Parking FAQ

Daily Parking

Section Contents

General

  • What is daily parking?

    Participants in the daily parking program pay for parking exclusively on the days they drive to campus and park in one of the designated four areas. Access to the daily parking facilities and eligibility for sustainable commute incentives and programs are exclusive to daily parking participants.

  • Why is Vanderbilt offering a daily parking option?

    Vanderbilt University offers a range of parking options tailored to suit the diverse needs of commuters traveling to campus. The daily parking option is designed to provide participants with flexibility, enabling them to make daily decisions regarding their mode of transportation to campus.

Enrollment and Cancellation

  • Who is eligible to participate in the daily parking program?

    Vanderbilt University faculty, staff, postdocs and graduate and professional students are all eligible for the daily parking program.

    Please note the following:

    • Adjunct faculty are not eligible unless on salaried payroll. When completing the application, please indicate you are adjunct faculty, and we will follow up with the payroll team to confirm eligibility
    • Undergraduate students are not eligible for the program
    • Employees with payroll or benefits through Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) are also not eligible for the program. If you are a VUMC employee, please discuss your parking options with VUMC Parking & Transportation Services
  • How do I apply for a daily parking permit?

    Applications are accepted continuously.  Applications submitted by noon on Wednesday will be granted access to the daily parking garages by week's end.

    You can check your enrollment status here.

    To apply for daily parking:   

    • Eligible individuals must apply by noon on Wednesdays for access to daily parking garages by the end of the week
    • Create an account in the MoveVU Commute Hub if you haven’t already
    • Log into the MoveVU Commute Hub
    • Select ‘Parking’ on the left-hand side of your screen
    • Select the ‘Parking Application’ tab near the top of your screen
    • Follow the instructions

    Upon completion, your application will be marked as 'Submitted.' Our team will then review the information provided, and the status will transition to 'Pending Approval.' By the week's end, your application will be updated to 'Active,' and you'll receive further instructions via email regarding the utilization of daily parking.

  • Do I need to own a vehicle to qualify for a daily parking permit?

    No. Vehicle ownership is not a prerequisite for obtaining daily parking permits.

  • I’ve been accepted into the daily parking program. What do I need to do?

    Ensure you MoveVU Commute Hub account has your updated information by visiting vanderbilt.luum.com

      • Enter your profile settings by clicking on 'Settings' on the left-hand side
      • Opt-in to receive trip log reminder emails by checking the box under Log Commute Reminders
      • Click on the 'Parking' tab on the left-hand side and select Vehicle Registration at the top to register your vehicles
    • Download the MoveVU Commute Hub Luum mobile app: Use it to quickly log sustainable commute trips and check parking garage capacity
  • How do I update my license plate and/or add a new vehicle?

    Log into the MoveVU Commute Hub or open the Luum app. 

    • In the 'Parking' tab, go to 'Vehicle Registration'. Click on the editing icon to the right of the current vehicle on the list and select 'Edit'. Update the information in the fields that pop up and click on the 'Save' button. 
    • Old vehicles can be deleted by selecting 'Delete' with the editing icon. 
    • New vehicles can be added by clicking the 'Register New Vehicles' button, filling out the pop-up fields and clicking the 'Save' button. 

    If you are driving a rental car or have a temporary registration tag, please enter those in your account and, update your vehicle once your new registration information is available. 

  • Can I switch from annual parking to daily parking?

    Yes, annual permit holders have the flexibility to switch to the daily parking program at any time during the year. To initiate the switch, you must submit an application for daily parking by noon on Wednesday. This allows sufficient time for your application to be reviewed and processed, and for daily parking garage access to be granted starting at the end of that week.

    It's important to ensure that daily parking access is confirmed before canceling your existing annual parking permit. To cancel your annual permit, please email parking@vanderbilt.edu prior to the first of the month to avoid being charged the monthly rate going forward.

  • How do I cancel my daily parking enrollment?

    If you are no longer interested in the daily parking program, you can cancel anytime. All you need to do is click on the three dots next to your Parking Assignment in the MoveVU Commute Hub or Luum app, select 'Cancel', and follow the pop-up instructions.

    As a reminder, if you park on campus, you are required to have a parking permit. Violations are subject to towing. 

Daily Parking Rates and Payments

  • What is the daily parking rate?

    For the 2024-25 academic year, daily parking rates are $4.25 per day at Terrace Place Garage and West Garage, and $6.00 per day at Sony Garage and Wesley Place Garage. Participants are only charged on the days they park on campus, with a single charge per day regardless of entries in multiple daily parking facilities. More information on the daily parking rates can be found on the daily parking webpages for both faculty/staff/postdocs and graduate/professional students. 

  • Can I park in more than one garage in a day? Will I be charged?

    After tapping into any daily parking garage the first time in a day, daily parking participants have in and out privileges in the daily parking garages for the rest of the day. 

  • How are my parking charges and commute incentives processed?

    Daily parking charges are immediately added to user accounts upon tapping into the daily parking garages the first time each day.  

    The way parking charges and commute incentives are processed depends on your community member type. Parking charges and commute incentives for staff and faculty are processed the payroll cycle after the activity has been logged in the MoveVU Commute Hub or Luum app . Graduate/professional students, and postdocs not on payroll must add funds to their Commodore Cash accounts to cover parking charges. Charges and incentives are processed the payroll cycle after the activity is logged.  

  • I am a postdoc trainee, graduate student or professional student. How do I load money onto my Commodore Cash account to pay for daily parking?

    Visit the GET app website to load funds onto your Commodore Cash account to pay for daily parking charges. The suggested amount per month is $60. You can use a credit/debit card to add funds, and graduate and professional students can also bill their Student Account through the GET app to avoid unpaid account balances and daily parking account deactivation. 

  • I am a staff or faculty member. How do I pay for daily parking?

    For faculty and staff, daily parking charges and commute incentives are debited and credited in alignment with existing parking payroll deductions. Monthly employees will see these charges reflected on their monthly check, while weekly and biweekly employees will observe them on their second check. It's important to note that these charges and incentives are processed with a one-month lag. 

  • My access to park in the daily parking facilities was turned off because of inadequate funds on my Commodore Cash account. How do I get my parking access reinstated?

    Please add more funds onto your Commodore Cash account and contact movevu@vanderbilt.edu so your parking access can be reinstated. Please note, it may take up to 24 hours and longer on weekends for your Daily Parking access to be reinstated. You can use a credit/debit card to add funds to your Commodore Cash account, and students can also bill their Student Account through the GET app. Any funds over $10 left in your Commodore Cash account can be refunded to you upon graduation. 

Parking Locations and Availability

  • Where are the daily parking facilities located?

    Participants in the daily parking program can park in the following gated facilities: Terrace Place Garage, Wesley Place Garage, Sony Garage and West Garage. You will be able to park in any of the facilities and are not assigned to a specific one; if the facility you normally park in is full, please choose another one.

    • Terrace Place Garage 
      • Address: 2016 Terrace Place 
      • Location: Located next to the Baker Building and across from the University Counseling Center 
      • Access: Enter the garage off Terrace Place at the west end of the facility, closest to 20th Avenue S./Baker Building 
    • Wesley Place Garage 
      • Address: 1900 Scarritt Place 
      • Location: Located in the same building as the CVS on 21st Ave 
      • Access: Enter the second entrance (not the retail entrance) on the side of the building and proceed to the 2nd Floor of the garage to enter the Daily Parking gates. You may park in any non-reserved space (do not park in spaces with ParkMobile or reserved parking signs), typically starting on the 4th Floor to the top of the garage. 
    • Sony Garage -  Upper Level 
      • Address: 1400 18th Ave S Upper 
      • Location: Located across from the Commons 
      • Access: 1st Level access is Garage is off 18th Ave.  
    • Sony Garage -  Lower Level 
      • Address: 1400 18th Ave S Upper 
      • Location: Located across from the Commons 
      • Access: Lower-level access is off 17th Ave. (please note that 17th Ave. is a one-way street) 
    • West Garage 
      • Address: 2400 Children’s Way 
      • Location: Across from the Blair School of Music 
      • Access: Enter the garage from 25th Ave. and proceed up the parking ramp to the Daily Parking gate 
  • What daily parking facilities are available in the Peabody neighborhood?

    Sony Garage is the current daily parking facility available in the Peabody neighborhood.

  • What do I do if a daily parking facility is full?

    The MoveVU Commute Hub and Luum app offer real-time occupancy data for the daily parking facilities, allowing you to check the capacity of each facility before starting your commute. If you find that a facility is at full capacity, consider parking at another daily parking facility, which typically has additional capacity. Refunds will not be issued for entering a full daily parking garage. 

  • Are there electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the daily parking program?

    The Terrace Place Garage features an EV charging station on the first floor exclusively available to daily parking program participants. Additionally, other EV charging stations are distributed across the campus. These stations require payment at a pay station for the parking space if you do not have an annual parking permit.

Daily Parking Garages

  • How do I enter and exit the daily parking facilities?

    To enter the daily parking facilities at Terrace Place, Wesley Place, Sony, and West garages, drive up to the daily parking gates. Simply tap your Vanderbilt ID on the card reader. The reader will display a green light, the gate will open, and your parking event will be automatically logged in your  MoveVU Commute Hub Commute Calendar. Charges are applied upon your entry tap. Remember to tap out as you exit to conclude your parking event, even if the gates are already up. 

  • What do I do if the gate arm isn’t raising and I am not able to get into the daily parking facility?

    If you encounter an issue with a gate arm not raising at a daily parking facility, there could be several reasons behind it. Here are a few helpful steps: 

    • Ensure that you are enrolled in the daily parking program: Check your email for the enrollment notification from MoveVU and verify that you have set up your account in the MoveVU Commute Hub. 
    • If you are a postdoc trainee, graduate student, or professional student enrolled in the program, make sure you have sufficient funds loaded on your Commodore Cash account to cover parking charges. 
    • If you suspect a technical problem with the gates, please press the call button next to the card reader to contact a representative from Vanderbilt Public Safety or call 615-322-2745. Additionally, you can reach out to Card Services at commodorecard@vanderbilt.edu for further assistance after parking. 
  • How will Vanderbilt know that I parked correctly in daily parking?

    When you tap your Vanderbilt ID card at the card reader, the reader will display a green light,  the gate will open and automatically log your parking event in your MoveVU Commute Hub Commute Calendar. Charges are applied upon entry tap. Remember to tap out as you exit to conclude your parking event, even if the gates are already up.

  • Am I allowed to park in the daily parking facilities overnight?

    While we do not encourage overnight parking to ensure equitable access to the facilities, we understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, leading to a vehicle being left overnight. In such cases, charges will apply for each day the vehicle is parked in the garage, except for Saturdays and Sundays. For example, if you tap in on a Monday and tap out on a Tuesday, you will be charged for two days. Similarly, if you enter on a Sunday and exit on a Wednesday, you will be charged for three days. Please remember to tap out when you exit to conclude your parking event, even if the gates are already up. Please email movevu@vanderbilt.edu with the dates of your overnight parking activity so that we can ensure your parking activity is logged correctly. 

  • Do I need a parking permit on weekends?

    All vehicles parked on campus must possess a valid virtual permit, regardless of the day of the week or where they park. The daily parking gate arms will be raised on the weekend (Saturday and Sunday), and participants in the program will not be charged for parking on the weekends. We recommend tapping your card at the parking gates regardless of whether the gates are open or closed. 

Accessing The MoveVU Commute Hub

  • What is the MoveVU Commute Hub?

    The MoveVU Commute Hub, available via the website and Luum app, serves as a comprehensive tool to streamline your commute experience. Through the MoveVU Commute Hub, you can:

    • Explore various commute options beyond driving alone
    • Track and log your commute trips using the Commute Calendar feature
    • Conveniently pay for daily parking
    • Earn commute incentives
    • Connect with fellow Vanderbilt commuters interested in carpooling or vanpooling
    • Access the Guaranteed Ride Home program, providing assistance in emergencies or unforeseen circumstances
    • Monitor the environmental impact of your sustainable commute choices through your monthly commute statement
  • Do I have to use the MoveVU Commute Hub to use the daily parking facilities?

    All participants in the daily parking program are required to create an account in the MoveVU Commute Hub at vanderbilt.luum.com.

    The MoveVU Commute Hub features a Commute Calendar where you must log your daily commute trips. Parking events will automatically be logged in your Commute Calendar when you tap your Vanderbilt ID Card at the daily parking facility card readers.

    To earn the commute incentive, commute trips (such as walking, biking, bus, commuter rail, carpooling, and vanpooling) need to be manually logged or connected to your fitness app.

    Your parking charges and commute incentives will be recorded in the MoveVU Commute Hub, allowing you to track your monthly charges and incentives.

  • Where can I find the Vehicle Registration feature in the MoveVU Commute Hub?

    The Vehicle Registration feature can be found in the MoveVU Commute Hub by going to the Parking section on the left-hand side bar and selecting Vehicle Registration at the top of the page. Here, you can verify or enter your vehicle information. You may also register additional vehicles.

  • How do I appeal an incorrect parking charge on my Commute Calendar?

    If you believe that a parking charge on your Commute Calendar is incorrect, you have the option to appeal it. To appeal, follow the directions below: 

    • Access your Commute Calendar, and locate the specific parking charge under your ‘Pay Period Details’ section (found underneath the Commute Calendar) 
    • Click on the envelope/mail button situated to the right of the charge. This action will direct you to an email template where you can provide an explanation for appealing the charge. 

    Once you've submitted your appeal, the MoveVU team will review the details and follow up with you to reach a resolution. It's important to address any parking appeals before the end of your pay period.

  • How often should I log my commute trips?

    It's important to log your commute trips daily to ensure accuracy and timeliness. However, you have until the end of the pay period to add any commutes. Parking will be charged automatically. 

    To help you remember to log your trips, consider opting in to receive commute reminder emails. You can do this by checking the box under Log Commute Reminders in your Commute Settings on the MoveVU Commute Hub. This optional feature will send you reminders to log your commute trips before your pay period closes.

  • How do I log a carpool trip?

    If you carpool with one or more individuals who are also members of the Vanderbilt University community, you can split the parking charge equally among the passengers. Typically, the driver of the vehicle will tap their Vanderbilt ID card at the card reader. To log the carpool trip and split the parking charge, the driver should access their Commute Calendar for that day and click the people icon located to the right of their parking charge in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

    The driver can search for and tag the other passengers in the carpool for that day. Once the driver tags the passengers, their parking charge will be adjusted accordingly. Passengers in the carpool will receive a notification of the carpool tag, and their portion of the parking charge will be displayed. It's important to note that passengers have the option to decline the tag if they choose not to accept it. This mechanism helps prevent abuse of the system by individuals attempting to reduce their own parking charges unfairly.

  • My work address is not accurate in the MoveVU Commute Hub. Why can't I change this information?

    Due to the extensive number of buildings on campus, it's not feasible to list every address in the system. Instead, campus zones are utilized to facilitate carpool and vanpool matching functions within the MoveVU Commute Hub. These campus zone designations (found on this map) help pinpoint commuters' arrival locations, particularly for individuals who may have multiple building locations on Vanderbilt's campus for learning, research, or work.

    For students, campus zones are currently defaulted to Vanderbilt University. However, students will soon have the option to dynamically update their campus zone designation on a daily basis within YES. Any changes made in YES will be reflected in the MoveVU Commute Hub once a day. Students who do not select a specific campus zone will be assigned a default location of Vanderbilt University.

    Please note that campus zones for faculty, staff, and postdocs are automatically assigned based on their work location in Oracle. Individuals seeking to change their work address in Oracle should reach out to their HCM specialist to discuss the possibility of making such changes.

Understanding Commute Incentives

  • What is a commute incentive?

    A commute incentive is a reward offered to individuals enrolled in the daily parking program who opt for non-drive alone transportation modes when commuting to campus. Participants earn a $1.00 daily incentive each time they choose a non-drive alone commute, with a maximum potential reward of $20 per month based on a typical 20-day work month. Eligible commutes include walking, biking, transit (bus and commuter rail), carpooling, and vanpooling. 

  • Am I eligible for commute incentives as a daily parking permit holder?

    Yes. daily parking permit holders are eligible for commute incentives by engaging in weekday carpool, vanpool, walk, bike, bus, or train commutes. 

  • How do I record a commute in order to earn the incentive?

    To earn commute incentives, you can log commutes for walking, biking, bus, commuter rail, carpool, and vanpool trips on weekdays. Please note that commute incentives cannot be earned on holidays and weekends, although it's encouraged to log those trips to maintain an accurate record of your commuting habits. 

    When you commute to campus, it's essential to log it in your Commute Calendar within the MoveVU Commute Hub. Most commute trips require manual logging. You can learn more about recording these trips by referring to the guidelines provided here.

  • Are motorcycles and motor scooters included in commute incentive program?

    If more than one person over the age of 16 is riding the motorcycle to campus, then the trip counts as a carpool trip. Riding a motorcycle by oneself is not an eligible commute option.

    According to the EPA, current motorcycle engines pollute at a rate 90 times higher per mile than passenger cars or even a large sport utility vehicle. More information on this issue may be found through the EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality.

  • Can I earn a commute incentive on the weekend?

    No. Commute incentives cannot be earned on holidays and weekends, but you are encouraged to log those trips to gain an accurate depiction of your commuting habits.

  • What can I do if I have an emergency and need to get home quickly when I took an eligible commute option to campus?

    Participants in the daily parking program have access to the Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program, which offers walk, bike, carpool/vanpool, bus or train commuters a limited number of subsidized Lyft rides home in case of an emergency or unforeseen circumstance. Please note that only registered GRH enrollees are able to use this program and program usage is limited to specific scenarios: 

    • Family Emergencies 
    • Missed Carpool/Vanpool 
    • Illness/Injury 
    • Unplanned Overtime 

    The full GRH policy can be found on the MoveVu Commute Hub.  

     Additionally, bus and train riders are encouraged to apply for WeGo's Emergency Ride Home program to ensure additional coverage in case of emergencies. 

Other Questions

  • Can I let someone else use my daily parking parking permit?

    Allowing another person to use your permit is discouraged, as you are liable for any citations issued to the registered permit. Please protect your account from potential penalties by refraining from sharing permits.

  • Does Vanderbilt offer daily parking permits for short-term visitors?

    Vanderbilt University provides pay-by-phone hourly paid parking in specific parking lots and garages throughout the campus to meet short-term parking needs. For further details, please visit the Visitor Parking page.

  • How is the revenue from daily parking permits used.

    Vanderbilt University is committed to ensuring equitable parking options for its community members while simultaneously addressing maintenance costs and aligning with market pricing. Revenue generated from parking charges plays a vital role in covering various expenses, including staffing, maintenance of parking lots and garages, operational costs, and shuttle services such as VandyRide. Factors such as surrounding market rates and inflation influence both parking supply and maintenance expenses, necessitating an annual reevaluation of parking fees. Additionally, a portion of the parking program's revenue contributes to funding program enhancements outlined in MoveVU, the university's strategic plan for mobility and transportation.