Transportation
Transportation

Digital Parking Permit Transition

Georgetown University is modernizing its campus parking system by transitioning to License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology. Moving forward, your vehicle’s license plate will serve as your official digital parking permit, eliminating the need for physical permits.

What is Changing?

Beginning this summer the Office of Transportation Management (OTM) will officially cease issuing physical permits for permitted parkers and transition to a license plate reader system.

Because your license plate will serve as your credential to park in the Southwest Quad garage, it is critical that your most up-to-date vehicle information is accurately registered in the Georgetown Management System (GMS). If you are unsure if your vehicle information, including license plate, is up-to-date in GMS, please visit the new self-service parking portal in GMS. For more information on accessing the portal, please review the Job Aid provided by GMS.

Parking Space Update Schedule

Each parking garage will go through a testing phase prior to going live. During the testing phase, license plate reader technology will be active, however physical permits will still be accepted. Once the system formally goes live, physical permits will not be accepted.

Testing Phase StartsSystem Goes Live
Southwest Quad GarageWednesday, June 10, 2026Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Lot E, in front of the Med-Dent BuildingJuly 2026July 2026
Prospect Street EntranceJuly 2026July 2026
Leavey Center Garage, Levels P-2 and P-3August 2026August 2026
Garage 4, located under the Hariri BuildingAugust 2026August 2026

Action Required: Verify Your Plates in GMS

If you are making a parking election for the first time,please follow the step-by-step instructions provided in the GMS Parking Elections Job Aid (login required) to add your license plate number and vehicle details.

If you have an approved, active or pending parking election and need to update your license plate, please visit the new self service parking portal in Georgetown Management System (GMS)..

Your primary access to the garage will be through the License Plate Reader. In instances when the reader does not work, a QR code you will receive via email can be used as an e-ticket to enter and exit the garage. The legacy tap cards will be sunsetted under the new system.

FY27 Parking Rates

As you update your information for the upcoming academic year, please note that there are no parking rate changes for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27). All parking fees will remain identical to the current fiscal year rates.

Questions & Resources

For more details on how LPR technology works, policies and specific parking guidelines, please visit the official OTM LPR Technology Page .

For direct assistance or questions regarding your parking account, please contact the Office of Transportation Management at otm@georgetown.edu.

FAQs

Think of your license plate as a barcode and our parking system as a supermarket scanner. Cameras mounted at garage entrances and exits will automatically scan your rear license plate as you pull up, referencing it against the GMS database to verify your active permit. This eliminates the need to roll down your window or tap a GoCard.

No. There are no parking rate changes for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27). All permit fees and parking structures remain identical to the previous year.

If you are unsure if your vehicle information, including license plate, is up-to-date in GMS, please visit the new self-service parking portal in GMS. For more information on accessing the portal, please review the Job Aid provided by GMS.

Yes, you can register up to two vehicles under a single virtual permit in GMS. However, only one registered vehicle may be parked on campus at any given time. If both vehicles are found on campus simultaneously, the second vehicle must pay the visitor daily rate or it will be subject to a citation.

Because your license plate is your permit, any vehicle parked on campus must be registered to your profile to prevent a ticket. You should temporarily add the vehicle details to your account in GMS using the self service parking portal or reach out to the Office of Transportation Management at otm@georgetown.edu for immediate assistance.

If your plate features a special symbol (like a heart, star, or diamond) or spaces, skip the special characters or spaces entirely. Simply enter the remaining alpha-numeric characters sequentially. For example, a plate reading “HOYA • 1” should be entered as “HOYA1”.

If you do not have your permanent DMV-issued plates yet, please input the last 7 digits of your vehicle’s VIN number into the license plate field in GMS. As soon as your official license plates arrive, you must immediately update your GMS profile with the correct plate number.

As a backup measure, all active monthly parkers will be emailed a digital QR code upon registration enrollment. If the camera ever experiences a technical glitch or cannot read a dirty plate, you can simply scan your backup QR code at the gate terminal to gain entry or exit.

Yes. Because physical permits are being completely phased out, our enforcement systems rely entirely on license plates. If your plate is not registered or contains a typo, the system will flag the vehicle as unauthorized, which may result in a parking citation. Please take a moment to review your information carefully.