Where the clock starts
Lots with plate recognition or a ticket barrier usually start timing when you pass the entry gate. If you circled for ten minutes looking for a space, those ten minutes are already gone. Assume your time started a few minutes before you parked.
Free-time rules vary
| Place | Common approach | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Supermarket or mall | Free time, sometimes extended with a receipt | Minimum spend and how to validate |
| Hospital | Discount for patients or visitors | Whether reception must register your plate |
| Council or public lot | Short free period or pay-and-display | The tariff board at the entrance |
| Residential visitor parking | Permit or registered time window | Building or HOA rules |
Numbers differ everywhere and change often. A photo of the tariff board is the most reliable note.
How not to overstay
- Set a phone alarm for arrival time + free period − 15 minutes, to allow for walking back and paying.
- If you need to validate, do it at the checkout or front desk first.
- Check the remaining free time at the pay station on the way out.
Recording it in the app
Parked at is saved automatically
When you open the Add screen in Parking Spot Memo, the current time fills Parked at and is saved with the record. It cannot be edited, so open it as soon as you park.
Tariff photo and a note
Attach a photo of the tariff board and note the conditions in Memo, such as “2 h free, +1 h with receipt”. A floor or zone is still required to save.
Work out elapsed time yourself
The app does not count down or send alerts. Read the Parked at time in Records and use your phone’s clock app for the alarm.
The photos in the screenshots are placeholder images used to show the app’s screens.
FAQ
Can I change Parked at later?
Not in the current version; it stays at the time the record was added. If you logged it late, note the real arrival time in Memo.
Why does the pay station show a different time?
It usually uses the moment you passed the entry gate. A few minutes’ difference is often the time spent finding a space.
Where’s My Car? Parking Spot Memo
Save where you parked with one photo plus floor and zone notes. Free on Android, no sign-up, and your records stay on your phone.