While many drivers are familiar with traditional pay-and-display machines, more car parks now use digital parking systems such as app parking, barrier parking and ANPR technology.

Because of this, drivers may sometimes arrive at a car park and notice there is no parking machine or ticket system in place. In these locations, parking is usually started through an app or recorded automatically using the vehicle registration.

Understanding how parking in Ireland works today can help drivers avoid confusion and make parking simpler.

What Are the Different Types of Parking in Ireland?

Drivers in Ireland will usually come across four main types of parking systems:

  • App Parking
  • Pay and Display Parking
  • Barrier Car Parks
  • ANPR Parking Systems

Each system works slightly differently and requires drivers to pay for parking in a different way.

In this guide we explain the different parking systems used across Ireland and how drivers can pay for parking in each one.

Parking Systems in Ireland: At a Glance

The table below gives a quick overview of the most common parking systems used across Ireland.

Parking Type How It Works How You Pay
App Parking Start parking through an app. Your vehicle registration acts as the parking record. Through the Easytrip app
On-Street (Pay & Display) Common in city centres. Traditionally paid at a meter with a ticket displayed on the dashboard. Parking meter or Easytrip app
Barrier Parking A barrier controls entry and exit to the car park. Easytrip tags open the barrier automatically. Charged to your Easytrip account
ANPR Parking Cameras record your vehicle registration when entering and leaving the car park. Machine, app or online payment

How Does App Parking Work?

App Parking is a digital parking system where drivers start and pay for parking using a mobile app instead of a ticket machine or barrier.

When using App Parking, the vehicle registration becomes the parking record, so there is no need to display a paper ticket on the dashboard.

This type of parking is becoming more common in modern car parks because it removes the need for machines, printed tickets and cash payments.

When you arrive at a car park that uses App Parking:

  1. Open the Easytrip app
  2. Select Off-Street Parking
  3. Choose the car park you are in
  4. Start your parking session

The parking charge is then applied to your Easytrip account.

For many drivers, App Parking makes everyday parking faster and easier because there is no need to search for a machine or carry coins.

What Is Pay and Display (On-Street) Parking?

Pay and display parking is commonly used for on-street parking in cities. Drivers pay for the time they plan to park and traditionally display a printed ticket from a nearby parking meter.

In Dublin on-street parking areas, drivers can also pay digitally using the Easytrip app instead of the meter.

When using the app, drivers select on-street parking, choose the parking zone they are in, and start their parking session through the app.

How It Works

  1. Open the Easytrip app

  2. Select On-Street Parking

  3. Choose the zone you are parked in

  4. Start your parking session

The app sends a reminder 10 minutes before the session expires, allowing drivers to extend their time without returning to the meter.

What Is Barrier Parking?

Barrier parking is commonly used in off-street car parks such as shopping centres, hospitals and private city car parks.

Traditionally, drivers take a ticket when entering the car park and pay at a machine before leaving. Once the ticket is paid, the barrier lifts to allow the vehicle to exit.

With Easytrip, drivers can use their Easytrip tag instead of taking a ticket.

When approaching the barrier, the tag is detected automatically and the barrier opens. The same happens when leaving the car park, with the parking charge applied directly to the customer’s Easytrip account.

This means drivers don’t need to take a ticket, queue at a pay machine, or worry about losing their parking ticket.

Easytrip barrier parking is available in many off-street locations across Ireland, including major shopping centres and hospitals. We partner with reputable parking operators such as Q-Park, Park Rite, and other car park providers across the country.

Easytrip barrier parking is available in many off-street locations across Ireland, including major shopping centres and hospitals such as:

For regular drivers, it makes parking quicker and removes the need to interact with ticket machines or payment kiosks.

What Is ANPR Parking?

ANPR parking uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras to record when a vehicle enters and exits a car park.

Instead of taking a ticket, the system reads the vehicle’s number plate and automatically calculates how long the car has been parked.

Drivers usually pay for ANPR parking at a machine inside the car park or through an online payment system.

Because the parking session is linked to the vehicle registration, there is no ticket to display on the dashboard.

ANPR parking is becoming more common in some private car parks because it removes the need for tickets and barriers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Parking in Ireland

What is App Parking?

App Parking allows drivers to start and pay for parking using a mobile app instead of a parking machine. The parking session is linked to the vehicle registration, meaning there is no ticket to display on the dashboard.

How does App Parking work?

Drivers open the Easytrip app, select the car park they are in, and start their parking session. Parking enforcement checks vehicles digitally using the registration number, and the parking charge is applied to the driver’s Easytrip account.

What is pay and display parking?

Pay and display parking is commonly used for on-street parking. Drivers pay at a meter or machine and display a printed ticket on the dashboard. In Dublin, drivers can also pay for on-street parking digitally using the Easytrip app by selecting the parking zone.

Can I extend my on-street parking time using the app?

Yes. When paying for on-street parking through the Easytrip app, drivers receive a reminder before their parking session expires and can extend their parking time without returning to the meter.

What is barrier parking?

Barrier parking is used in many off-street car parks such as shopping centres and hospitals. Drivers usually take a ticket when entering and pay before leaving. With an Easytrip tag, the barrier opens automatically when entering and exiting the car park.

What is ANPR parking?

ANPR parking uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras to record when a vehicle enters and exits a car park. The system calculates the parking time based on the vehicle registration instead of using tickets or barriers.

Why do some car parks not have parking machines?

Some modern car parks use digital parking systems such as App Parking or ANPR. These systems allow parking to be recorded electronically using the vehicle registration, removing the need for ticket machines.

How do parking attendants check if I have paid?

Parking attendants use handheld devices or digital systems to check whether a vehicle registration has an active parking session. This replaces the need to check for a printed ticket on the dashboard.

Do I need an Easytrip toll tag to use Easytrip parking?

For off-street car parks with barriers, an Easytrip toll tag is required so the barrier can recognise your vehicle and open automatically when you enter and leave.

For on-street parking (pay and display) in Dublin, you can simply use the Easytrip app to start and pay for parking by selecting the parking zone you are in.

Many customers choose to use both, allowing them to manage tolls, parking and other driving services in one Easytrip account.

Where can I use Easytrip parking?

Easytrip parking is available across many locations in Ireland, including major shopping centres, hospitals, and city car parks. Locations can be found through the Easytrip app or on the Easytrip parking page.