Direct answer: Parking payment systems calculate the parking fee from the plate and collect it in cash or by contactless credit card at a kiosk, an exit terminal, a booth or a handheld terminal — then open the exit barrier automatically once payment is done. Pay station, parking collection system and payment kiosk all describe this solution.
Payment channels
Payment kiosk
The driver enters a plate, sees the entry photo and the amount, pays by card and takes a receipt.
Exit terminal
On the exit lane the plate and amount appear when the vehicle reaches the camera; the card is tapped and the barrier opens.
Booth (payment point)
The vehicle opens by itself on the cashier screen; cash, change, card, discount and refund actions are available.
Handheld terminal
At peak hours an attendant on site looks up the plate, sees the debt and collects on the spot.
Monthly subscription
Monthly paid subscribers are defined; renewal and collection happen at the booth or the kiosk.
Debt settlement
Debt recorded for a vehicle that left without paying is collected together with the fee on its next visit.
Paying for parking by credit card
Because the fee is calculated on the server, the amount is passed to the card terminal from the screen; the driver taps their card, the transaction closes on approval and a receipt is printed. Card collections are reported per channel separately from cash, so card and cash totals are visible at the end of the day. Card payment follows the same tariff at the kiosk, the exit terminal and the booth.
Card payment at the exit lane
The exit terminal is installed next to the barrier on the exit lane. When the vehicle reaches the camera its plate is read and the amount due appears on screen; the driver taps their card without leaving the car and the barrier opens once payment is approved. This model suits drivers who do not want to walk to a kiosk and car parks with a single exit.
Cash or card?
| Topic | Cash | Contactless card |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Change has to be calculated | Completed in seconds |
| Staff | Booth cashier or handheld terminal | Runs unattended |
| Cash risk | Counting and carrying cash | No cash risk |
| Reconciliation | Shift and Z report | Per-channel revenue report |
| Best for | Facilities where cash habits are strong | Malls, hospitals, hotels, business centres |
Exit and barrier after payment
An exit grant is created the moment payment completes. When the exit camera reads the plate, the barrier opens by itself; because the grant is also kept on the site PC, exits keep working during an internet outage. The granted period counts down on screen, and if it is exceeded only the difference is charged.
Receipts, reports and reconciliation
- A parking receipt is printed for every collection; header and footer are edited from the panel.
- No collection is possible at the booth before a shift is opened; closing the shift produces a numbered Z report.
- Per-cashier breakdowns and discount, free passage, refund and cancellation actions appear in separate reports.
- Kiosk and exit terminal transactions, including failed attempts, are followed on a live monitoring screen.
Pay station and POS integration
The point where drivers pay by themselves is called a parking pay station, payment kiosk or self-service payment point; in our models a plate is entered instead of scanning a ticket. On the card side the amount is passed from the screen to the POS terminal and the approval code is stored with the transaction, so card collections can be matched one by one in accounting.
Preventing revenue leakage
In paid car parks revenue is usually lost in three places: unrecorded passages, barriers opened manually without a reason, and vehicles leaving without paying. The system records all three: every passage has a photo, barrier openings from the panel require a reason and are reported separately, and a vehicle leaving without paying is recorded as debt. At the end of the day cash, card and kiosk totals are shown separately.
Payment methods and roadmap
Methods in use today: contactless credit/debit card at the kiosk and exit terminal, cash at the booth and on handheld terminals, monthly subscription collection and debt settlement. QR code payment will go live once the device manufacturer's development kit is complete. HGS toll tags are used only for passage monitoring today; there is no fee collection over HGS.
Frequently asked questions
How do I pay for parking by credit card?
The driver enters their plate on the kiosk or exit terminal, confirms the amount shown and taps their card on the contactless terminal. Once approved, a receipt is printed and the exit is granted.
Can I pay by card at the exit lane?
Yes. With an exit terminal on the exit lane, the plate and the amount appear on screen when the vehicle reaches the camera; the driver taps their card and the barrier opens.
How long do I have to leave after paying?
The exit period set by the facility counts down on screen. If it is exceeded the vehicle is not stuck at the gate; only the difference is charged.
How are monthly subscribers charged?
Subscriptions are defined with a monthly amount; renewal and collection happen at the booth or the kiosk. Subscriptions close to expiry are listed in a report.
How are parking payments reported?
Every collection is recorded with its channel (booth, kiosk, exit terminal, handheld) and method (cash, card). Revenue, vehicle class breakdown, refund and discount reports come ready.
Is a parking pay station the same as a kiosk?
In practice they describe the same thing: a touchscreen point where the driver pays by themselves. In our models the driver enters a plate instead of scanning a ticket.
Last updated: September 21, 2026 · Features: Sole LPR and parking software
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