Frequently Asked Questions
How does pricing work?
The spot owner sets both the price and the timeframe (how long) drivers are allowed to park, hosts choose which options to offer (Hourly, 12-Hour, 24-Hour/Daily, Monthly, and/or a Custom Block for anything in between) and price each one themselves.
Can I book parking by the month?
Yes. Many hosts offer monthly parking. You can book one month at a time, or choose the recurring option and your booking renews and charges automatically each month until you cancel. While your monthly booking is active, your spot is reserved for you and nobody else can book it.
What happens if I stay past the end of my booking?
Life happens. You get a 15 minute grace period. After that, your booking extends automatically, one hour at a time, at double the spot's hourly rate, charged to the card you booked with. If you know you will be late, message your host in your booking.
What if a spot isn't available?
If the app shows a spot as unavailable, that time slot has already been booked, try another nearby spot or a different time. If you arrive and someone else is physically parked in your reserved spot, please contact the spot owner directly (their contact info is in your booking confirmation). We know that in a city, some drivers take advantage of open spots, so we ask that you allow a 15-minute grace period in case it's someone illegally parked who just needs to move. If the spot still isn't clear after that, let us know and we'll do our best to make it right for you.
Can I cancel a booking?
Yes. Each listing has its own cancellation cutoff, set by the host, you'll see it clearly displayed when you cancel, along with the cancel button itself, so you know exactly whether you're still within the refund window before you confirm. Cancel before the cutoff and you'll receive a refund.
What happens if something goes wrong while I'm parked?
We're operating in a city environment, and while every spot on ParkPad is a real space listed by its owner, we can't control everything that happens around it. Please review our Terms of Service for details on liability. If something happens, let us know at infoparkpad@gmail.com and we'll help however we can.
How do hosts get paid?
Payouts run through Stripe, ParkPad's payment processor. Once a booking is completed, your payout is triggered automatically, no invoicing or manual requests needed. From there, Stripe typically takes about 5–10 business days to transfer funds to your bank account, plus your bank's own standard processing time. You can always see the status of your payouts in your account dashboard.
Is my payment information safe?
Yes. All payments are processed securely through Stripe. ParkPad never stores your card details.
Who can list a spot?
Anyone who owns or controls a parking space in Philadelphia. A driveway, a garage, a pad behind your house, or a whole lot. If you manage parking for a business, church, or school, see our For Institutions page.
What is Auto approve?
Auto approve is a setting on your listing. With it on, bookings confirm instantly, with no need for you to approve each request. It is a good fit if you cannot watch your inbox, or your spot sits open most of the time. You still control your price and your availability calendar, and you can turn it off whenever you like.
Do I need to be there when a driver parks?
No. Drivers book, park, and pay through ParkPad, so you never have to meet anyone. Set your availability and put any access notes in your listing, like a gate code or exactly where to pull in.
Then think about what fits your schedule. If you will be away, or you just want less to manage, offer longer listings like monthly bookings. Fewer, longer bookings mean fewer transitions to keep track of, and your spot keeps earning while you are gone.
What if a driver stays past their booking?
Report an overstay right from the booking page. Take a live photo of the vehicle and the driver is charged automatically at double your hourly rate for each extra hour. You choose whether to keep collecting or contact us and we will help from there.