Archive: HaeB / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
SAN FRANCISCO – Uber on Monday launched Uber Parking, a feature that lets drivers find, compare, reserve and pay for parking inside the Uber app. The company is starting in select U.S. cities.
The service builds on Uber’s acquisition of SpotHero, the parking app, which brings a network of more than 13,000 garages, lots and valet operators across 400 cities in the United States and Canada onto the Uber platform. The launch cities are a subset of that footprint, so the full network is not available everywhere on day one.
Users tap a new “Parking” icon on the Uber home screen, enter a destination, and pick the date and time they need a space. An interactive map shows nearby lots and garages with upfront prices, and results can be filtered by self-parking or valet, garage or surface lot, and amenities such as on-site staff. To book, drivers enter the vehicle’s make, model and license plate, and pay with any method in their Uber Wallet.
After booking, a digital parking pass appears in the app. Depending on the facility, drivers scan a unique QR code or are let in by license plate recognition, and they can extend a reservation from the app.
Uber One members can earn 10% back in Uber One credits on eligible completed parking reservations. The credits can be used on future Uber rides and Uber Eats orders. It is a credit, not a cash discount.
Why it matters: parking becomes another everyday service inside an app that already covers rides and food delivery, and it is aimed at people driving their own cars, including commuters.
Still unknown: which cities are live, which garages and lots are bookable in each launch city, how Uber’s pricing compares with booking directly, what fees apply, and when the service expands to the rest of the SpotHero network.
File photo: Uber’s offices in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood. It was not taken for this launch.
JBizNews Desk | San Francisco
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