Contactless mobile payments

AirGarage is the leading way to collect mobile payments via text message, app, and web. The average time to pay is 15 seconds, and requires no maintenance, paper tickets, or upfront cost.

Single-space mechanical meters

Here is an old-fashioned classic parking meter invented in the 1930s that is operated by coins. It is advantageous because of its simplicity and familiarity in certain cities. However, since it only uses a coin, there is no data stream, it's hard to change prices, and it has a high operating and capital cost. Plus, it can be hard to change the prices and you need to predict the duration.

Parking attendant with digital handhelds that you can pay on arrival

For a known parking duration, you can pay a fee to an attendant for a display ticket. The handheld device may allow various modes in payment. This is great because it is convenient with minimal leakage compared to attendant options that are non-digital. It allows the streaming of data and can be easy to adjust the price. Despite that, this can be quite labor-intensive and you need to predict the duration of parking, and hire a lot attendant.

Coupons that are pre-purchased which you can scratch, pierce, or tear then display

You can purchase coupons from different retailers. On the right value display and coupon, you need to indicate the time you started so you can give proof to the payment for the parking period. Since it needs low technology, it just requires low capital cost. However, you may need it to undergo anti-counterfeiting. Aside from that, it usually experiences error from the motorist and you need to predict the duration. It does not have data stream and minor cheating may happen as people could indicate that they arrived later than the actual time. Because of this, there may be costs in counterfeiting and enforcement.

Electronic Card Payment

Here is a category that refers to the simple electronic meters that may get paid through smart cards which are contactless and have a stored value. Certain cities were able to add stored-value card payment which is contactless to existing single-space meters. This is great because it is highly reliable, theft proof, and provides minimal leakage. However, it may not be great because of the high capital cost, need to predict the duration, medium costs of operation, limited methods in payment, and limits in data stream.

Single-Space Smart Digital Meters

These are digital meters that has connected data with the parking operator. It provides a variety of payment options that include cash so it can be really convenient. It may even get integrated with any digital options that allows extension by phone. This even allows the adjustment of prices to become so much easier.

Multi-Space Digital Display-and-Pay Meters

Here you can walk to the meter and provide payment for an expected duration. Have the receipt returned and displayed in or on the vehicle. This can be great as it allows multiple modes of payment. Adjusting the price can also be easy. It usually gets integrated to extend through mobile or meter payments. However, the pay-and-display's enforcement costs can be relatively high. It may not also be great for motorcycles.

Pay-by-Space Smart (Digital) Multi-Space Meters

Here, you wouldn't need to return with a receipt as the number of the parking space gets entered at the meter and then registered with payment for a relevant time period. Just like the one mentioned earlier, enforcing this can be cheaper and easier. Most of the time, it allows extension and top-up through phone or meter. However, this requires spaces to get numbered and marked. It may become prone to errors by the user as you need to enter the number of the space.

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