A QR (Quick Response) code is a two-dimensional barcode that a phone camera or scanner can read, typically to open a web address or carry a short piece of data.
Parking has adopted QR codes widely. Signs and meters carry codes that open a payment page without an app download, and reservations and permits are often delivered as QR codes that scan at a gate or pay station. They are cheap to deploy and familiar to drivers.
Uses in parking
- Pay-by-phone signs in lots and on meters, often linked to a web payment page.
- Entry and exit credentials for reservations, events and validations. See pre-booked parking and validation.
- Links to rates, rules and customer support.
The scam problem
- Fraudsters place fake QR stickers on meters and signs that send drivers to look-alike payment sites. Many cities have issued warnings.
- Protect customers by printing codes into signs rather than using stickers, inspecting signage regularly, showing the official web address next to the code, and telling drivers which domain is legitimate.
The Parkonomics view
A QR code is a front door with no lock. It is an excellent way to take payment, as long as the operator checks that its codes are the only ones on its signs.
Related terms: Pre-Booked Parking, Gateless Parking, Pay-In-Lane Machine, Validation, Pay-by-Phone Parking