2024 Preview FAQs

  • Do you recommend on-campus students to bring a vehicle?
    • We do not recommend on-campus students bring a vehicle. Parking is limited and is first come first served. There are many forms of alternative transportation available for students to get around campus and Gainesville.
  • How do I know which student permit I qualify for?
    • Your student status, along with housing and academic information, is updated into the Gator Parking Portal. The portal will only show the permit you are eligible for.

Student permit types and eligibility:

Red 1: Undergraduate living on-campus with 50 or more credits completed
Red 3: Undergraduate living on-campus with less than 50 credits completed
Park & Ride: Undergraduate student living off-campus
Green: Graduate student living off-campus
Brown 2: Students living in Corry, Maguire, and University Village Family Housing Village
Brown 3: Students living in Diamond Family Housing Village
Disabled Student: Students with a state-issued Disabled Persons Parking Placard (contact TAPS office for more information)
Motorcycle/Scooter: All members of UF community

  • Do I need to move my vehicle on football gamedays?
    • Yes, many parking lots on campus must be cleared for reserved parking during football home games. This includes some Red lots.
  • Can I upgrade to a Red 1 permit if I have 50 credits completed after the Fall semester?
    • No, permit eligibility is determined at the start of the Fall semester for the entire academic year. If you complete 50 credits after the Fall semester, you must wait until the following Fall to be eligible for Red 1, if you continue to live on-campus.
  • Should I purchase a Park and Ride permit as a student living off-campus?
    • Park and Ride permits are recommended for commuter students. Most of the parking areas that allow Park and Ride permit access are in the southwest region of campus. Students parking here are encouraged to take an RTS bus or Campus Connector shuttle to get to the core of campus. Off-campus students living in Gainesville may find it more convenient to ride a RTS bus from their apartment or house to campus.
  • Is there a permit option for students living off-campus to park overnight on-campus?
    • Currently, there are no overnight on-campus parking options available for students living off-campus. Park and Ride permits do not allow overnight parking. We recommend contacting your apartment complex or the City of Gainesville for alternative parking options.
  • Is the price of permits included in my tuition or dorm fees?
    • No, the cost of permits is not included in tuition or dorm fees. Permits must be purchased separately.
  • Can I use scholarships to purchase a permit?
    • Student permits are charged to the student’s bursar account on ONE.UF. If the student receives a financial aid refund, it can be applied to cover the cost of a parking permit.
  • When can I park on campus for free?
    • Parking restrictions in most areas on campus lift after 4:30pm on weekdays. Some areas lift at 3:30pm, others 5:30pm, and some are in effect 24/7. Each parking area will have a sign with the restriction hours listed. If it is outside of those hours, you can park in that area without a permit.
  • Do I have to register bicycles and electric scooters with the University Police Department?
    • It is highly recommended to register all bicycles and electric scooters with the University Police Department on campus. Registration is free.
      The Police Department’s main entrance and front desk are located in the Public Safety Building at 1555 Museum Rd., Gainesville, FL 32612.
  • How can I charge my electric scooter on campus?
    • Electric scooters are not allowed in any building on campus, including dorms, due to fire safety guidelines. Currently, there are no exterior charging stations on campus for electric scooters.
  • Why does the parking portal say I am not eligible for a permit?
    • You may be attempting to purchase a permit too far in advance. Your UF affiliations may not be updated in the Gator Parking Portal We recommend you wait until about a week before you need to park on campus to purchase a permit online. If you continue to have issues at that time, please contact our office at parking@ufl.edu or 352-392-7275.
  • Do I need to pick up a physical decal for my vehicle?
    • No, all student parking permits are virtually associated with the vehicle’s license plate. There is no physical decal to display. Due to this, tags need to be visible from the driving aisle. You cannot back into a space unless you have a front tag.
  • Is parking different over the summer?
    • Yes, during the summer we offer a program called Park-Up. All student Red and Green parking areas are converted to accept any UF permit, including Park & Ride.