Flex is a pay-per-use parking program for UW-Madison and UW Health employees.
If you work a hybrid remote or part-time schedule or prefer a mix of transportation modes, Flex may be right for you.
Participants can reduce their parking costs by parking on campus less often, and are eligible for the Emergency Ride Home program.
A Flex permit is required to use the program. Learn how to apply.
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Flex garage parking
Flex permit holders assigned to a campus garage must add value to their permit to cover parking costs. Flex participants receive a 20% discount on regular visitor parking rates when adding value to the permit.
A parking session begins when you enter the garage, and it ends when you leave. The charge for the session is based on entry/exit times and the visitor rate schedule.
If the permit runs out of value before a parking session ends, an amount due is added. This amount due must be paid—and more value must be added—before the next parking session.
Flex permits are also valid for after-hours parking in alternate surface lots across campus.
How-to guides for permit holders
Check your Flex account balance.
Permit holders: want to quickly check how much value is in your parking account?
Go to my.wisc.edu and add the “Flex Gated Parking Balance” tile to your homepage.
Flex parking in surface lots
Flex permit holders assigned to surface lots must use ParkMobile, a mobile payment system, to cover parking costs.
Flex permits are also valid for after-hours parking in alternate surface lots across campus (refer to the “after-hours parking” tab).
An active ParkMobile session is required during hours of control.
After-hours parking is 4:30 p.m. – 7 a.m., Monday through Friday, and all day Saturday and Sunday.
Your Flex permit remains valid in your assigned lot after-hours. Permits must be in paid status if the lot is controlled after-hours.
Your Flex permit can also be used to park in alternate surface lots across campus after-hours. These locations include surface lots that require a valid permit and ParkMobile payment at all times (or, the yellow lots on the campus parking map). Just display your permit and start a ParkMobile session using the zone code located on the permit.
Tip: Permits and payment are not required for after-hours parking in the green lots on the campus parking map.
Related resources
UW Accessible Flex parking
UW Accessible Flex permits allow parking in these locations across campus:
- UW Accessible (disabled) stalls
- State of Wisconsin disabled stalls
- ParkMobile stalls (30 minutes or longer)
- Unreserved permit stalls
UW Accessible Flex permit holders must use the ParkMobile payment app when parked in a lot during hours of control. Use ParkMobile zone code #25099.
Refer to lot entrance signs for hours of control.
ParkMobile payment system
Download the ParkMobile app, use their website, or call in to create an account and begin a parking session. You will need:
- The 5-digit ParkMobile zone code located on the Flex hangtag
- License plate number
- Number of hours you plan to park
ParkMobile charges for a session based on the duration and the lot’s rate schedule. Permit holders may extend their time mid-session.
Frequently asked questions
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Can I leave my garage and come back in the same day (e.g., for cross-campus errands)?
Yes, but this may cause your parking costs to increase.
This is because when you leave your garage and come back, or move to an alternate lot for after-hours parking, a new parking session starts and the rate period resets.
If you need to move around campus throughout the day, the campus bus is fare-free and arrives frequently.
Can I leave a surface lot and come back in the same day?
Yes. ParkMobile will “remember” any previous parking sessions you started that day and resume charging without resetting a new rate period. Your parking charges will not exceed the maximum charge for that rate period (daytime, or evening/weekend).
The parking garage gate isn't opening. What do I do?
Gate not opening when entering the garage
If there is no parking value on your permit, the gate will not open. Pull a ticket to enter the lot and pay the full visitor parking rate for that session. The visitor parking charge cannot be refunded.
Gate not opening when leaving the garage
Press the “HELP” button and speak with a dispatcher.
The gate system charged my Flex permit, but I meant to use a different permit to park.
This can happen if you keep more than one permit in your vehicle.
The only guaranteed way to avoid unwanted Flex charges is to remove the Flex permit from your vehicle when you don’t intend to use it for parking.
Transportation Services cannot refund value deducted from your Flex parking account if you intended to use a different permit.
My permit is about to expire and there is still value in my account. Will I be refunded?
Remaining value at the end of a parking year is either transferred to a new Flex permit or refunded by check if eligible, minus any amount due.
I'm returning my permit mid-year and there is still value on my account. Will I be refunded?
You may be eligible for a refund if you return your permit mid-year. The hangtag must be returned to Transportation Services.
I overpaid for a ParkMobile session. Can I be refunded?
Transportation Services cannot refund payments made to ParkMobile, including accidental overpayments, or double payments.
For assistance with ParkMobile, call them directly at (877) 727-5457.
Parking & Transit accounts
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.