# UT Austin parking: which student permit do I need?

UT Austin parking for 2026–27 starts with C or C+ for daytime commuters, S for non-dorm students who need a garage, and R for eligible residence-hall students. UT Parking and Transportation Services lists C at $184 a year and C+ at $277; compare each permit’s lot or garage and overnight rules before you buy.

[Compare UT’s student permits ↗](https://parking.utexas.edu/parking/student-parking)

**In this guide**

1. Which option fits my day?
2. What does paying more buy?
3. When does evening access end?
4. Can I leave my car there overnight?
5. What changes on event days?
6. Does this include apartment parking?
7. Could I leave the car at home?
8. What if I’m only visiting?
9. Questions
10. Sources

## In this guide

1. Which option fits my day?
2. What does paying more buy?
3. When does evening access end?
4. Can I leave my car there overnight?
5. What changes on event days?
6. Does this include apartment parking?
7. Could I leave the car at home?
8. What if I’m only visiting?
9. Questions
10. Sources

## Which option fits my day?

Start with where you live, when you need to park and whether the car stays overnight. A permit doesn’t always reserve a space.

Renew an R or S permit or join the waitlist by November 11, 2026. Waitlist offers run through December 2, and open sales start December 3 at 10 a.m. UT’s renewal page lists November 9 and December 1, so confirm in [My Parking Profile](https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/pts/parking/) or at [parking@utexas.edu](mailto:parking@utexas.edu).

2026–27 permit prices

**Which option fits my day?**

| Permit | Full-term price | Who or what it fits |
| --- | --- | --- |
| C | $184 a year | Off-campus daytime commuter; space available |
| C+ | $277 a year | C access plus specified evening/weekend garages |
| N | $56 | Specified evening/weekend surface lots |
| N+ | $93 | Specified evening/weekend garages and surface lots |
| S | $883 a year; East Campus Garage $369 | Non-dorm student; one garage, with extra overnight-storage rules |
| R | $369–$1,058 for fall and spring | Eligible dorm resident; assigned garage |
| R, one semester | $245–$588 | Eligible dorm resident; check the garage |
| R, Nueces Garage | $143 a month | Eligible N24/Dobie resident |

### Which parking do you need?

Situation

#### Do I need daytime commuter parking?

Compare C/C+ with an available S garage, then the trip to your classes. C is space available, so buying it doesn’t reserve a stall.

1. Check C at $184 and C+ at $277 for the annual maximum prices.
2. Compare S at $883, or $369 at East Campus Garage, and check availability.
3. If the car stays overnight, check the storage option instead of relying on C.

[Compare student permits ↗](https://parking.utexas.edu/parking/student/class-c-permit)

[C permit hours ↗](https://parking.utexas.edu/parking/student-parking)

## What does paying more buy?

C+ costs $93 more than C. N+ costs $37 more than N. Those differences buy the stated extra access, not a reserved space or unrestricted overnight parking.

Price differences within a permit family

Scroll for more columns.

**What does paying more buy?**

| Comparison | Extra cost |
| --- | --- |
| C+ instead of C, annual | $93 |
| N+ instead of N, full term | $37 |
| Standard S instead of East Campus Garage S, annual | $514 |

## When does evening access end?

N surface access generally runs 5:45 p.m.–7:30 a.m. on weeknights and Friday 5:45 p.m.–Monday 7:30 a.m. Intramural Fields has a 4 p.m. start; Longhorn Lots still exclude 3–5 a.m.

N+ garages generally run 5 p.m.–4 a.m. on weeknights and Friday 5 p.m.–Monday 4 a.m. Conference Center, Health Center, Nueces and Rowling Hall garages are excluded. Check the exact lot or garage.

## Can I leave my car there overnight?

C and Longhorn Lots exclude 3–5 a.m. A C permit is for coming to campus and leaving, not storing a car.

Non-dorm residents should check S with its overnight-storage fee. Dorm residents should check R. Compare the whole period you need, including weekends.

## What changes on event days?

Your garage permit applies to the garage purchased and its stall rules. Read event emails and signs before leaving the car.

At Manor and Trinity, Moody Center staffing can block entry, usually starting 2–3 hours before the event. Cars already parked don’t have to move for those Moody events, but you may not be able to drive back in.

## Does this include apartment parking?

No. Ask your apartment for its own parking price, term, access hours and whether the spot is assigned. A UT permit and an apartment space are different purchases.

## Could I leave the car at home?

Compare the full parking agreement with walking and transit. Many CapMetro services are free with a valid physical UT photo ID, but check routes, service days and the last trip home.

## What if I’m only visiting?

Ordinary visitors can use ticketed UT garages without buying a permit. Check the exact garage, duration and event rates before entering.

Selected ordinary garage visits

**What if I’m only visiting?**

| Visit | Most garages | Conference Center / Rowling Hall | East Campus | Health Center |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2½ hours | $9 | $9 | $5 | $5 |
| 6 hours | $17 | $18 | $7 | $8 |
| 10 hours | $18 | $21 | $7 | $9 |

## Questions

**Which permit can a commuter or dorm resident buy?**

Start with C for an off-campus commute, S for a non-dorm garage option, or R for eligible dorm residents. Check the class-specific conditions and availability.

**What is cheapest for evenings and weekends?**

N is $56 and N+ $93 for the listed full terms. Match their locations and end times to your schedule.

**Can I park overnight?**

Check the exact permit and location. C/Longhorn Lots exclude 3–5 a.m.; S storage and dorm R options have their own rules.

**Is apartment parking separate?**

Yes. Each agreement gives access to its own space, for its own term.

**What changes for football or Moody Center events?**

Entry, parking locations and ordinary access can change. Read the event notice and posted signs, including Manor and Trinity re-entry restrictions.

## Related guides

- [West Campus parking comparison](https://utaustin.guide/research/texas/west-campus-parking)

## Parking income supports a pooled system

UT’s 2026–27 parking budget assigns $28.236 million to operations, debt and other-account transfers. Debt service is about 27% of that pool. Your permit supports this combined operation.

Manor and Trinity permit holders can face event-time entry restrictions while an already parked car can stay; football relocation follows another policy. The [parking-finance investigation](https://utaustin.guide/research/texas/ut-parking-finances) follows garage approvals, budget transfers and the access conditions behind the price.

[Current student permit prices and Moody access conditions](https://parking.utexas.edu/parking/student-parking) · Research cutoff October 30, 2026.

## Sources

Prices and access rules come from UT Parking and Transportation’s 2026–27 pages, checked November 11, 2026. Student permit prices are maximums for their full stated terms and can be prorated later; a price doesn’t confirm an available space.

Visitor examples use the ordinary garage tariff. Event rates, lost tickets and closures can change the charge. The general and East Campus tariffs restart at midnight.

**Sources and dates**

1. [UT Parking and Transportation Services — Class C, hours and overnight alternatives](https://parking.utexas.edu/parking/student/class-c-permit)2026-11-11
2. [PTS — Class R permits](https://parking.utexas.edu/parking/student/class-r-permit)2026-11-11
3. [UT Catalog — student parking overview](https://catalog.utexas.edu/general-information/student-services/student-parking/)2026-10-26
4. [UT Off-Campus Living Resources — neighborhood descriptions](https://offcampus.utexas.edu/neighborhoods)2026-10-26
5. [PTS —2026–27 student prices and full-term prorating](https://parking.utexas.edu/parking/student-parking)2026-11-11
6. [PTS — N/N+ hours and garage exclusions](https://parking.utexas.edu/parking/facultystaff-parking/night-parking)2026-10-27
7. [PTS — visitor parking and posted restrictions](https://parking.utexas.edu/parking/visitor)2026-11-11
8. [PTS — current permit renewal/purchase paths](https://parking.utexas.edu/parking/student-parking/student-permit-renewal-purchase-instructions)2026-11-11
9. [PTS — Moody Center garage disruptions](https://parking.utexas.edu/moody-center-parking-disruptions)2026-10-27
10. [PTS — CapMetro and valid-UT-ID service](https://parking.utexas.edu/transportation/capmetro)2026-10-27
11. [PTS — Class C+ eligibility and access](https://parking.utexas.edu/parking/student/class-cplus-permit)2026-11-11
12. [PTS — garage duration tariffs and event exceptions](https://parking.utexas.edu/parking/garages/garage-daily-parking-rates)2026-11-11
13. [PTS — how to get an R permit, with spring dates](https://parking.utexas.edu/parking/student/how-get-r-permit)2026-11-11
14. [PTS — how to get an S permit, with spring dates](https://parking.utexas.edu/parking/student-parking/how-get-s-permit)2026-11-11

**Downloads and calculations**

- [Download the current permit comparison](https://utaustin.guide/research/ut-parking-permit-comparison-2026-27.csv)

By [Sulayman Bowles](https://sulayman-bowles.dev/about)

---
Source: https://utaustin.guide/research/texas/ut-austin-parking · Field Guide: UT Austin