Where are you located and what are the hours of operation?

Parking and Traffic Services is located in Lower Level Letts Suite 1, near the south side shuttle stop on main campus. We are open Monday through Thursday from 8:00am to 5:30am and Fridays from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

How do I contact you?

Attn: Parking and Traffic Services
4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20016
202.885.3111
parking@american.edu

Where can I park?
Guest and visitor parking is available in the Nebraska Avenue Parking Lot, the Katzen Arts Center Garage and the SIS Garage. Between the hours of 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday, parking is at the rate of $2.00 per hour or $16.00 per day. You can purchase time from the Pay-As-You-Go machines which are located at the entrances and/or elevator lobbies in the parking areas. The machines accept $10, $5, and $1 bills as well as all major credit cards (with the exception of American Express). You may also purchase a permit in advance from the Parking and Traffic Services Office. After 5 PM and on the weekends, parking in these commuter lots is complimentary.

When is parking enforced?

Parking is always enforced on campus which includes, but is not limited to, handicap areas and contractor vehicle areas.  Payment for parking on campus is enforced 8:00am – 5:00pm in faculty/staff parking areas and commuter lots (Nebraska Lot, Katzen Garage and SIS Garage). The only exception to payment for parking is when the University is completely closed or, in the commuter lots only, if there are complimentary parking signs in place on the pay machines.  Parking in all other areas beyond commuter lots or faculty/staff areas is enforced 24 hours a day.

Can I park close to my dorm or office to load and unload?

Please visit the Parking and Traffic Services Office between the hours of 8am through 5pm and we will issue you a free, 20 minute loading permit which is valid in any loading area. Please take note that you can only use that permit 20 minutes at a time and you will be subject to a citation if you exceed the loading period.

I have a current parking permit, but I'm driving another vehicle today. How can I get a permit for this car?

If you bring your AU ID with you to the Parking and Traffic Services Office, we will be happy to provide you with a temporary permit that can be displayed in the temporary vehicle you're driving to campus. The permit will be valid when and where your normal parking permit is valid. Please be advised that your regular parking permit is ONLY valid on the vehicle you registered in your application. It CANNOT be transferred to a rental car or any other vehicle.  If you will need a temporary pass for more than three days, please bring with you the vehicle’s registration or rental agreement.
If you've changed vehicles, please bring the registration for the new vehicle and your old permit to the Parking and Traffic Services Office and we'll be able to issue you an updated permit with no extra charge.

If I am a student and faculty/staff member, what permit do I apply for?

Faculty and staff must purchase a faculty and staff parking permit. Students must purchase a student parking permit. If an individual is both a student and faculty/staff member, their full-time status determines which permit they may purchase. If an individual is part-time student as well as part-time staff, the individual must purchase a student permit.

What about motorcycles, scooters and bicycles?

Faculty, staff, and students who prefer to ride motorcycles to campus are required to buy a permit to park on campus.
Scooters are not required to purchase a parking permit, and may be secured to bicycle racks, but may NOT use a parking spot. Scooters are two wheel vehicles with a piston displacement between 50 to 250cc's. Furthermore, a Scooter is defined by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, §571.123, as a motorcycle that:
- Has a platform for the operator's feet or has integrated footrests,
- Has a step-through architecture, meaning that the part of the vehicle forward of the operator's seat and between the legs of an operator seated in the riding position, is lower in height than the operator's seat

I got a ticket. How do I pay for it? Can I appeal it?

You may mail in your payment, pay online (www.parkingticketpayment.com/american/) or come by our office in Lower Level Letts Suite 1 and pay for your ticket weekdays during normal business hours.
To appeal a ticket, please go to www.parkingticketpayment.com/american/ and choose to appeal the citation.  If you need the ticket number, please contact our office during business hours with your license plate information and we can provide you with the ticket number.
Please do not ignore parking tickets because late charges accrue on all unpaid tickets. Tickets are billed to the registered owner of the vehicle and it is the responsibility of that individual to pay any fines on that vehicle.

What is the username and password for the online application forms?

If you are a member of the AU community you can use the same username and password that you use to access your myau.american.edu account. If you do not have an online account affiliated with American University, please contact the Parking and Traffic Services Office at 202.885.3111 for a temporary username and password.

I do not have an AU identification number. How do I fill out the online applications?

In the event that you do not have an AU ID number, please use the ID number 1111111 so the application can be processed.

How can I request a parking permit for a contractor working at AU?

Only authorized individuals can submit applications for contractor parking permits online. Please call our office if you are not sure who can request a contractor permit from your department.

What about getting a refund on my permit?

Students may request a refund upon withdrawal from the University or termination of parking.  For students, permits are refunded on the Registrar’s refund schedule throughout the semester. Full-time faculty and staff also may request to cancel permits and receive refunded parking on that month. All permits must be returned when requesting a refund.

Will having a state disabled parking permit allow me to park anywhere on campus?

State-issued disability permits or license plates are honored on campus for short term visitors and guests. Faculty, staff, students and long term guest and visitors are required to purchase an AU parking permit when parking weekdays from 8:00am until 5:00pm.  This permit must be displayed in addition to the disability permit in order to utilize handicap parking on campus.

May I sell my permit?

Ownership of all permits and garage access devices remains with the University and is not transferable. If you have more than one vehicle, you must register additional vehicles with the Parking and Traffic Services Offices. You cannot transfer your permit to another vehicle. Permits and access devices must be returned to Parking and Traffic Services (1) if you are no longer employed by the University or enrolled as a student at the University; (2) when a replacement permits has been issued to take the place of a previously issued permit; or (3) when the permit is revoked.

What if my permit is lost or stolen?

You will need to come by the Parking and Traffic Services Office to report the loss or theft and get a replacement permit. If you find your old permit at a later date, be sure to return it to the Parking and Traffic Services office. If you use a permit after it has been reported as lost or stolen, your vehicle will be ticketed and immobilized.

Can I request a complimentary parking permit for a guest?

The Parking and Traffic Services Office is happy to provide complimentary parking permits for University departments' guests whose participation with AU is for the purpose of contributing to the academic or institutional mission of the department.
Requests for guest permits need to be submitted via e-mail by a faculty or full-time staff member who is authorized to make requests on behalf of the department. The e-mail should include the name of the guest, the length of their visit to AU and the purpose of their visit. We request at least 48 hours notice in order to have the permits prepared and available for pickup. Only the requestor, guest or otherwise noted individual may pick up the permit from our office.
Guest permits are valid in the Nebraska Avenue parking lot or Katzen Arts Center Garage. If you would like to request a permit for any other location due to a special circumstance, please specify which location in the e-mail, but be advised that the request might take longer to be approved.