ParkMobile
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Parking technology |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Albert Bogaard |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, Puerto Rico |
| Products | Zone-based parking payments, parking reservations, self-service reporting platform, ParkMobile 360 management tool |
| Owner | EasyPark Group (since 2021) |
| Website | parkmobile |
ParkMobile is a digital platform accessible via mobile and web that facilitates parking payments throughout North America. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it allows customers to pay for both on-street and off-street parking through a smartphone application, web interface, or telephone. Additionally, the service enables users to reserve parking spaces at stadiums, concert halls, and metropolitan garages.
History
Established in 2008 by Albert Bogaard after its origins in the Netherlands, ParkMobile initially offered zone-based parking payments through phone calls using an IVR system. The company introduced its mobile application in 2009 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which incorporated credit card processing linked to user accounts. By 2011, the service expanded to Washington, D.C. As of 2023, ParkMobile boasts a user base exceeding 50 million.
In 2017, the firm added the capability for advance parking reservations. A significant financial restructuring took place in 2018 when BMW became an investor, followed by an acquisition via a joint venture between BMW and Daimler. This collaboration integrated ParkMobile’s payment functionality with BMW’s in-car navigation systems across numerous 2018 model vehicles.
The acquisition by EasyPark Group, a Swedish company specializing in parking solutions, occurred in 2021, further extending ParkMobile’s international footprint. In 2022, ParkMobile introduced the ParkBoston app to improve city-wide parking management.
These strategic developments and acquisitions have bolstered ParkMobile’s market position and enhanced its competitiveness within the parking technology sector.
Products
ParkMobile’s primary offerings encompass zone-based (on-demand) parking payments, reservation services, and a self-service reporting platform for operators. The zone payment feature remains the most utilized service, allowing customers to pay conveniently via their smartphones. The introduction of parking reservations in 2017 broadened the product suite to include stadiums, event venues, and urban garages, making ParkMobile the first North American app to merge on-demand payments with reservation capabilities on a single platform.
In 2018, ParkMobile unveiled ParkMobile 360—a web-based management and analytics tool designed for parking operators to monitor inventory, modify pricing, manage special events, and review performance metrics.
By 2020, integration with Google Maps enabled users to complete parking payments directly through the mapping application. In 2021, a web-based version was launched permitting transactions without requiring app installation or user registration. Furthermore, ParkMobile connects with parking gate systems to facilitate effortless entry and exit using its app.
Locations
Serving more than 50 million users throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, ParkMobile operates in upwards of 550 cities across the U.S., as well as over 150 colleges and universities—demonstrating its extensive market penetration and wide-ranging user adoption.
Allegations of Predatory Towing and Overzealous Ticketing
The introduction of ParkMobile’s centralized tracking of paid parking sessions has sparked debate over enforcement methods. In Birmingham, Alabama, numerous users have experienced their vehicles being towed despite having active paid parking, often due to mistakes such as incorrect or outdated license plate entries within the app. Reports indicate that towing operators rarely accommodate these errors, negatively affecting user satisfaction.
Comparable challenges with a significant rise in parking citations have been reported in other locations, such as Stone Harbor, New Jersey, where violations increased by more than 1,600% after ParkMobile was adopted. Officials in law enforcement acknowledge that the platform facilitates more effective monitoring and enforcement of parking rules, which has led to a higher volume of issued tickets.