NYC Parking Garages TIPS

Finding a quality parking garage is tricky. Use our parking garage guide for basic information and guidance.

So, you decided to spend the extra cash and park in a parking garage. There are a few things to look out for when selecting the best parking garage. Don’t be attracted to a parking garage by price alone. Many parking garages tempt you with low rates, but how are the facilities? Is your car safe in a $10 a day parking garage or does the parking garage jam an extra 15 cars in the space to make up for the cheaper rate. Always read the small print on any coupons.

Some easy ways to save money the next time you park: Like any business, parking garages are all about location, location, location!. The better the location the more you will pay for a parking garage space. In an effort to save money many New Yorkers are parking further from their office in order to save money. These commuters park several blocks away and take a train, bus or cab to their final destination. When you consider the variance in parking garage prices it is no wonder why people are saving the money and walking an extra few blocks. When looking for the best parking garage deal you should keep several things in mind. Like all business, parking garages do not like to sit vacant, so it’s sometimes possible to benefit from specials either on the weekends or at various times of the day. Most parking garages have flat rates. This means you can park in the garage for 10-12 hours for one price, rather than pay an hourly rate. Often times these deals are offered as an early bird special, so you must enter before a specific time. Parking garages offer a similar deal in the evening usually after 6:00pm. Check with your local parking garage for exact pricing. If you are a commuter and like a specific parking garage, try talking to the parking garage manager or parking garage management company. The posted prices are usually negotiable, so a little haggling may save you some money. If you are looking to find a parking garage deal in the tourist areas of New York City, forget about it. Parking garages like any business pays rent, so the price of parking in New York City will increase as you get closer to fifth avenue, the theatre district and other high traffic areas. Some other things to keep in mind is that many parking garages now charge an extra fee for oversize vehicle. What is an oversize vehicle? Practically any 4x4 vehicle, minivans, and large sedans. Expect to pay on average $10 extra for these vehicles.

To save money in parking garages, be street smart. Search the Internet for the closest parking garages and call each garage for pricing and specials. You can also try to seach online for any coupons or promotional offers.

Useful Links
http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dot/html/motorist/parking/prkintro.html
http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/consumers - NYC Dept of Consumer Affairs
http://www.bbb.com -Check the status of a parking garage for complaint history
http://www.nyc.gov/nypd - If you have to file a complaint or get copy of accident record