ASU Parking Permits: Buy, Sell, and Transfer Guide
Everything ASU students need to know about buying, selling, and transferring parking permits — official rules, real market prices, and how to avoid mistakes.
The ASU Parking Situation
Parking at ASU Tempe is genuinely expensive and genuinely competitive. A standard general Gold permit runs around $600–$800 for an academic year. Premium lots cost more. And the lots that are actually convenient to your classes fill up fast.
This creates a real secondary market: graduating seniors with permits they can't use, students studying abroad, students who bought a permit and then got a bike, and incoming students who want to avoid paying full price through ASU Parking.
Here's how the market actually works — and where the rules are firm.
What ASU Actually Allows
ASU Parking and Transit Services has specific rules about permit transfers, and they do enforce them.
Official position: Parking permits are issued to the registered vehicle and the permit holder. Permits are not officially transferable between individuals in the resale market — ASU doesn't have a formal peer-to-peer permit transfer program like some universities do.
What this means practically: If you're buying a permit from another student, the permit technically remains registered to them. If there's a discrepancy (permit on your windshield, different car registered to that permit), you risk a citation.
The safest path: Buy directly from ASU Parking at asu.edu/parking. Yes, it costs more. Yes, you can pay in installments.
That said, here's the reality of what students do:
How the Permit Market Actually Works
Students do sell and transfer permits, especially:
- Semester-only permits (more flexibility)
- Permits registered to a vehicle someone is selling
- Situations where a student is leaving mid-year
The way this typically works is one of two scenarios:
Scenario A (lowest risk): The seller genuinely no longer needs the permit and has a vehicle registered to ASU that matches the permit. They sell their car and the permit comes with it (legally fine). Or they update the vehicle registration through ASU Parking to the buyer's vehicle first — call ASU Parking at 480-965-6116 to ask about vehicle registration updates.
Scenario B (more common, more risk): Student buys the permit and puts it on their car without updating the registration. This works until there's a spot check or citation — at which point ASU Parking may boot, tow, or revoke the permit.
Know the risk you're taking.
Realistic Market Prices
When students sell permits peer-to-peer:
- Gold Lot permit (general, mid-campus): $300–$500 for the remainder of the year depending on timing
- Premium/close-to-class lots: $400–$600
- Red Lot (farther out): $150–$300
- Flex permits (pay per use): Not really traded — account-tied
- Motorcycle permits: $80–$150
The closer to end of semester, the lower the price — sellers are motivated to get anything rather than have the permit expire worthless.
When the Math Makes Sense
If there are 3 months left in the academic year and a Gold permit sold for $700 new: paying $200–$250 for the remainder is reasonable. That's roughly what 3 months prorated would cost.
If there's only 4 weeks left in the semester: the permit probably isn't worth buying at all unless your campus driving situation is genuinely urgent.
Alternatives to Permits
Before buying a used permit, consider:
Light Rail: The Valley Metro light rail connects Tempe to downtown Phoenix and Mesa. The McClintock and Rural/University stops are on or near campus. ASU student passes are available at a discount.
Bike + permit combo: Many students park at a farther Red Lot (cheaper permit) and bike the last half mile. Solves the parking expense problem without sacrificing a car.
Tempe public parking: There are paid garages in downtown Tempe that are a 10–15 minute walk to parts of campus. Not ideal for daily use but fine for occasional needs.
Rideshare: If you only drive to campus a few times a week, the Uber/Lyft math sometimes beats a $700 annual permit.
Where Students List Permits
ASU List occasionally has permit listings. Facebook groups for ASU students (especially class-year groups and the ASU Off-Campus Housing group) are the most active spots. Search before posting — you might find what you need already listed.
The Bottom Line
If you want to do this by the book, buy from ASU Parking directly. If you're buying from a student, understand what you're getting into, verify the permit type, verify what vehicle it's registered to, and have a clear understanding with the seller about whether they're going to update the registration through ASU Parking.
For most students, the real answer to the ASU parking problem is: live close enough to bike, or use the light rail. The permit market exists because parking is overpriced and undersupplied — but there are ways around needing it at all.
Ready to buy or sell?
Join thousands of ASU students on the marketplace built for Sun Devils.