be an oversize fee. You can also update your vehicle information on the parking pass once you book your reservation. While this is something that is decided on site, we try our best to let customers know about these fees before arriving, so check your parking pass to see if any oversize fees may apply.
You also can always give us a call before you reserve a spot and we can reach out to the garage directly to determine any oversize fees.
Yes, you can purchase as many spots as you need as long as there is sufficient inventory available for the dates and times you are requesting. After you book one reservation, there will be an option to “purchase this spot again,” which will open up a checkout page identical to the one you just reserved.
You can definitely still park at a restaurant or hotel with a SpotHero reservation, even if you’re not a patron of the location where you book. The locations we partner with are privately owned, and SpotHero is considered one of their tenant businesses, so no need to worry!
For consistency and flexibility on our site, we typically do not offer any rates that have time conditions. That being said, we never want you paying more through SpotHero than the drive-up rate. If you see a rate difference, please bring it to our attention so we can take a look right away.
Nope! You can purchase through SpotHero as a guest each time. All we’ll need from you when you book is an email address, so we can send your parking pass to you, and your credit card information so that you can purchase the spot.
Some locations will also require your phone number, depending on their redemption instructions. It makes it easier to see all reservations in one place and rebook multiple spots with an account, but you absolutely don’t need one.
You can reserve anywhere from minutes in advance, to months in advance; you just need to purchase a reservation before you enter the garage. We ask that you reserve at least 15 minutes before you arrive, as some locations have equipment that can take up to 15 minutes to process a reservation.
Enter the address, landmark, cross streets, or neighborhood you’re looking to park near in our app or on the website, and press “search.” Available locations in close proximity to where you’re going will populate on the search page!
The walking distance from the spot to your destination will be listed on the website, and you can also filter spot amenities on the website. You can see the distance in miles from your destination on the app if you select the list view instead of the map view.
Make sure you adjust the dates and times you’re looking for so that you’re reserving the correct times for the reservation.
To change the times or dates on the website or app, simply click on the time or date you want to change, and a drop-down menu will appear. Make your selections and then click “Search” again to ensure the correct rates pop up on the map for the times you selected!
Nope! Having the app makes it easier to see all of your reservations in one place and allows you to book more quickly since the app keeps you logged into your account, but you can absolutely book on the mobile website on any browser successfully. You also can access your parking pass straight from the confirmation email we send you upon your purchase.
The SpotHero price is the entire price you’ll pay for a reservation, and all applicable taxes and fees are included in the price that you see on the app or website!
Some locations charge a separate oversize fee for vehicles that are taller than 65″ or longer than 181,” which is payable at the garage directly and is assessed on-site. You’ll be able to see if this spot would charge an oversize fee before and after purchasing in the details.
Also, if you enter before your reservation starts or exit after the reservation has ended, you will be subject to pay for the time you spend in the spot outside your reservation.
Lastly, we never calculate tips into our valet reservations. We want this to be at the discretion of the customer based on your experience.
While we do not specialize in oversize vehicle parking, we do have some spots that can park larger trucks and vans. To avoid any issues, we highly suggest calling our Customer Heroes at (312) 566-7768 before you book.
If you input your destination into the search bar, the website will show you how far in minutes and miles the parking garage is from your destination underneath the spot title.
On the app, if you press the “List View” in the bottom left corner, you’ll be able to see the distance of the spots in miles from your destination.
If it’s the same price to park for a longer amount of time than you requested, the website and app will automatically extend your reservation to fulfill the maximum amount of time at that particular rate.
SpotHero partners with all kinds of different facilities, including self-park and valet locations! The type of location you’re booking will always be listed in the title of the spot as well as the redemption process details.
Some locations do have some crossover between valet and self-park, but those details will always be outlined in the parking pass. As always, if you have any questions about the redemption process, you can give us a call for clarification.
When booking a location that is monitored by license plate number, you are required to input this information at checkout, or on your parking pass, before you arrive to avoid being ticketed or towed.
Yes! As long as you have the correct times and dates in your search field, the price for the entire time you requested will show up on the search page. Unless otherwise stated, you can enter any time after the start time of a reservation and exit any time before the end time for the price of your SpotHero reservation.
Yes! You can edit or cancel any upcoming parking reservation, and extend most active parking reservations (pending availability). To do so:
- Log into your account
- Go to your reservations
- On the website, you’ll be able to make changes from there. On the app, click on the reservation you want to change and press “Edit.”
- You also can extend your reservation once it has started as long as the reservation is still in session and inventory is available!
If you need to make changes to the start time after the reservation’s started, give us a call at (312) 566-7768 and we can help look for what’s available for you!
Generally, yes! SpotHero is able to offer discounts on the drive-up rates at most of the locations we partner with, sometimes up to 50% off, and generally around 20-30% off.
Garage rates differ by location, and they aren’t listed on our site. We’re happy to take a look for you if you’d like to compare, so feel free to give us a call at (312) 566-7768.
You also can visit parkopedia.com or parkme.com, which lists the drive-up rates of most garages across the country.
Your safety is our top priority! We strive to offer you the very best parking locations. We provide several pictures and important details for each of our spots. This allows you to review your spot before you book!
If you do not feel comfortable, please feel free to give us a call at (312) 566-7768. We can help to answer any questions you may have. We are here to help!
You can apply a promo code before you book on both the app and website.
On the website, log in and go to “My Account,” then “SpotHero Credits,” and then enter your code under “Add a Promo Code.” You also can enter the code on the checkout page by pressing “Have a Promo Code?” entering your code and pressing “Apply” before you book.
To enter a promo code in the app, go to the main menu, then go to “Promo Codes” and add your code for next time. You also can enter the code on the checkout page by pressing “Add Promo Code,” entering your code and pressing “Submit” before you book. The total price of the spot should reflect the promo code.
We do offer spots with a shuttle service, especially many spots near airports. When searching on our website, there is an amenities filter option where you can search for spots that offer shuttles. If you need help searching for these you can give us a call at (312) 566-7768 for suggestions.
We definitely offer overnight parking. When searching, change the dates/times to the overnight period during which you plan on parking. All garages that allow overnight parking will show up and you can book right from our website or app.
Generally, tailgating is not permitted in locations we partner with unless tailgating is specifically mentioned as an amenity available at the facility.
We set up special rates for events with our partner operators, and the preset times should give you enough time on either end. If the event does last longer than expected, there’s no need to worry about leaving early. The attendants will know and will let you out without a problem as soon as the event is over.
Yes! Click on “Promo Codes” from the main menu in the app once you’re logged in, and enter your promo code. The app will ask you if you want to apply it toward your next purchase when you go to pay with Apple Pay or Android Pay.
Monthly Parking
Most locations are set up with the billing cycle to be on the 1st and the 15th of every month.
If your start date is the 15th of the month, your first bill through the parking operator could be for a month and a half. The 1.5-month bill will allow you to park for 1.5 months and allows the parking operator to get you on a 1st of the month billing cycle. In all cases, your rate will stay the same. Going forward your bill will be for just one month if this is the case.
Totally depends! Some locations may require a fee for your access card or transponder, however, that will all be detailed in the description of the location before you purchase. All extra fees will be paid to the garage or lot office after purchase. Please make sure to read the description before finalizing your payment.
We do not prorate monthly parking at our locations. If you have an extenuating circumstance, please call our customer heroes.
Unless specified, we generally do not permit this due to facility limitations. However, we have a limited amount of spots available for motorcycles, so please call our customer heroes at 844-292-5257 to see if we have availability near you.
If you choose to purchase a spot that says ‘recurring monthly’ on the checkout page, your card will be automatically charged until you cancel. Decide you don’t want to park anymore? Get in touch with our customer heroes and they’ll cancel it for you right away.
If you select to purchase a spot that says ‘non-recurring monthly’ on the checkout page, you are only paying for the initial month of parking payable through SpotHero. For the second month and on, you must set up recurring billing through an account with the parking company that owns the location you’re parking at. During the hand-off process (after the 1st month going into your second month) the parking company will correspond with you and us to make sure you’re getting set up correctly.
We offer a wide variety of monthly rates that will suit your parking needs. We know that you might want to park 24/7 or just want a spot for commuting to work so either way, we got your back! Go ahead and browse our site to check out the different options, but please pay close attention to the times listed so you’ll know exactly when you can park.
For example, if you see a spot called ‘Monday – Friday: 6 am – 7 pm, you may only park your vehicle inside the garage during those times. If you see a spot called ’24/7 Parking’, you get to park whenever you want during that month.
Another great way to find your perfect spot is to call our customer heroes at 844-292-5257.
If you choose a spot with an introductory rate, the price may go up to the regular drive-up rate after the intro rate time period has ended. This information can be found in the spot details. If you do not see the post-intro rate listed on SpotHero, please get in contact with the garage office. Some monthlies are handled directly with the location after the first month, so the facility is required to give you notice of a rate increase.
It depends on the type of spot you bought. If there is a contract, you will need to provide payments for the term of the contract. You will be able to tell if there is a contract for a location if you see something called ‘Contract Required’.
If you purchased a recurring billing spot (it will say your card will be automatically charged on the checkout page), all you have to do is email us at support@spothero.com to notify us that you would like to cancel your recurring monthly reservation.
Post Purchase
You can always cancel a reservation and receive a full refund up to the minute before your reservation begins. There is no fee to cancel, and you can cancel a reservation either through the app or website as long as you’re logged into your account.
We also offer the SpotHero Protection Plan, as it’s our mission to make parking easy. If anything about your experience strays from that, let us know and we’ll make it right. If something didn’t go according to plan please reach out to us as soon as possible and we’ll take care of it. Please let me know if you have any additional questions!
All of the instructions for how to redeem your reservation can be found in the parking pass that we emailed you! Each location is different, so it’s important to review your parking pass before you park. Some reservations come with a barcode to scan in and/or out, some are monitored strictly by your license plate, and some just ask you to show your pass to the attendant onsite. If you have any questions about the redemption process, give us a call at (312) 566-7768 so we can help out right away.
As far as reservations go, they are active when you enter after the start time and leave before the end time, otherwise, you are subject to pay the drive-up rate for the extra time. If you arrive after your start time, your reservation end time remains the same, it will not change based on when you enter. If you need to change the start time of the reservation, you can do so on the app or website before the reservation begins. If you need to extend it, you can edit your reservation through our website or app as long as the reservation is still in session. If you need help with an extension, you can always give us a call right away so we can help out!
We offer spots with a wide variety of amenities. You can find covered or uncovered parking, valet or self-park, spots that provide handicap or EV charging, spots that allow you to go in and out of the facility during your reservation, and more! To find the spot that best works for you, take a look at the filtering section on our website. You can filter spots for whichever amenity you need. If viewing on the app, there will be small icons in the details of each spot. Clicking those will show which amenity each spot provides.
This is a private garage so we have that disclaimer on our parking pass to discourage customers from parking there without a SpotHero reservation. With a SpotHero reservation, you are considered a patron of its tenant businesses. No need to worry about being ticketed or towed!
There are a few reasons why you would ever pay again onsite. Some locations charge an oversize fee for vehicles that are taller than 65″ or longer than 181″. You’ll be able to see if this spot would charge an oversize fee before and after purchasing in the details. Also, if you enter before your reservation starts or exit after the reservation has ended, you may be subject to pay for the time you spend in the spot outside your reservation. Lastly, we never calculate tips into our valet reservations. We want this to be at the discretion of the customer based on your experience.
You don’t need to, but it does make your experience easier! When logged in, the app will store all of your parking passes. If you don’t have the app, that’s ok too! You can always show your reservation by bringing your parking pass printed out or pulled up from your email. Don’t forget to double-check if a spot is a printout required, to ensure you are redeeming your reservation properly.
There will always be details on your parking pass about where this spot is, along with pictures of what it looks like. There is also a GPS location embedded into the parking pass that you can navigate from. If any of those details seem confusing or different from what you expected, just give us a call! We always want you to feel confident when you park, and we are here to ensure everything is going right.
Most of our locations do not require printed reservations, and any reservation made through our app will allow for mobile redemption.
For the few locations that do require a print-out, we make sure to list this in the spot’s description. Failure to print your receipt at these locations will cause your reservation to be invalid.
Each location comes with unique instructions, and some garages use different equipment than others. Your parking pass may include specific details on how your spot works, so check your parking pass for details. If you are having trouble getting into a garage, you can always take a ticket and get parked. No need to pay that in the lobby of the garage, but hold on to that ticket for when you exit. Simply drive to the exit gate and press the call assistance button. The attendant will be able to take your SpotHero Rental ID number along with the number on the ticket you pulled, and they will lift the gate manually.
That being said, here are some general tips about using scanners:
- Make sure you are not entering or exiting the garage outside your SpotHero reservation hours
- Hold the QR code 2″ from the reader
- The mobile device should be at a 75-degree angle, facing upwards (vs 90-degree)
- Make sure the QR code is not getting cut off because of auto-rotation of the screen
- Make sure the QR code isn’t too big… generally, smaller is better.
A commuter special is a time-based reservation that requires you to enter by a certain time in order to receive the rate. A majority of our spaces are flexible, meaning as long as you enter after the start time and exit before the end time, you won’t be charged extra. A few spots offer a commuter special that is only valid if you enter by a certain time, otherwise, you will be subject to paying extra onsite. For instance, the parking pass might say ‘You can enter anytime between 7 am – 10 am to receive this rate. If you enter after 10 am, you will be subject to paying extra onsite.” If your spot has a restriction that won’t work for you, you can always cancel and rebook a different spot that works better.
Parking Pass
You can cancel a reservation and receive a full refund up to the minute it’s supposed to begin! If you are on our full desktop website, log into your SpotHero account and go to “Reservations.” Under the “Current Reservations” section, you’ll see the option to cancel under the “Change” column. Once you cancel the reservation, you will see the word “Refunded” in green letters.
To cancel via the mobile app on iOS:
- From the home screen, tap Reservations in the bottom menu to see your upcoming reservations.
- Tap cancel. Then select how you would like the funds returned. You can have it returned to the original source or as SpotHero credit
- When the reservation is canceled, you’ll see it under the Canceled menu on the Reservations screen. You’re all set!
To cancel via the mobile app on Android:
- Tap on the reservation you want to cancel. In the top right-hand corner of the screen, you will see a button that says “Edit.”
- Tap on that and then click on “Cancel Reservation.”
- You will be asked if you want the reservation refunded back to the original payment source or as SpotHero credit.
- Once you cancel your reservation, you will receive an email immediately to confirm the refund.
Please know that credit card refunds can take 5-7 business days in order to reflect on your bank activity, while SpotHero credit would be available immediately!
Nope! While we encourage you to download our user-friendly app, it is not required. You can access your parking pass through the confirmation email we send you upon your purchase.
You can still use your SpotHero reservation! If you’re still in the garage, see if any on-site attendants are available to assist you, or press the call button at the exit kiosk to get connected to a garage attendant. If you paid to exit the garage, give SpotHero a call at 312-566-7768. Our heroes would be more than happy to help out right away!
You can extend the end time of your reservation once you’re logged into the website or app as long as the reservation is still in session and as long as we have inventory available. If you go into your current parking pass from “My Reservations,” you will see a link where you can extend your parking, confirm any price change, and check out.
Reservations cannot be transferred to different locations, as rates vary at different garages and parking lots, and different parking locations may be managed by different companies. That said, if your reservation hasn’t started yet, you can cancel it and book another spot at a different place!
You should receive an email confirmation after booking a spot. Parking passes are sent to the email address that was used to book. If you have not received your parking pass please give us a call at 312-566-7768 and we’ll make sure you get it to the correct email address! (Hero tip: If you enter your phone number when you book, you’ll also receive a text message confirmation.)
Yes! It’s easy to edit or extend your parking reservation. To do so from the website, log into your SpotHero account and go to your reservations. In the app, click on the reservation you want to change and press “Edit.”
You can also extend your reservation once it’s started as long as the reservation is still in session and inventory is available! If you need to make changes to the start time after the reservation has started, give us a call at (312) 566-7768 and we can help to see what’s available for you!
Since garages have limited space, they sometimes charge an extra fee in order to accommodate larger vehicles. An oversize fee is a fee charged on-site in some locations, generally to vehicles 65″ to 75″ tall and over 181″ long. While oversize fees don’t apply to every spot, we’ll always make it clear in the spot details when an oversize fee is applicable. Depending on the spot, when booking on the website, there is an option to select your vehicle make and model to determine if there will be an oversize fee. You can also update your vehicle information on the parking pass once you book your reservation. While this is something that is decided on site, we try our best to let customers know about these fees before arriving, so check your parking pass to see if any oversize fees may apply.
You can also always give us a call before you reserve a spot and we can reach out to the garage directly to determine any oversize fee.
Yes! When you drive to the exit gate, press the call button for assistance and speak with an attendant. Let them know that you have a SpotHero reservation and that you forgot to scan into the garage. Read your Rental ID number when prompted. If you pulled a ticket when you entered the garage, you will probably be asked to read the number on the ticket as well. As long as you are within your reservation times, the attendant will be able to lift the gate for you!
Need less time than you thought you did? Not a problem! You can shorten your reservation to the present time as long as your reservation is still in session. Log into your SpotHero account and click on the reservation you wish to shorten. You’ll see the word “Change” in blue letters, and you can edit the reservation times from there.
SpotHero for Business
After downloading the SpotHero app, you can create a business profile to separate payment methods and charge the right card every time. With business profiles, you can avoid expense management each month with automated reimbursement through integrations with Concur, Expensify, Certify, or Chrome River. If you use a different expense tool, you can schedule automatic spend summaries for easy reporting.
SpotHero for Business simplifies business parking for both employees and employers. It’s designed with special features to help drivers easily get from A to B and for employers to manage parking spend at scale.
Next time you visit a client or rent a car on a business trip, you can use SpotHero to save time parking and easily separate expenses with a business profile. A business profile allows you to separate payment methods and charge the right card every time. Plus, you can automate receipt forwarding by integrating with your expense tool and adding expense memos to make expense reporting faster.
- In the SpotHero app, select Account
- Under Profiles, select "Set Up Business Profile"
- Add a payment method
- Add business email for receipts
- Connect to the applicable expense reporting tool
- Search for parking on the SpotHero app
- Select the spot you want and tap "Book Now"
- On the payment screen, tap "Personal Profile" to switch to the business profile
- Pay & reserve!
- In the SpotHero app, select Account
- Under Profiles, select "Business Profile"
- Under Settings, select "Expense Tools"
- Select the expense tool that you use at work
All receipts will be emailed to the email address attached to your business profile (your corporate email). To confirm your email address:
- In the SpotHero app, select Account
- Under Profiles, select "Business Profile"
- Under Settings, select "Email Business Receipts" to confirm or change your email address
To see your reservation history:
- Open the SpotHero app, select Reservations
- Select Past to view all previous reservation details
Concur, Chrome River, Expensify, and Certify.
- In the SpotHero app, select Account
- Under Profiles, select "Business Profile"
- Under Settings, select "Expense Tools"
- Select Concur
- Receive a verification email from Concur in your inbox. If it does not appear, check your spam folder.
- Search for parking on the SpotHero app
- Select the spot you want and tap "Book Now"
- On the payment screen, tap "Personal Profile" to switch to your business profile
- Tap "Expense Memo" to add a memo
Accounting/Billing
To deactivate your SpotHero account, please unsubscribe from any of our marketing emails or email our customer heroes at support@spothero.com.
Yes, to get an invoice for SpotHero parking you can go to “My Account,” then “My Reservations.” From there, you can download individual receipts or download a CSV of all of your parking. With Business Profiles, you can also set up to automatically receive an invoice weekly or monthly plus automatically send the invoice to major expense report providers. To create a Business profile in the app, go to Settings –> Business Profiles.
Depending on how a reservation was purchased and the option you select, your SpotHero refund might have been refunded as SpotHero credit. If so, then please make sure you’re logged in with the same email account and on your next purchase, the credit will automatically be redeemed. If this was refunded in error, then our customer heroes with details at support@spothero.com.
Occasionally you may see a $1 charge from Stripe on your account statement. This is an authorization hold from Stripe when a credit card is entered into our system. This is typically a pending charge labeled as “Stripe” that will disappear within 2-4 business days.
Yes! We have a secure checkout process. All of our billing goes through Stripe, a multi-million dollar company that operates in 20 countries, and we don’t store full credit card information anywhere on our site. Feel free to visit https://stripe.com/ for more information.
We’re also a part of the Better Business Bureau! Check out our profile here: https://www.bbb.org/chicago/business-reviews/parking-facilities/spothero-in-chicago-il-88576696
You can update your email, password, license plate, vehicle, favorite spots, and payment information through your account settings!
Website:
- Go to “My Account” at the top of the page
- Select “Settings”
- The different update options will be available there!
App: - Tap on the three blue bars in the left-hand corner (next to the search bar)
- Select “Account Settings”
- Select which section you’d like to update!
Find more information about SpotHero for Business at https://spothero.com/business/. To set up a SpotHero for Business account in the app:
- Go into the main menu
- Go into “Account Settings”
- Select “Set up Business Profile”
Follow the steps in the app to finish setting up your account!
To update your SpotHero for Business account settings, go into “Account Settings” from the main menu of the app, and select “Business Profile.” From there, you can update your email address, default payment method, expense provider, opt-in or out of consolidated expense reports, and delete your business profile.
Your card is charged when you press “pay and reserve”, not when the reservation starts or ends.
Depending on your bank or credit card company, a refund can take 5 to 7 business days to post on the account. Sometimes if a reservation is canceled close to when it was purchased, the charges will cancel each other out on your statement altogether.
If your payment goes through, you’ll see a confirmation page with a Rental ID number, your confirmation number for the reservation. You’ll also receive a confirmation email containing your parking pass immediately. If you haven’t received a confirmation email and you don’t see any charges on your credit card, the payment has not gone through.
If the prepaid card has a credit card insignia of a credit card we accept, then we can accept that card as payment. Otherwise, we do not.
SpotHero credit will apply automatically toward your next reservation as long as you’re logged in and not checking out as a guest.
To apply a promo code, click on “Have a promo code?” if you’re on the website or “Apply Promo Code” if you’re on the app, and type in the promo code you’d like to apply. You can also enter a promo code before you search by clicking on “Promo Codes” from the main menu once you’re logged in, and enter your promo code, which will apply toward your next purchase as long as it’s valid.
Yes! As long as you have Apple Pay or Android Pay set up on your phone and turned on, those purchase options will automatically show up on the checkout page.
Unfortunately, selling our parking passes through a third-party site is a violation of our terms and conditions. When our parking passes are sold through a third-party site, we no longer have the driver’s contact information, which can cause a lot of issues. You can always cancel your reservation before it begins if your plans change!
Unfortunately not. You can change the email address on your account to a different one, but currently accounts with a different email address cannot be merged.
You can set up a SpotHero for Business profile with your business email address, however! See above for details on how to set up an account.
Although it’s listed as a recurring charge, you will NOT be charged that amount again (unless you’ve booked a recurring monthly reservation, which will be noted pre-and post-purchase). We classify our charges as recurring to make the payment processing easier and faster – that way, the payment goes through quickly so you can be on your way!
Absolutely! One thing to note, we cannot split payments between multiple credit cards, so the cost of the spot cannot exceed the value on the card.
If you have any trouble or questions feel free to contact our customer hero team for more information.
Commuter Benefits
A pre-tax card is an IRS-approved benefits commuter card that allows customers to use up to $255/month of pre-tax dollars on parking near their work or a transit stop on their way to work.
Qualified Parking refers to pre-tax parking permitted by the IRS. This parking enables customers to use up to $255/month in pre-tax dollars to park near their office or public transit stop that takes them to the office.
You can use your commuter benefits card within the SpotHero app by inputting your card info under the pre-tax payment type. You will then set the address of your work and can begin to book spots using your pre-tax benefits card. Your benefits card will automatically apply for purchases within one mile of your work address.
Unfortunately, you are only able to make purchases using your pre-tax benefits card when using the SpotHero app. If you need help, feel free to give the heroes a call at 312-566-7768 so we can walk you through it!
Absolutely! Simply click on the monthly tab on the SpotHero mobile app and monthly parking options will populate when you search. Select your Commuter Benefits Card at checkout. We also have an in-house monthly parking specialist who can help you find the perfect spot. Our monthly parking specialist can be reached directly at (844) 292-5257.
- Pre-tax cards are intended strictly for use near a work or public transit stop on the way to work.
- You are only able to enter one work address and must be parked within a 1-mile radius of said office and/or public transit stop.
- The IRS allows $255 / month in pre-tax parking to be used, which resets each month.
- WageWorks allows up to five (5) parking reservations per 24 hours using your pre-tax card.
No. At this time you are only allowed to use one commuter benefits card through SpotHero.
No, unfortunately, you cannot refund reservations made with a pre-tax card as credit. You can cancel reservations back to their original source through the app or website before the reservation begins.
In order to update or change your work address, you must delete your commuter benefits card from the SpotHero app and re-enter the information.
You can use the following commuter benefits cards in the SpotHero app for iOS or Android.
WageWorks Visa® Prepaid Commuter Card
Commuter Check Prepaid Mastercard®
TransitChek QuickPay Prepaid Visa® Card
MyAmeriflex Mastercard®
GoNavia Debit Card
The Beniversal Prepaid Mastercard®
eTRAC Prepaid Mastercard®
Of course! If you would like to update or cancel a reservation, you are able to do so in the SpotHero app.
Event Parking Packages
Event Parking Packages allow drivers to purchase parking for multiple events at once via a “package”.
You will be able to select from a list of event packages and then choose the facility you want to park in from among all participating facilities with available inventory.
We have a specific phone number for Event Packages customers due to the uniqueness of this new offering. The number is: 844-938-3688
Yes. If you can't make it to an event or change your mind, we allow cancellations of single reservations or the entire event package, anytime before the reservation(s) start.
Note: This cancellation policy applies only to upcoming reservations—not reservations that have already passed.
Currently, this functionality is only available by contacting our Hero team at 844-938-3688. We are working hard to make this available online and in the SpotHero app.
Yes. While we don't currently have a formal transfer process, your confirmation email will include links to all of the parking passes in your event package. You can either forward that entire email to the person attending the event or copy and share the link/URL for a single parking reservation. They can view it in any normal mobile phone browser.
If you share parking reservations, make sure the vehicle information on the reservation is accurate so you don't risk getting towed!
Yes! You can edit or add your vehicle information.
- Log into your account
- Go to your reservations
- On the website, you’ll be able to make changes from there. On the app, click on the reservation you want to change and press “Edit.”
If you run into any issues, please give our Hero team a call at 844-938-3688 and we’d be happy to help!
Event parking times are set to match the approximate times of the event and generally cannot be modified. If the event runs long (for example, overtime or extra innings) all facilities that offer Event Packages will let you out with no extra charge as long as you leave right after the event has ended.
No, but don’t worry! If the event runs long (for example, overtime or extra innings), all facilities that offer Event Packages will let you out with no extra charge as long as you leave right after the event has ended.
Sorry, not yet. We don’t support oversize fees for Event Packages. You will need to pay onsite for facilities that charge oversize fees.
No. If the event runs long (for example, overtime or extra innings), all facilities that offer Event Packages will let you out with no extra charge as long as you leave right after the event has ended. If you’d like to extend your reservation beyond the event end time, you’ll have to pay the additional cost onsite directly to the facility.
Some reservations take longer to confirm with the parking facility’s platform, but don’t worry we’ll keep trying until we get it! Once these reservations are confirmed they will be reflected in your account and the parking pass will update. If for some reason the reservation is still “pending” within 7 days of the event, we will cancel it and refund you the cost.
“Pending” reservations will not show on the mobile app. We are working on adding that for our mobile drivers. In the meantime, you can view pending reservations on the SpotHero website or through the links in the email confirmation for your event package purchase.