Parking validation is a co-operative effort between businesses and local parking laws that gives customers the ability to waive parking fees. Garages and parking lots will often offer parking validation to customers of nearby shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. The goal of this system is to promote business by offering free parking, while the businesses return the favor by paying the city a small premium for the ability to offer validation.

Validation is usually offered at city-owned or operated lots. The organization in charge of managing the lots will set prices for available parking and give local merchants the chance to offer their customers free parking as a reward for shopping with them. Some cities or towns charge merchants by the number of times the validation is used, while others impose a monthly fee for the service. Ideally, the merchant will see increased business for a nominal fee, and the city will still be getting paid for the use of its parking facilities.

In many garages and lots, signs are posted stating that participating merchants should be visited for parking validation. Most garages offer a limited amount of free parking with validation, usually between 1-4 hours. Not all merchants offer validation or advertise that they will, so be sure to check with the business you are visiting before you leave.

Some merchants require purchase of goods or services before agreeing to validate your parking ticket. In movie theaters and other entertainment businesses like arcades or skating rinks, typically the price of your admission will serve as expense enough to receive validation. At restaurants, parking validation is usually available after you finish your meal.

In some larger malls or shopping centers, self-validation machines are also available. These machines will be in various locations throughout the mall, and often do not require purchase to be used. Since you must be in the mall to be using the machine, you are most likely a customer and therefore receive the benefit of free parking in the shopping center’s lots. Systems like this encourage visitor loyalty, as customers may feel relieved or grateful that they don’t have to pay for parking simply because they couldn’t find anything to purchase.

Be sure to bring your parking ticket with you to receive parking validation. Most businesses use either an automated machine to give free parking or will stamp your parking ticket as proof. If the local businesses use automated systems, you can often just insert the ticket into the ticket machine in the garage or lot, and the validation will be verified. Stamped or signed tickets will usually need to be checked by a parking attendant at the exit.