Texas A&M Switches To Virtual Parking Permits This Week

Permit holders' license plates will replace hang tags beginning Saturday.

Texas A&M Today

By Lesley Henton

Published: August 11, 2021

The new system will eliminate the need for hang tags. – Photo by Texas A&M Transportation Services

When Texas A&M University parking permits expire on Friday, drivers will not be hanging a new tag on their rearview mirrors. Instead, their license plates will serve as permits.

Using license plate recognition technology, Texas A&M Transportation Services can easily confirm license plates students, faculty and staff have linked to their permits. This allows for the elimination of hang tag permits.

“We are excited to provide a new level of convenience and flexibility to our customers with the implementation of virtual permits,” said Peter Lange, associate vice president of Transportation Services. “We have one of the most complex parking systems in the country and we have been adopting and adapting license plate recognition technology for several years. We recognize change is hard and we are working to make sure this rollout is as smooth as possible for our campus community.”

Customers must ensure their plates are updated in their parking accounts. Log in, click on “Update Plate” and follow the instructions. Then, simply park in your assigned area with your license plate facing the drive aisle. Customers can update their plate at any time, any day.

Students may link one plate to their permit and employees may link up to three.

View a how-to video on updating a plate.

“Virtual permits provide customers real-time flexibility to add or correct license plates via smart device or through their parking account,” said Tad Fifer, Transportation Services’ web and information designer.

“Customers no longer have to worry about forgetting, losing or improperly displaying their permits – and permits won’t get lost in the mail,” he said. “The new system furthers our commitment to sustainability, eliminating the need for envelopes, stamps and plastic permits.”

Customers can update their plate any time, any day. – Photo by Texas A&M Transportation Services

Fifer noted that customers must ensure the vehicle they park on campus is linked.

“It is important for customers to link the plate for any vehicle they are parking on campus – whether it’s their personal vehicle, their friend’s vehicle or a rental car,” he said. “Customers must ask themselves, ‘What vehicle did I drive today? Is that license plate linked to my permit?'”

Visit transport.tamu.edu for more information.

About Transportation Services

Transportation Services is an empowered team of professionals dedicated to providing efficient, dynamic and innovative fleet, parking and transit services to the Texas A&M University community. Transportation Services supports the teaching, research and public service mission of Texas A&M University, with focus on customer service and communication.

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