The days of searching for quarters or waiting in lines at parking payment machines are over, now you can simply park, pull out your phone, and pay. This new convenience is all thanks to the app ParkMobile with whom DU recently partnered with to provide this service in all of campus’ hourly guest parking lots which went live at the end of week three.

The app is free to download for iOS, Android, Windows and Blackberry, and creating an account is also free and simple to do. To sign up you just enter your phone number and email, create a password, enter your vehicle’s license plate and state and payment method; either PayPal or a credit card. When creating an account more than one vehicle can be registered on the app and just choose the plate of the one you’re driving. Additionally, the same vehicle can be registered on multiple accounts, because enforcement is only based on the license plate number.

“It’s really [about] ease of use for the customer.” said Melissa Yates, the director of Parking Services at DU, “If someone’s using the app, they’re not running to the car to put another quarter in. For instance, they’re saying I’m going to pay for the additional 15 minutes.” Since people are making sure their parking is paid at all times, enforcement becomes easier because parking enforcement isn’t having to stop as frequently to issue citations, saving time.

With this method of parking the time parked is the time payed down to five minute increments, and the app can be set up to send a notification when there’s 15 minutes left on the meter. If more time needs to be added, just pull out your phone and add time.

It’s important to note that there may be a transaction fee automatically applied, at DU this fee is $0.35 per transaction with basic membership, these fees vary based on parking provider and parking location and are charged per parking transaction and per parking extension, but not all parking providers charge this fee, some waive it.

Additional information including a demonstration video and registration information is available at www.parking.du.edu.