Parking meters accept payment 1 hour before meter regulations begin. In areas that offer mobile payment for parking, you may also pay ahead using the ParkNYC app or a web browser.
To pay ahead at a meter, you can purchase a receipt 1 hour before meter regulations begin and pay only for the time you park during hours when parking meter regulations are in effect.
For example:
If meter regulations begin at 9 AM, you can purchase a receipt as early as 8 AM to pay for parking from 9 AM onward in accordance with the parking and meter regulations at the location where you want to park.
If you try to pay ahead during off hours, your payment will be rejected. The meter will display a "Meter Off, Read Posted Signs" message.
To pay ahead using the ParkNYC app or a web browser, select "max" time or select the amount of time until meter regulations begin.
For example:
If you arrive at a parking location at 8:40 AM and meter regulations begin at 9 AM with a 1-hour time limit, you can purchase a "max" time session in the Park NYC app. You will be given 1 hour and 20 minutes of parking, but will only pay for 1 hour of parking from 9 AM to 10 AM. By selecting one hour of parking, your session will end at 9:40 AM, but you will only pay for 40 minutes of parking time from 9 AM to 9:40 AM.
You must observe all other parking regulations, like street cleaning rules, that are in effect before meter regulations begin.