Vanderbilt students planning to bring a vehicle to campus for the 2026–27 academic year can begin preparing for student parking permit registration, which opens July 31 at 8 a.m. CT and closes August 7. Student parking registration will be accessible on the parking portal.
For the 2026-27 academic year, Vanderbilt Parking and Commuter Services has updated parking processes across the community, including the new Parking Open Enrollment process for eligible faculty, staff and postdoctoral scholars. Students follow a separate registration process based on classification and tailored needs.
Students are encouraged to review their parking options before permit registration opens. The information below outlines parking options and registration details for undergraduate, graduate and professional students. Additional resources are available on the Parking and Commuter Services website.
Undergraduate student parking
Eligible undergraduate students may register parking permits for designated parking zones during from July 31 through August 7.
Undergraduate campus parking eligibility
- First-year students: Not eligible
- Sophomores: Eligible; availability is limited, and students may be placed on a waitlist depending on demand
- Juniors and seniors: Eligible
Undergraduate semester permits
Beginning this academic year, undergraduate parking permits are offered as semester permits. Previously referred to as annual permits, the semester-based structure aligns with the evolved needs of student programming.
Semester permits:
- Provide access to designated undergraduate parking zones for the fall semester
- Are offered on a first-come, first-served basis
- Will be billed to student accounts and appear on the September billing statement
- Are purchased through the parking portal
Information about spring semester permits will be shared in December. Additionally, a limited number of reserved parking permits are available in the Kensington Place and Kissam Center garages and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Graduate and professional students
Graduate and professional students may choose between two parking options: Annual parking permits and daily parking. In general, students may find that annual permits are best suited for those on campus frequently, whereas daily parking may better serve those occasionally on campus.
Annual parking permits
- Provide access to a designated parking zone throughout the academic year
- Are available on a first-come, first-served basis
- May be paid as a lump sum through the student account or by credit card. Monthly credit card payments are also available in-person.
- Are purchased through the parking portal
Daily parking
- Parking charges are billed to the student’s Commodore Card; sufficient balance must be maintained
- Returning participants do not need to take any action
- Students new to daily parking may apply at any time
Parking registration and next steps
Students planning to park on campus this academic year should review the available parking options and determine what fits their individual needs. Students who want to purchase a permit should mark July 31 in their calendars for when registration opens and monitor their Vanderbilt email inbox for more information.
Additional information, including parking rates, parking maps and commuting resources such as information on VandyRide and the WeGo partnership, can be found on the Vanderbilt Parking and Commuter Services website at vanderbilt.edu/parking.
New daytime VandyRide shuttle service
Students also have a new option for getting around campus during the day. Beginning this academic year, VandyRide daytime shuttle service will operate from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., connecting eight convenient stops across campus. Students can track shuttles in real time through the Passio GO! app, making it easier to park once and travel between classes, activities and other campus destinations.