Setting tariffs that maximise turnover

Price for turnover, not just revenue per hour

The goal on most sites is not to squeeze the most out of each parked car, but to keep bays available for the next driver. A tariff that is too low invites all-day parking that blocks short visits; one that is too high leaves spaces empty and drives people elsewhere.

Start from what the site is for. A retail centre wants a steady flow of shoppers; a residential zone wants to protect residents. The tariff should support that purpose, not fight it.

• Decide the outcome first — high turnover, long dwell, or resident priority
• Match the rate to peak demand, not to an average day
• Watch occupancy, not only takings, to judge whether a rate is working

Use progressive rates and sensible free periods

Rising, or progressive, rates are a simple way to discourage overstay: the price per hour climbs the longer a vehicle stays, so short visits stay cheap and long ones pay their way. A short free period — long enough to drop off or pick up — cuts friction and complaints without giving away the whole day.

• Keep the first hour affordable to welcome genuine visitors
• Step the rate up for long stays to protect turnover
• Offer a brief free grace period for quick drop-offs

Review regularly with the data you already have

A tariff set once and forgotten drifts out of step with demand. Session data — when bays fill, how long cars stay, where sessions cluster — tells you whether the current rate is helping or hurting. Review it each season and adjust in small, defensible steps rather than large surprises.