21. What do I do if I need to unload/load materials at a dorm, academic building, or other facility?

Loading zones are located in locations throughout campus and may be used for a maximum of 30 minutes with the vehicle’s emergency  flashers engaged. Additionally, all eight university parking garages offer the first 30 minutes of parking at no charge.

22. Can I purchase my permit before the announced sale date?

No. All permits go on sale on the announced date. Permits are purchased on a first come, first served basis. At certain times, permits are available for sale via online sales prior to in person sales.

23. How much does my permit cost?

The prices of all permits are located on our regulations page.

24. Are there enough spaces?

There are enough spaces on campus for students, staff, faculty, and visitors we have daily at UT Austin. The problem is that we are so large that we cannot get them as close as everyone wants them to be.

25. I only come to campus at night. Do I need a permit?

A parking permit will make it easier to park without risking a parking ticket. Class "N" (Night Horn) Permit is available to students, faculty, and staff of The University of Texas at Austin. It provides access to all University garages between 5:00 PM and 4 AM. Parking is not guaranteed in a particular garage, but parking should be available in one of the garages between 5:00 PM and 4 AM. Cost: $60 for 12 months; $44 for either the fall or spring semester; or $30 for the summer. Eligibility for the Night Horn permit is an affiliation with The University of Texas at Austin. Night Horn permits are available now at any garage office.

26. Why do you give tickets at night when there is not a parking problem?

The guidelines for parking are in effect at all times, except zone restrictions, fire lanes, handicapped, yellow (no parking areas), some reserved spaces, blockage, etc. inconvenience or impact safety of individuals and cannot be allowed. Ticketing, towing, or booting is an accepted method of discouraging illegal parking.

27. What do I do if I find a permit that is not mine?

Use of a lost/stolen permit has serious consequences, including booting of the vehicle and fines. Don't use it or even hang it. Send it or bring to the parking office immediately.

28. Where can I park on holidays?

There are two types of holidays

Student Holidays - where employees work and there are no classes (Spring Break etc.) During these days, a student can park in any "C" lot or the "Longhorn Lots" east of IH35, but may not park in staff/faculty spaces on the main campus.

Campus Wide Holidays - where the university is closed. Anyone may park in any legal spot on campus during these days, with the exception of the "O," "At all Times," and "D" spaces.

29. What do I do if I need to park close to drop off my class project?

The first 30 minutes in the parking garages is free and students are encouraged to use this option. Loading zones are also available for 30 minutes with the vehicle’s emergency flashers on, but don't take the chance thinking you'll only be a few minutes. The couple of minutes spent walking from a garage is better than the ticket or boot that you may receive.

30. I have a "C" permit but like to work out at the Recreation Center and want to park close. What can I do?

Unfortunately, with the exception of the "C" permit lots, there is no close in parking for students on the main campus. There are many lots on campus, which are considered open lots. These are the "Longhorn Lots" located east of IH35 near UFCU Disch-Falk Field. This means that they are open to any valid UT Austin permit at all times.

31. Is there disability parking on campus?

Many parking facilities on campus have designated spaces for the disabled. These spaces are reserved parking for the disabled at ALL times. A UT Austin "D" (disabilities) permit, in addition to a State of Texas permit or license plate for the disabled, is required to park in any of these designated parking spaces from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Thereafter, parking in these spaces require a State of Texas disability permit or license plate. Otherwise, persons with disabilities may use the designated spaces in the parking garages and pay the required fee.

32. What is the L.A.A.P program?

L.A.A.P (Longhorn Auto Assistance Program) is a FREE program that helps you in times of need. The program is designed to help all parked vehicles in any University parking facility Individuals may receive assistance jumpstarting vehicles and unlocking vehicles when keys are locked inside.

33. What happens if I lock my keys in my car?

If you are parked in any facility on campus, all you have to do is call 471-6126 for the Longhorn Auto Assistance Program. The L.A.A.P truck will meet you at your vehicle to help you get inside your car, and it won’t cost you a penny!

34. Why does it cost more to park in a garage than a surface lot?

From a financial perspective, it costs a great deal more to build and maintain a safe and structurally sound garage versus a surface lot. Parking and Transportation Services receives no central funding from the University and operates like a private business. The revenue received must cover expenses incurred. Because surface lots cost less, PTS passes those savings onto those parking fees for those outlying lots ("A", "C", or "Longhorn Lots").

35. How many parking spaces are available on campus?

There are approximately 14,109 parking spaces available on campus.

36. Do you REALLY need a car at UT Austin?

As a UT Austin student, you will have very good transportation options without a personal vehicle.   Bikes are a great way to get around campus and Austin. Your UT Austin photo ID allows you to ride all Capital Metro and UT Austin shuttles and buses free. Shuttles connect the campus to area with high student populations. Capital Metro buses run throughout the Austin metro area, to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA).

37. Why is my parking lot closed for an event?

The university sponsors many events, (academic, athletic, and cultural), throughout the course of each year. Parking on the UT Austin campus is a very critical commodity as there are about 14,000 spaces to satisfy the multiple daily requirements for the 70,000 staff, faculty, students, and visitors. Therefore, to accommodate the maximum number of customers PTS uses spaces and lots for multiple reasons, including events.

38. How do I renew a permit for next year?

University students and employees who currently have an annual surface permit may renew the permit for the following academic year. As a means of providing customer service to those members of the faculty and staff "F" permits (both surface and garage) are renewed in April of each academic year.
All other employees, students and new constituents are allowed to purchase permits on a first-come, first-served basis in late summer depending on the availability of permits.