Using the vPermit Parking Portal
Garages and gated surface lots operated by the Harvard Parking Office use a License Plate Recognition (LPR) parking system. Vehicle access and parking credentials are now controlled by your license plate. Please read on to learn more.
Acquiring Parking
Annual Parking
If you would like an annual permit:
- First, log into vPermit. If you use HarvardKey login credentials, click HarvardKey to sign in. Otherwise, create an account or sign in as a guest.
- Go to your profile by clicking your name in the top right corner. In the “Registered Address” field, add the name of your desired parking location (e.g. Broadway, Soldiers Field, 52 Oxford)
- Under My Permits, click the “Apply for a Permit” button
- Search and select your desired permit type and payment method
- Add your license plate number
Accept the “Terms and Conditions
**Changing your parking location? If you need to update your parking location, click your name, go to "Registered Address," and add the new location. After updating, you can proceed with the steps to reapply for your permit.
- Note: Annual permits are pro-rated daily. If you cancel your permit prior to June 30th, you will be refunded the unused amount or payroll deductions will cease.
Weekly/Monthly Parking
If you would like a weekly or monthly permit:
- First, log into vPermit. If you use HarvardKey login credentials, click HarvardKey to sign in. Otherwise, create an account or sign in as a guest.
- Navigate to the “My Temporary Permit” tab
- Click “New Temporary Pass”
- Select Temporary Pass Type from the drop-down menu
- Add license plate information
- Select Start Date
- Click “Next” and agree to the “Terms and Conditions”
Make Payment
You will receive an email confirmation with additional access credential for garage access
- Note: Weekly permits are 7 days; Monthly permits are 30 days.
- Only the locations and permit types listed in the drop-down list are available for temporary parking.
Tips, Tricks, and More
Additional Things to Know
- License plate recognition
- Your license plate serves as your parking credential on campus and access to authorized Harvard parking facilities. Pull up slowly to the gated lots and garages. Cameras at the parking entrance and exit will scan your license plate to open the gates to a garage or lot.
- Secondary access credential
- You will be assigned a QR code as a secondary credential if your license plate cannot be read (e.g., not updated on your account, covered by snow, rental vehicle, no front plate). Scan that QR code at the QR code reader to open the gates.
- Pedestrian door access
- Your QR code will serve as your primary credential to access doors at the garage. Scan your QR code at the reader for pedestrian access.
- Your QR code will serve as your primary credential to access doors at the garage. Scan your QR code at the reader for pedestrian access.
Add your QR code to your mobile wallet
- Visit the vPermit Harvard parking portal
- Log in with Harvard Key
- Click the wallet icon next to your active permit
You may also download your QR code by clicking your name in the top right corner and clicking Download next to the QR code.
Updating Your Account Info
Avoid permit verification, access, & enforcement issues by making sure your license plate information is up to date in the parking portal to avoid permit verification, access, and enforcement issues.
- Updating license plate(s)
- You may update the license plate(s) of the vehicle you are parking with at any time. When you are logged in to vPermit, navigate to Manage Vehicles and then Edit Vehicles.
- Updating phone number
- If you need to update you phone number, log in to vPermit, navigate to Your Name in the upper right-hand corner,* edit your phone number next Mobile and click Save Details.
- *On a mobile device, click the list symbol in the upper right-hand corner and then click your name.
- If you need to update you phone number, log in to vPermit, navigate to Your Name in the upper right-hand corner,* edit your phone number next Mobile and click Save Details.
FAQS
- Customer vehicle information, including license plate information, is already collected as part of the permit application process. This technology will simply use your license plate number to quickly verify that you have a valid permit.
- All information will be collected and stored consistent with Harvard’s Information Security Policy and will be used only for parking permit verification, access, and enforcement.
- The new technology will scan plates when your car enters or is parked in Harvard facilities and use plate information to check against our records and confirm you have a valid permit.
- Your license plate will replace physical hangtags and transponders (if applicable) and become your access credential used to verify your valid parking permit.
- The technology is more convenient since you will no longer need a physical hangtag or transponder (if applicable), allowing for quicker garage entry and exit, as well as a more efficient permit verification. It will also significantly reduce plastic waste.
- Future goals of this transition will allow Harvard Parking Services to offer different types of permits that our current system cannot support
- Please continue to display your current 2024-25 hangtag and transponder (if applicable) until the new permitting system is operational.
- Harvard Parking Services will continue to communicate any changes as necessary.
- Even though you will not be issued a new hangtag, you must submit your parking renewal if you intend to park on campus in 2025-26.
- Until further notice, you will need to continue using your current 2024-25 hangtag and transponder (if applicable) into 2025-26 as we work to upgrade our systems.
- When the new system is ready, your license plate will serve as your parking credential on campus.
- Make sure your vehicle and license plate information is up to date in the parking portal to avoid permit verification, access, and enforcement issues.
- You can register multiple vehicles in the parking portal just like you do now. However, only one vehicle can be parked on campus at a time unless you have multiple permits.
- You will need to update your vehicle information in the parking portal as soon as possible to avoid permit verification, access, and enforcement issues.
- You can register your rental vehicle in the parking portal just like you do now. It is the permit holder’s responsibility to manage the vehicles attached to their record.
- Please be aware that while our portal allows you to register multiple vehicles, only one vehicle may be parked on campus at a time unless you have multiple permits.
- Visitors can park on campus by purchasing a daily permit (HOPPS) or hourly parking (ZipBy) through the Transportation Services website.
