Hunting for change, queuing at the pay machine, searching the glovebox for your ticket or receiving a letter days later about a forgotten payment: when parking, paying is often the most annoying part. In Germany, almost one in two drivers (44 %) has already been frustrated by parking machines that don't accept cards. 55 % of drivers, and as many as 75 % of under-30s, now want to pay cashless (girocard study 2026). That reflects everyday life: according to a study by the Deutsche Bundesbank, more than half of all payments in Germany were cashless for the first time in 2025.
Yet parking can be much easier. More and more car parks recognise your licence plate on entry and exit and calculate the parking time automatically. This article explains what's behind it, what it changes in practice and answers the most common questions.
What does automatic parking payment mean?
With automatic payment, the manual payment step disappears completely. A scanner records the licence plate on entry and exit, the system calculates the exact parking time and the parking fee is charged to the stored payment method. No ticket, coins, pay machine or extra app needed. At Mobility Hub, this feature is called Automatic Payment.
What changes in everyday parking
The difference doesn't necessarily show the first time you park, but every time after that. The benefits are most noticeable in everyday life.
No detour to the pay machine
Drive in, park, drive out. No more queuing at rush hour or searching for coins or the right app, even in the rain, with your hands full of shopping bags or when your next appointment is coming up. Anyone who parks every day saves quite a bit of time and stress over the year.
Only pay for the time you actually park
Billing is by the minute or hour, so you only pay for the parking time actually used. And no more topping up your ticket because a doctor's appointment or meeting runs late.
No forgotten ticket, no penalty charge
Payment runs in the background and simply can't be forgotten anymore. So anyone who has activated Automatic Payment won't receive a penalty charge either. The only thing that matters is that the licence plate you use is stored in your account.
All costs at a glance
Your online account shows all current and past parking sessions with date, duration, amount and licence plate. After every exit you also receive an email confirming the end of the parking session and showing the parking fee.
Flexible for second cars and rental cars
You can store up to three licence plates and change them at any time, for example for the family's second car or a rental car. You can also update or change your payment method at any time.
Who benefits most from automatic payment
Anyone who parks regularly in the same place benefits the most:
- Commuters: If you park at the station or a park-and-ride every day, you won't lose another minute at the pay machine, morning or evening.
- Employees: In the company car park, parking just happens in the background, often at discounted rates.
- People with regular appointments: If you regularly visit a clinic or medical practice, that's one less thing to worry about, especially when an appointment runs longer than planned.
Frequently asked questions about Automatic Payment
How am I billed?
With Automatic Payment, the amounts for all parking sessions in a month are collected and charged together to your stored payment method at the beginning of the following month. You can see the current total in your online account at any time. You receive an email notice one day before each charge. All charges and receipts are also available in your online account.
What happens if a payment fails?
It can happen, for example if a new credit card hasn't been updated in your account yet. In that case, you'll get an email letting you know the charge failed – no need to panic. You then have two days to update your payment method before the charge is retried.
Do I have to pay with Automatic Payment?
No. Automatic Payment is an additional option. If you don't want to create an account and prefer to keep paying manually for each parking session, you can choose from the other available payment options.
How to activate Automatic Payment
Setup is a one-time thing and takes three steps:
- Create an account: Create an account with your email address in our web-based online shop – just like in any other online shop. You'll find the link via the QR code right at the car park.
- Activate Automatic Payment: Add up to three licence plates and choose your preferred payment method, e.g. Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, UnionPay, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Depending on the country, American Express, girocard, Klarna Pay Now or TWINT are also available.
- Drive in, park, drive out: Once confirmed by email, payment runs in the background from then on.
Conclusion
Automatic payment takes the most annoying part out of parking. Once set up, you no longer need a pay machine, ticket or coins. You only pay for the time you actually park, a forgotten ticket can't get expensive anymore and all costs remain transparent at all times. People who regularly park in the same place notice the difference most.
