Parking Operations

Parking Permits

The following permit information applies only to the West Lafayette location. For Indianapolis permits, go to Indianapolis Parking Permits.

Types of Permits

permit usage and resources

  • Annual permits are valid August 1 until August 15 of the following year.
  • A permit, Garage Access Card and Front Plate may only be used by the individual to who it is assigned. Violators may have their parking permit revoked.
  • Most permits are virtual and must be linked to an individual’s license plate using steps in the Purchasing a Permit section. Update vehicle information in the parking portal if there are changes. 
  • License Plate Recognition (LPR) is used for parking enforcement. A vehicle’s license plate must face the drive lane, unless an active Front Plate from Parking Operations is in use.
  • No more than five vehicles can be added to a faculty or staff permit, and only one vehicle can park on campus at a time. Student permits may only be tied to one vehicle.
  • Garage Access Cards that are issued with some permits carry forward from year to year and should be retained if the permit is renewed.
  • Garage Access Cards are not parking permits and should not be displayed on windshields.
  • Eligible permit holders should keep their Garage Access Card with them when using the gated garages as a backup entry and exit method, should LPR not open the gates.
  • Resources

Purchasing a Permit

1. Be prepared

  • Purdue parking enforcement uses License Plate Recognition (LPR), which allows most permits to be virtual and tied to a vehicle’s license plate. Have the following information ready to register your vehicle through Purdue’s online parking portal:
    • License plate number, type and state
    • Vehicle year, make, model and color
  • Take a picture of your license plate so you have license plate and registration information readily available. This photo is only for your personal reference and won’t be uploaded to the parking portal.

2. Visit the online Parking Portal

  • Go to the Purdue Parking Portal.
  • Select “Get Permits” from the middle of the webpage.
  • Select “Permit Options” to choose the type of permit you wish to purchase.
  • Click “Purchase a New Permit.”
  • Select “Purdue Login” if you are a student, faculty or staff; choose “Guest Login” if you are a visitor.
  • Purchase a permit, and follow the remaining steps accordingly.
  • When prompted to register your vehicle for license plate recognition, please ensure the correct vehicle(s) are linked to your permit. If faculty or staff need to add a new vehicle to their account or permit, instructions are included in Step 3 below. Students will need to submit a request form to add or change the vehicle tied to their permit.

3. Register your license plate

  • Visit the Purdue Parking Portal.
  • Select “Vehicles” from the top navigation section of the webpage.
  • Select “Purdue Login” and use your Purdue career account credentials.
  • Click “Add Vehicle” to add a vehicle to the account, or click the underlined license plate number of an existing vehicle to edit the information.
  • Populate all fields with your license plate and vehicle information.
  • In the top navigation bar click “Permits” > “View Your Permits.”
  • Select a permit number listed.
  • Click “Add Vehicles to Permit” at the bottom of the page.
  • Check the box next to the vehicle(s) to be associated with the permit and select “Add the selected vehicle.”