Student

Student Parking Overview

• Commuter and non-commuter (residential) permits are sold for specific “zoned” lots under a tiered pricing structure.
• Parking permits are sold by academic classification with graduate students and seniors having the first opportunities, followed by juniors, sophomores, and freshmen students. Non-commuter permits for first-year students will be very limited and sold separately through a randomized selection process. Note: For parking permit purposes, all first-year students are considered freshmen regardless of credit hours earned.
• Zones in the core of campus are more expensive than intermediate and remote lots.
• During regular school hours, permits are only valid in assigned zones (ex. core permits may only be used in core areas). After 5 p.m., all student permits are valid in any commuter or unreserved staff space until 3 a.m.
• The addition of more than 1,000 hourly mobile-pay parking spaces throughout campus provide flexibility on days you need more access to campus.
• Parking permits for Fall 2025 will go on sale in July.

Students are encouraged to park once and ride the T to their final destination. With a fleet of 31 buses, 10 fixed routes, and on-demand accessible transportation, the T transit system is a free service designed to help students move around campus safely and efficiently. Visit parking.utk.edu/transit for information regarding free T bus routes and the hours of operation.

First-Year Residential/Non-Commuter Parking

• Non-commuter parking is very limited. First-year students living on campus are encouraged not to bring a car.
• Remote parking will be available to first-year students, but not all first-year students who want to bring a car will receive a permit.
• First-year students who have confirmed their enrollment and plan to live on campus may apply to be part of a randomized selection process for the opportunity to purchase a non-commuter permit.
• The randomized selection application for first-year non-commuter permits opens on Mon., March 17 and closes on Friday, May 16 at 5 p.m. ET. First-year students must confirm enrollment and complete a housing application to be eligible to apply for non-commuter parking. 
• Students will receive an email with the link to the first-year non-commuter parking application.  Students will use their Net ID and password to access the form. Additional information about accessing student NetIDs and Passwords can be found here. 
• First-year students will be notified of the results from the randomized selection process by the end of May. Approximately 800 students will be eligible to purchase a permit, while an additional 200 students will be added to a waiting list and contacted if and when a permit becomes available or additional remote parking spaces are secured by the university. 
• More information on getting around Knoxville without a personal vehicle can be found online.

First-Year Commuter Parking

• First-year commuters will be the last group allowed to purchase parking permits and will likely only have access to remote or Park and Ride permits.
• Permit sales will open to first-year commuters in late July. Further communications will be sent via email and Vol Update.
• First-year students commuting from the primary residence of a parent or legal guardian may apply for an exemption from the first-year residency requirement within the University Housing Portal.

Accessible Parking

• Accessible parking permits are available to students throughout the year.
• Information about acquiring an accessible parking permit is available online.

Park and Ride Permits

• Available to commuters at the discounted rate of $99 annually.
• The Park and Ride lot is located in Garage B at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum and is available weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• The Park and Ride lot is serviced by dedicated T bus shuttles, which will run every 10 minutes to bring permit holders to the campus transfer point at Gate 21 of Neyland Stadium.
• Students choosing to utilize the Park and Ride permit are permitted to park on campus in any unreserved staff or commuter space on weekdays after 5 p.m., excluding special events.

Permit-to-Space Ratios

• Commuter Core: 1.4
• Commuter Intermediate: 1.6
• Commuter Remote: 1.85
• Non-commuter Core: 1.1
• Non-commuter Remote: 1.2

Permit Prices