What is LPR?

License Plate Recognition (LPR) is a technology that associates a parking permit to a license plate instead of displaying a sticker decal or hangtag. Parking enforcement vehicles have cameras installed that scan the license plates of parked vehicles facing the drive lane. The cameras read license plates automatically and verify if a permit is valid or parking has been paid for the scanned vehicle.

LPR increases parking efficiency on campus, provides convenience for the parking customer and greatly reduces the amount of paper and plastic waste produced. With few exceptions, students, faculty and staff will no longer need to affix decals or hang permits in their vehicles or pay to have a lost permit replaced.

Vehicle License Plate Registration

Your license plate is your permit on the University of Iowa campus. Customers are responsible for the accuracy of the license plate and vehicle information provided in all parking applications. 

For permit holders, license plates must be entered and updated as your vehicles change.  License plate information for permits can be modified in the Parking Portal.  Students, faculty and staff can access the portal to add, edit or delete vehicles from their account.  For step-by-step instructions on how to add vehicles and license plates to your account please see the Parking Portal Info page.

License plates are also used to pay for parking at mobile payment zones and some pay stations on campus.  Depending on what option is used, customers typically confirm their zone location, provide license plate info and confirm payment.  

To ensure you have your vehicle information readily available prior to permit registration or starting a parking session, take a picture of your license plate to use as a personal reference.

See the LPR Guidance page for common scanning issues, clarification on how to enter variable license plates, and unique vehicle or permit situations.

Multiple Vehicles

Faculty / Staff

Faculty and staff can register up to three vehicles on one permit. Of the three linked vehicles, only one may be parked on campus at a time to avoid receiving a citation.  Motorcycles are not considered one of your vehicles.  See the motorcycle section below for more information.

You can access the Parking Portal anytime to add or remove vehicles (including rentals) from your permit. Instructions on how to add, amend or remove vehicles can be found on the Parking Portal Information page.  See the LPR Guidance page for common scanning issues, clarification on how to enter variable license plates, and unique vehicle or permit situations.

Students

Students may only register one vehicle per permit. You can access the Parking Portal anytime to add or remove vehicles from your account and/or permit.

Access Cards and Parking Gates

At this time, LPR will not be used to raise parking gates or start/end parking transactions.  Permit holders will still need to use access cards for gated parking facilities and Night/Weekend privileges in public parking facilities.  See Night and Weekend Privileges for details on NW access card usage.

Motorcycles

Motorcycles will continue to be issued physical permits to display and must park in designated motorcycle zones. You will need to add the motorcycle license plate information under your motorcycle permit through the online parking portal.  Due to the volume of motorcycle makes and models available, select "Other" if your motorcycle is not included in our vehicle database.

Enforcement and Parking

Anyone who parks on campus must either have a valid virtual permit or a paid parking session in the mobile payment app.  Below are a few tips to ensure easy and valid parking:

• Customers are responsible for the accuracy of the license plate and vehicle information provided in all parking applications.  Citations are issued if inaccurate license plate information is provided in parking applications. 

• License plates must face the drive lane to be scanned for compliance. Citations are issued if license plates are not able to be scanned when the vehicle is parked.  

See the LPR Guidance page for common scanning issues, clarification on how to enter variable license plates, and unique vehicle or permit situations.