All our parking permits are virtual, so you can apply for and manage them online, and start using them as soon as they are approved.

Visitor free parking allowance

Previously, every resident in the CPZ was sent a book of parking vouchers to hand to visitors to display in their windscreen. 

With the move to virtual parking permits, you can arrange parking for your visitor online, via your Resident parking account. 

Residents living in in the Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in Bedford are allocated a specified number of hours of free parking for their visitors each year. 

This allocation of free parking hours for visitors is called the ‘Visitors free parking allowance’.

The number of hours allocated to each resident in the CPZ depends on the zone you live in - see the table below.

Visitor free parking allowance by zone

Visitor free parking exceptions

All residents in the CPZ are entitled to the visitor free parking allowance apart from: 

• residents of new developments of flats/apartments and houses constructed/adapted after 1 April 2008
• residents of a single dwelling, flat/apartment or house of multiple occupancy that has been formed as part of a conversion of a building or part of a building after 12 August 2013

When do parking restrictions apply in the CPZ?

With the exception of zones J and K, parking restrictions apply from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. 

Zone J restrictions apply from 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Zone K has restrictions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This means you only need to book parking for your visitors during these hours.

Find out more on our CPZ Controlled Parking Zones page.

How to apply for my visitor free parking allowance 

To get started, you need to apply for your visitor free parking allowance - follow these simple steps: 

Step 1: If you don’t already have a Resident parking account, you will need to set one up using the online form below.

Step 2: Once you have a resident parking account, you will need to apply for a 'Visitor free parking allowance' permit, which is free of charge. Select 'Resident permits' as the permit category, and then 'Visitor free parking allowance' as the permit type. You will then have access to the 'Book Visitor parking' button on the account homepage.

How to book visitor parking (using the free parking allowance)

Booking visitor parking via your online parking account is easy.

You simply add your visitor’s registration number to your visitor account, select the date and how long they will be parking in your zone in the CPZ, and their car will be covered. 

The hours you allocate to your visitor will be deducted from your visitor free parking allowance.

Remember, you only need to book parking for your visitors during the hours the CPZ parking restrictions apply.

You can allocate as little as just one hour. 

You can add visitors who come to see you regularly as favourites, making it even quicker and easier to arrange their parking each time they visit.

Overnight visitors

If your visitor is staying overnight, you may need to book more than one parking session for them.

For example, if you live in zone A, B, C, D, E, G, M or N, and your visitor is arriving on Friday at 2pm and leaving on Monday at 10am, you would need to book three parking sessions:

• Friday 2pm - 6pm
• Saturday 8am - 6pm
• Monday 8am to 10am

Remember, you are not guaranteed a parking space in the CPZ, so if you book visitor parking in advance and your visitor moves their car during their visit, they may not be able to park in your zone. You can cancel booked parking sessions before they start in the 'Booked sessions' section of your online parking account. You cannot cancel a booked session once it has started.

If you live in Zone K, parking restrictions apply 24 hours a day.

If you live in zone J, parking restrictions apply from 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Parking enforcement

Our parking enforcement officers can check whether a car is allowed to park by checking its registration number on our parking system. If you have used some of your visitor parking allowance to enable that car to park via your account, the car will be covered, and no fine will be issued.

Extending your visitor’s parking time

If your visitor decides to stay longer than planned, it’s easy to extend their parking. Simply sign into your resident parking account and book a new session.

Can I buy more visitor parking hours? 

Yes, if you need more than the free allowance of visitor parking hours, you simply:

• go to your Resident parking account 
• head to the Permit applications tab, and select Resident permit
• then select 'Visitor additional parking allowance' as the permit type

The number of additional hours the 'Visitor additional parking allowance' gives you depends on the zone you live in:

Please read the next section carefully before you start your online application. 

Arrange parking for your visitors