Flex Parking Program

For Flex Gated permit holders: Campus parking ramps and garages operate according to daytime and evening visitor rate schedules. All Flex permit holders receive a 20% discount on daytime and evening visitor parking rates.

The terms “value” and “cost” are used to differentiate between the cost Flex Gated permit holders pay to purchase visitor parking value. 

For example, if you want to load $75 of visitor parking value on your Flex Gated permit, it will cost $60.

When you exit your assigned gated parking ramp and are charged for your parking session, value is deducted from your account at the visitor parking rate. However, you purchased this value at a discounted cost of 20%.

Check the current value on your Flex Gated permit by following these instructions:

1. Log in to eBusiness with your NetID or UW Health credentials.
2. Click “Permits” (top menu) and select “View Your Permits.”
3. Click on your active Flex permit number.
4. The next screen will show the current value on your Flex Gated permit.

Go to eBusiness

Flex Gated permit holders

Log into eBusiness to download a PDF of your parking sessions for the past 180 days. The transaction history also shows the value deducted from your permit for each session, and the cost (what you paid) for each session:

1. Log in to eBusiness with your NetID or UW Health credentials.
2. Click “Permits” (top menu) and select “View Your Permits.”
3. Click on your active Flex permit number.
4. The next screen will show the current value on your Flex Gated permit.
5.  Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “View Activity History” button. The download will start automatically.

Go to eBusiness

Flex parking in surface lots

If you use ParkMobile for Flex parking in surface lots, follow the instructions below to access your parking activity history.

Access your activity history in the ParkMobile app:

1. Log in to the ParkMobile app and click the “Activity” icon.
2. Select “History” at the top of the screen to see a list of past parking sessions.

Access your activity history on the ParkMobile website:

1. In a web browser log in to ParkMobile using your account credentials.
2. Click your username at the top right corner of the screen.
3. Click the “Zones” tab.
4. In the “Zones” tab, click the “Past Parking Sessions” link.

Go to ParkMobile

Flex Gated permit holders must have value loaded on their permits to enter their assigned parking ramp. If you have used all the value on your Flex Gated permit, the gate will not open.

If this happens, you must pull a ticket to enter the ramp and pay the full visitor parking rate for your session.

Flex Gated permit holders are responsible for adding value to their permits before arriving at their assigned garage or ramp.

Transportation Services will not refund parking costs paid at the visitor rate, in full or in part.

If the gate does not open when you try to leave a parking ramp or garage, press the “HELP” button and speak with a dispatcher.

If you use all the value on your Flex Gated permit during a parking session, any unpaid portion of your parking session will appear as an “amount due” on your Flex permit in eBusiness for you to pay later.

Adding value to your Flex permit does not automatically pay off an amount due. It is recommended that permit holders pay any amount due and add value separately.

Please keep in mind that failing to pay off an amount due will prevent you from purchasing additional parking permits and may cause your account to be sent to collections.

1. Log in to eBusiness with your NetID or UW Health credentials.
2. Click “Permits” (top menu) and select “View Your Permits.”
3. Click on your active Flex permit number.
4. On the “Your Permit Details” page, there may be an “Amount Due.” Click “Add to Cart.”
5. Click the cart icon an choose “Pay Now” to start the transaction process.

For a visual guide to pay an amount due in eBusiness, click the button below.

How to Pay a Flex Gated Amount Due (PDF)

Do you keep multiple UW parking permits in your vehicle, such as a Flex Gated permit and an afternoon or night garage permit?

Transportation Services cannot refund value deducted from your Flex parking account if you intended to use a permit other than a Flex permit to park. You are responsible for any charges deducted as a result of keeping multiple permits in your vehicle.

Permit holders are responsible for using the correct permit to park in their assigned lot. The only guaranteed way to avoid unwanted Flex Gated charges is to remove the Flex permit from your vehicle when you don’t intend to use it for parking.

Flex Gated permit holders may return their un-expired permit for a refund before the current parking year ends. Refunds will only be issued to customers with more than $6.25 of parking value in their parking accounts upon return of the hangtag.

Any balance remaining on the permit at the end of the parking year will be automatically transferred to a new Flex Gated permit, or refunded by check if the balance is over $6.25 in parking value. Balance transfers will be made or checks will be issued after any outstanding amounts due are cleared with existing account funds.

Because Flex customers purchase parking value with a 20% up-front discount, value refunded by check will be converted back into the initial cash value. For example: an account with $6.25 in parking value and no outstanding amounts due would be refunded with a $5 check.

Check your account balance by logging in to the eBusiness portal and selecting your active Flex permit.

Go to eBusiness

Transportation Services cannot refund payments made to ParkMobile, including accidental overpayments, or double payments. Flex permit holders are responsible for knowing the correct payment method to use for parking.

Flex Gated permit holders: Any time you exit and re-enter a parking ramp/garage – or move from a ramp/garage to an alternate surface lot where UW permits are required after hours – a new parking session starts and the session maximum for the rate period resets.

Flex session maximums are $12 during the daytime rate period, and $4 during the evening rate period. Because starting a new session resets the session maximum, your parking costs may increase if you start more than one parking session in the same day.

In other words, if you exit and re-enter a parking ramp in the same day, and/or move from your assigned lot to a “yellow” surface lot for after-hours parking in the same day, you may pay more to park per day compared to those who do not start multiple parking sessions in the same day.

Flex Surface permit holders: ParkMobile sessions are subject to a total daily maximum of $12. If you leave your assigned lot and come back in the same day, or move to an alternate “yellow” lot for after hours parking in the same day, ParkMobile “remembers” what you already paid in your previous session that day and your daily charge for parking will not exceed $12.

Most Flex permits are lot-specific. This means you may only park in your assigned parking lot (located on your permit hangtag) during standard enforcement hours. Standard enforcement hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 4:30 pm. You may also park in your assigned lot outside of standard enforcement hours.

All Flex permits – Gated and Surface – are also valid for after hours parking in alternate surface lots where UW permits are required from Monday through Friday, 4:30 pm to 7 am, and all day Saturday and Sunday. These are the yellow lots on the campus parking map.

You must start a ParkMobile session if you park in an alternate surface lot after hours, even if you normally park in a gated lot.

Flex Disabled permits are not lot-specific. Flex Disabled permit holders are allowed pay-per-use parking in disabled parking stalls across campus. Read more about accessible parking on campus.

If you need to park at different locations on campus during standard enforcement hours for work purposes, here are some options:

• Contact your department or work unit to see if a UW Service permit is available for work purposes. Flex permit holders using a UW service permit must be in “paid” status in ParkMobile using their primary 5-digit zone code.
• Apply for a business alternate permit to park in one alternate campus lot. For more details on business alternate permits, see the permit types and information page.
• Hourly visitor parking is available in a gated lots or timed parking stalls. For more information see the visitor parking page.

You may purchase a temporary Flex daily permit for flat fee of $12 at a Transportation Services office location. Click the link for Transportation Services office hours and locations.

Alternatively, you may pay for hourly parking in a campus parking facility where visitor parking is available, or at a timed parking stall. Visitor parking is available in most gated facilities, and several surface lots have timed parking stalls that accept payment through ParkMobile. You will not be reimbursed for paying for parking at the visitor parking rate. For more information on visitor parking, see the visitor parking page.

Yes: Parking & Transit accounts are available for UW System employees. These accounts allow eligible employees to pay for certain parking and transit expenses with tax-free dollars. These funds in a parking account can be used to pay for work-related parking expenses, including Flex payments. For enrollment details and more information, visit the UW System’s Parking & Transit accounts webpage.