Motorists

Parking at a Muni-Meter

DOT uses muni-meters citywide for on-street parking spots and in municipal off-street municipal parking facilities. Muni-meters accept coins (quarters, dollar coins), credit cards and NYC Parking Cards.

Free Sundays

Parking meters and muni-meters do not have to be paid on Sundays. This legislation went into effect on Sunday, November 13, 2005.

Using a Muni-Meter

For Pay and Display meters, customers purchase time, take a receipt, and then display it on the cars dashboard.

For Pay and Retain (found mostly in off-street parking facilities) customers park in a metered space, enter their space number into the meter, purchase time, and keep the receipt. Always remember to check that the space number where you parked matches the number printed on your receipt.

How to use Pay and Display Muni-Meters

Download a printable version of these instructions.

1. Pay

Pay by Coins

Insert quarters or dollar coins to add time automatically

Pay by Cards

Credit cards- Dip and remove

NYC Parking Card- Insert and leave in

Press the blue button to add time.

Or, press the orange button for maximum time.

2. Print Receipt

Press green button to print receipt.

3. Display Receipt

Place receipt on driver’s side dashboard with printed side facing up.

Instructions for using pay and retain meters.

Tips for Paying with Coins

Customers have approximately 40 seconds to deposit coins. If no coins are deposited within this time and the green button is not pushed, the transaction is cancelled and coins are returned.

Motorcycles

Like other motorists, motorcyclists using Pay and Display Muni-Meters, must display their receipt on their vehicle. To prevent theft or damage to the receipt, DOT recommends using clear plastic holders attached to the motorcycle with a lock or other mechanism. Devices made especially for this purpose can be found in specialty stores.

Tips for Using a Parking Card in a Muni-Meter

• If using a Pay and Retain meter, enter the space number first.
• Insert the card partway, the machine will pull it in the rest of the way.
• The display will show the balance on the card.
• Press the blue button to buy time.
• The display will show how much money is used, and the clock will display the expiration time.
• Select the amount of time you need, and press the green button to make the purchase. Take the receipt.

Until you press the green button, the transaction can be cancelled at any time by turning the red knob.

Parking Card payments can be combined with coins. This is helpful if a parking card has a very low value remaining.
Learn more about paying with both a Parking Card and coins