The Most Important Parking Tips for Bringing a Car to NYC

Many individuals take their vehicles to New York City thinking that they will find an available street parking spot or an affordable parking garage right where they need it. Experienced New York City drivers know that that is not the case, and in fact, parking in New York City is one of the worst things a driver can do. Things can get so confusing and frustrating that people choose to never drive to the city, which is not a viable option. Why deprive yourself of a great day in Manhattan?

By learning a bit about New York City parking and some of the tips for securing a space, you can make sure that parking is not an issue or a hassle.

It would help if you always give yourself extra time when coming to Manhattan or the surrounding boroughs with a car. Between ever-changing traffic patterns and mass congestion, you are likely to hit traffic even during the day. What may only appear to be a quick 5-mile ride can often take over an hour in the worst of conditions. Make sure to give yourself sufficient time to safely and comfortably get where you need.

Know the costs associated with parking before you leave. Parking lots and garages often charge depending on the size of the vehicle, so you should do determine if you have an oversized vehicle. Those who own SUVs and minivans often get confused about which qualifies as oversized. Getting an idea of how much money parking will cost beforehand takes away the stress and anxiety of finding an affordable garage. You drive around aimlessly when you do this on short notice and eventually park in an expensive lot. The more you plan, the more you can save at a parking garage in New York City. If you feel generous, you can even factor in a tip for the service.

When parking at a garage in NYC, be expected to be met by a valet parking attendant. Often, individuals drop their car off at the main entrance, and then the attendant safely parks the car. Because this is the case, you want to ensure that your car is clean and ready to go, or at least the driver’s side. Making a smooth transition from dropping off a car to being on your way keeps everybody happy.

 

Nothing can ruin a day more than coming back to your car to discover you’ve gotten a ticket. There are many reasons to get a ticket in NYC, and the fees vary greatly. The parking ticket price depends on what you did wrong and the location of the violation. Some violations will cost you up to $115!

There are many rules to follow when it comes to parking in NYC. It’s difficult to keep track of everything. Below are just some of the many violations that may lead to a parking ticket:

• Parking longer than the allowed time
• Parking less than fifteen feet from a fire hydrant
• Not displaying a paid receipt in your windshield when in metered parking
• Parking during street cleaning days
• Blocking an intersection or crosswalk

One must be diligent to avoid tickets when parking in NYC. There are many rules to follow, and it’s easy to make mistakes. To avoid a parking ticket, utilize the following tips:

• Triple check the time limit on your meter
• Read all the signs carefully and follow the most restrictive one
• Park more than 15 feet from a hydrant
• Make sure you’re not parked within a crosswalk or bike lane
• Understand the meanings of parking signage, such as no stopping and no standing

The number one way to prevent a parking ticket is to utilize a parking garage in NYC. Using one of our parking garages will ensure you’re parking legally and won’t have to worry about a ticket. We can also help with long-term parking as we specialize in car storage in NYC.

Most people know that winters in Manhattan can be rather brutal. Between low temperatures and excessive snow, living, working, and traveling through the city is complex and annoying during the winter months. It is easy to find people complaining about the cold and walking through dirty and slushy snow, but another big problem is the lack of city parking spots. Another problem with winter is a drastic reduction in street parking.

Parking in NYC at the best times is often still considered a nightmarish experience. It can take forever, and it usually leaves individuals much further from where they initially intended to be. Although rare, people sometimes turn around and leave because they are so fed up with trying to find a spot.

If you live with a car in Manhattan, you should consider monthly car storage. Monthly car storage NYC is the intelligent choice all year long, but it becomes especially essential during cold and snowy winter months. For daily or intermittent parking, you should only consider using the best parking garage New York City has to offer. When there’s snow on the ground, you should automatically assume you will not find a spot, which allows you to prepare beforehand. You can find the best garage at the best rates for your needs, rather than just driving around hoping to find a facility.

Bringing a car to NYC could be the easiest way to commute to and from the city, but because parking is difficult, many drivers choose to take public transportation or choose to stay home. It would help if you did not let the difficulties of parking ruin what could otherwise be an amazing day out.

Because there are so many drivers in Manhattan at a given time, it is not easy to find street parking where you need. Rather than driving in circles for hours or having to feed a meter, you should use the best parking garage NYC has to offer. When you choose to leave your car in a parking garage, you should take a moment to learn the common protocols of dropping off a car.

Before leaving for the city, you should look at the area you want to park in and look for different garages. If you come to the city and drive around looking for a garage, you will most likely end up in an expensive and not ideal spot.

Before dropping your car off, you want to make sure that the driver side area is clean and that an attendant can comfortably get in and move your car. You do not need to clean the entire car, but you should clear out the driver’s area.

Separate your key chain so you can leave your car keys. You do not want to have attendance struggling with clunky keys. Holding and storing them can be cumbersome, depending on the size.

Parking Garage NYC

Prepare the things you need before getting a parking garage. NYC is a hectic place, and so you do not want to hold up traffic for cars leaving and entering the lot. You want to keep a smooth transition between dropping off your car and the attendants parking the vehicle. It is important to keep in mind that you can always come back to grab or drop off items, so you do not need to panic when leaving your car.

Parking in NYC is never easy. There are limited spots, and when you find an open parking spot, it’s almost impossible to determine if it’s legal to park there. Parking signs are confusing, and if you don’t know what they mean, you may wind up with hefty fines or a towed car. 

Let’s go over the most common signs found on NYC streets and explain what each of them means for you. 

• No Standing Anytime – This sign indicates that you cannot only park in this area, but you cannot idle here as well. Do not plan to park your car here and sit in the driver’s seat while waiting for someone. 
• Street Cleaning – These signs highlight a specific day and time during the week that you cannot park. Spots with these signs are subject to street cleaning rules. 
• Parking Meter – Certain spots in NYC are legal only if you pay a meter while parking there. The parking meter sign will indicate how long you’re allowed to park in the spot and the days and times you need to pay the meter. If you are outside of the designated times, you may park in this spot for as long as you need. 
• Taxi Stand – Spots with these signs are designated for taxi use only. 
• No Parking Anytime – This is probably one of the easier signs to decode. You may not park in this spot at any time of the day. 

Parking Garages in NYC

As you can see, even if you find an open spot, there’s no guarantee that it’s a legal one. Avoid the hassle of parking on NYC streets altogether by utilizing a parking garage in NYC.