🚗 Student Parking in Lincoln: A Complete Guide

Finding somewhere to park in Lincoln as a student can feel like cracking a secret code—resident zones, scratch cards, council permits—it’s a lot. But don’t worry, we’ve broken it all down for you.

Whether you’re moving into your student house, bringing more than one car between you, or just having mates over for the weekend, here’s everything you need to know about student parking in Lincoln.

🏠 Do I Need a Parking Permit?

Yes! If your student house is on a street with restricted parking (and many of them are), you’ll need a Resident Parking Permit to park legally. Most central student areas like West End, Sincil Bank, and the lower High Street fall into Resident Parking Zones (RPS). Parking without a permit during restricted hours (usually 8 am–6 pm, Mon–Sat) could land you with a fine.

✅ How to Apply for a Lincoln Parking Permit

Students living in shared houses (HMOs) can apply for up to two resident permits per property through the City of Lincoln Council. These are digital permits tied to your address and vehicle.

What you’ll need to apply:

• Proof of residence (e.g. tenancy agreement or utility bill)

• Vehicle registration details

• A payment card

You can apply online here:

👉 Lincoln Parking Permit Application – City of Lincoln Council

Once submitted, permits usually take up to 7 days to process. The permit goes live from the 1st of the month and will be visible to enforcement officers via your registration number—so no paper permits needed.

🚘 What If We Have More Than Two Cars?

Only two permits can be issued per household, so if your housemates have more than two cars between you, you’ll need to look at other options:

• Visitor Scratch Cards: These let you park short-term in permit zones by scratching off the date and placing the card in your windscreen. Perfect for mates visiting for the weekend or parents popping by. They’re available via the same online portal as the main permit.

• Lincoln BIG Car Parks: If you want a guaranteed spot near town, Lincoln BIG offers monthly car park passes for city centre locations like Broadgate, Langworthgate and Chaplin Street. These start from around £77.85/month and are great for students with part-time jobs or regular trips into town.

  👉 Lincoln BIG – Car Park Season Tickets

• Pay and Display Options: For occasional use, Lincoln has plenty of public pay-and-display car parks. Ideal for day trips or short-term stays, especially outside permit hours.

🏫 University of Lincoln Parking Options

If you’re heading to campus and want to park, students can apply for a University Parking Permit that allows access during off-peak times (typically evenings and weekends). You can also purchase scratch cards (usually £1 each) that allow day parking on designated university car parks.

More info is available via the University of Lincoln Estates Department.

📝 Your To-Do List

1. Check your address – Is your house in a permit zone? Use the City Council website to double-check.

2. Apply online – Get your resident permit sorted ASAP. Don’t leave it until the last minute!

3. Order extras – Grab some visitor scratch cards for friends and family.

4. Sort overflow parking – Got more than 2 cars? Look into Lincoln BIG car parks or nearby pay-and-display spots.

5. Campus parking? – Contact the university about student parking permits or scratch cards.

🚗 Want a House with Parking Already Included?

Make life easier. Many of our student houses come with driveways, off-street spaces or designated bays—no permits needed!

👉 Search our Lincoln student houses with parking included now

Final Tips for Parking in Lincoln

• Always double-check permit zone signs on the street.

• Apply early—permits take time to activate.

• Only two cars per house can have permits, so plan accordingly.

• Scratch cards must be properly displayed to be valid.

• Parking enforcement is active year-round—even during university holidays!