Fall 2026 registration opens July 27 for graduate students, August 3 for 90+ credits, August 10 for 60+ credits, and August 17 for all otherwise eligible students.
Source ↗Car rules and parking at University of Maryland, College Park
First-year students can bring a car.
Start with the eligibility details below, then weigh permit cost, timing, overnight access, and transit. Source ↗
At a glance
Parking snapshot
Lots and permit types are subject to capacity. Students may join free waitlists, which expire at the end of the semester if no offer is made.
Source ↗Resident permits allow 24-hour storage in the assigned lot. Commuter permits prohibit overnight parking; students who need storage use designated overnight-storage lots and the corresponding permit.
Source 1 ↗Source 2 ↗Not confirmed—check the official parking office
Not confirmedWho qualifies
Eligibility details
On-campus first-year resident
On-campus residents may register for resident parking based on their housing assignment, class standing, and space availability; resident permits allow the vehicle to remain in its assigned lot around the clock.
Source 1 ↗Source 2 ↗Commuter
All students are eligible to register. Commuters with 0–29 credits use Lots 6, 9, or 11, while those with at least 30 credits may select any available commuter lot.
Source ↗Upperclass student
Registration access opens in earned-credit tiers, and commuters with at least 30 credits receive broader lot choice than students with 0–29 credits.
Source ↗Accommodation or exception
Students may request temporary medical parking permission through DOTS; accessible parking otherwise requires the applicable permit and disability credential under university instructions.
Source ↗If you skip the car
Primary car-free alternative
Shuttle-UM provides fare-free campus and nearby service, with accessible routes and paratransit information published by DOTS.
Source ↗Test it against your routineCommon questions
University of Maryland, College Park car and parking FAQ
Can freshmen have cars at University of Maryland, College Park?
First-year students can bring a car. On-campus residents may register for resident parking based on their housing assignment, class standing, and space availability; resident permits allow the vehicle to remain in its assigned lot around the clock.
How much is a parking permit at University of Maryland, College Park?
$750 / year. Overnight storage parking is a different product at $955 annually or $573 for fall. Commuter permits are $387 annually or $233 for fall.
When do University of Maryland, College Park parking permits go on sale?
Fall 2026 registration opens July 27 for graduate students, August 3 for 90+ credits, August 10 for 60+ credits, and August 17 for all otherwise eligible students.
Is a car worth it at University of Maryland, College Park?
It depends on your routine and permit access. The official sources identify Shuttle-UM provides fare-free campus and nearby service, with accessible routes and paratransit information published by DOTS. as a car-free option. Use the decision tool to weigh your own travel needs.
Trace the answer
Cited official sources
These verified university sources support the current claims above. Follow each link for the full policy.
Student Parking ↗
The current page says all students may register and gives Fall 2026 credit-tier dates, commuter lot limits for 0–29 credits, resident assignment factors, waitlist terms, the commuter overnight prohibition, and designated overnight-storage options.
University of Maryland Department of Transportation Services · Checked 2026-08-01 · verifiedStudent Parking Fees and Permit Types ↗
The 2026–27 table lists resident parking at $750 annually or $452 per semester, overnight storage at $955 annually or $573 for fall, and commuter parking at $387 annually or $233 for fall; it also describes temporary medical parking requests.
University of Maryland Department of Transportation Services · Checked 2026-08-01 · verifiedShuttle-UM FAQ ↗
DOTS describes Shuttle-UM as fare-free and provides information about route access and paratransit services.
University of Maryland Department of Transportation Services · Checked 2026-08-01 · verifiedEditorial record
Research trail—not used for the current answer
These official pages were checked but were historical, ambiguous, unavailable, or useful only as background. Their content does not support the policy claims above.
Spring Break Parking and Transit ↗
This historical Spring Break 2026 advisory is preserved in the research record but is not cited as a current or recurring break rule.
University of Maryland Department of Transportation Services · Checked 2026-08-01 · verifiedKeep comparing