Please note: this guidance is for Zones A-H

How do the Daily Visitor Vouchers for Zones A-H work?

Under our virtual e-permit system, instead of receiving books of scratch cards in the post, you will receive virtual daily permits on your account. They will then work like credits on your account which you can use and obtain more.

The application process

To apply for visitor permits, you will need to create an account on our new permit system (if you have not already) and use the ‘permit application’ button. Visitor permits come in batches of five vouchers, you can request up to 25 vouchers (five batches) at a time. You can request the number of permits as part of the online application.

We aim to respond to all applications within two working days. If your application is successful, you will be ‘offered’ a permit which will prompt you to make payment for the permit. After payment is made, the permit will be ‘issued’ instantly. Your permits will not be ready for use until you have had confirmation that your permit has been issued. If you wish to view the status of your application at any time, you can view this under the ‘my permit applications’ tab on your account.

Once you have notification that your permits have been issued, you will get a new button appear on your account called ‘parking vouchers’ that has a blue parking logo. This button will not show until your permits are issued. This is where you will book any visitor sessions and view any booked sessions.

When in the parking vouchers section you have three tabs:

  • Book parking – this is the landing page you are taken to when you first select the parking vouchers button and this is where you can view and book parking sessions.
  • My visitors – here you can add and remove frequent visitors vehicles.
  • Booked sessions – this is where you can view any sessions you have ever booked.

How to book a visitor permit

Log into your permit account and select the ‘parking vouchers’ button mentioned above. It will open in a new internet tab and will automatically take you to the ‘book parking’ page. The page shows any active batches you have. You should select the green ‘book’ button on the right hand side to book a session.

You can book one session at a time or, if you are expecting a couple of visitors, can book more than one session at the same time. Note: if you are booking multiple sessions, they will all need to start at the same time. If you are expecting visitors at separate times, book the sessions individually.

To book one vehicle

Select the ‘one vehicle’ option. You can enter a new registration or use a saved registration. If you have frequent visitors, the first time you add their registration there is a tick box to save the registration number. If you select this, it will show in a list next time, thus speeding up the process for you next time. You can also add a name to saved vehicles. Once you have entered/selected the registration you wish to park, you need to select whether you want the session to start now or at a future time. If you select now, the session will start once you have completed the process and confirmed the booking. If you select at a future time, you’ll be given the option to enter the date and time they will be parking from, which is ideal for if you wish to prepare ahead. Please note, if you pre-book a session and no spaces are available when they arrive, we cannot cancel the session and it would be lost.

To book multiple vehicles

Select the ‘multiple vehicles’ option. If using this, you do not have the option to select saved vehicles – you will need to enter each vehicle on a separate line. Each vehicle will use one voucher. Note: they must be entered on separate lines. If they are not entered on separate lines, the system will not be able to recognise that they are separate vehicles.

Vehicles

Once you have entered the registrations you wish to park, you need to select whether you want the sessions to start now or at a future time. If you select now, the sessions will start once you have completed the process and confirmed the bookings. If you select at a future time, you’ll be given the option to enter the date and time they will be parking from which is ideal for if you wish to prepare ahead. Please note, if you pre-book sessions and no spaces are available when they arrive, we cannot cancel the sessions and they would be lost.

Managing ‘my visitors’ on my account

You can save frequent visitors vehicle details on your account if you wish to. You can also name them for easy reference. As well as saving a vehicles details as part of the booking process shown above, you can also use the ‘my visitors’ tab to manage these. To add a vehicle, select the ‘add visitor’ button in the top right. A box will open where you can enter the registration and their name. Click ‘ok’ to save and it will show in your list of visitors.

When viewing your list of visitors’ vehicles, you can change names or remove them, an example is below. You cannot change a vehicle registration, only the name. If you add a vehicle and the registration is incorrect, you will need to remove it and add it again.

If you have one visitor you see most often and you mark it as preferred, we'll automatically put it at the top of the list for you.

How can I view any sessions I have booked?

In the top bar there is a ‘booked sessions’ button. Here is where you can view any sessions booked, this includes future bookings, current/active bookings or expired bookings. You can search back to 12 months – select the period you wish to select in the first dropdown, shown at the top of the screenshot below.

You will see a search button to assist with searching. For example if I wanted to search all sessions booked for a specific vehicle or name (if it's someone you have saved), you can enter this here to filter the rest out.

How long does an e-permit/session last?

Each e-permit/session lasts 24 hours from the start time. From the point of purchasing the permit batch, you have two years to use them.

I’ve used all of my vouchers, what do I do now?

Once you have used all of the sessions in a batch of visitor permits, you will need to apply for a new batch in the ‘permit application’ section of your account. Once they have been approved by the office, paid for and ‘issued’, they will then show as another permit under the ‘parking vouchers’ section. You can have more than one batch open at a time, you do not have to wait for a previous batch to run out before you can request more.

Important

Ensuring that you enter your visitor’s vehicle registrations correctly is key. Once you have confirmed a booking, you cannot amend the vehicle details or cancel the session, so always double check before you confirm. Failure to enter details correctly may result in a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) being issued.

The parking vouchers section also provides help and guidance throughout the separate processes.

Further information and support

If you have any questions, please telephone 01474 337000 or email parking.permits@gravesham.gov.uk