Fall 2026 registration opened July 27 for graduate students and August 3 for students with 90+ credits. The 60+ credit tier opens August 10 at 10 a.m., and all otherwise eligible students may register beginning August 17 at 10 a.m.
Source ↗Car rules and parking at University of Maryland, College Park
Yes. First-year residents may buy $750 annual resident parking based on housing assignment and available space. First-year commuters use the lots assigned to students with 0–29 credits, and registration opens to all otherwise eligible students August 17.
Start with the eligibility details below, then weigh permit cost, timing, overnight access, and transit. Source 1 ↗Source 2 ↗
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 ↗Resident and overnight-storage permits remain usable through academic breaks until their stated expiration. For 2026–27, fall-only permits end December 21, 2026, while annual permits run through August 20, 2027; temporary break advisories can expand where students may park without changing the permit's expiration.
Source 1 ↗Source 2 ↗Who 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 opened July 27 for graduate students and August 3 for students with 90+ credits. The 60+ credit tier opens August 10 at 10 a.m., and all otherwise eligible students may register beginning August 17 at 10 a.m.
Is a car worth it at University of Maryland, College Park?
Probably not for routine campus life: Shuttle-UM is fare-free, while resident parking costs $750 and commuter parking costs $387 per year. A car is most useful for frequent off-campus trips beyond the shuttle and Metro network.
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 2026-08-10 · 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 2026-08-10 · 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 2026-08-10 · verifiedSpring Break Parking and Transit ↗
The Spring Break 2026 advisory demonstrates that DOTS publishes temporary break-specific parking expansions while ordinary permit expirations remain controlling.
University of Maryland Department of Transportation Services · Checked 2026-08-10 · verifiedKeep comparing