Vehicle parking rates

Defining how vehicles are charged for parking

Vehicle parking rates define how much a vehicle is charged for using a parking location.

In SISTEM, parking rates are applied automatically to vehicle sessions based on the configuration you define at the parking level. Once a rate is active, SISTEM enforces it consistently across all entry methods and operational flows.

Rates act as the commercial rules for a parking location. They remove manual calculations and ensure billing remains predictable, transparent, and auditable.

The problem parking rates solve

Without centralized parking rates, operators often rely on:

Manual calculations
Verbal instructions to staff
Separate rate charts or printed boards

This leads to:

Billing disputes
Revenue leakage
Operator errors during busy hours
Inconsistent customer experience

SISTEM replaces this with a structured, system-driven approach where pricing rules are defined once and enforced automatically.

How vehicle parking rates are structured in SISTEM

Parking rates are configured inside a parking and apply only to that parking.

Each rate is linked to:

A specific vehicle type
A selected pricing model
Tax rules
Operational status (active or inactive)

Once configured, rates are used by the operations layer to calculate charges during live parking sessions.

This separation ensures that:

Different parkings can follow different pricing
Changes to one parking do not affect others
Rates scale cleanly as operations grow

What a vehicle parking rate includes

A vehicle parking rate defines:

Vehicle type the rate applies to
Parking capacity for that vehicle type
Pricing model selection
Applicable tax
Rate status (active or inactive)

The pricing model controls how charges are calculated, but the detailed logic is handled separately to keep rate creation simple.

Creating a vehicle parking rate

Step 1: Navigate to vehicle parking rates

To add or manage parking rates:

Open the required parking
Go to Parking settings
Select Vehicle parking rates

Only users with admin or manager access can create or edit rates.

Step 2: Select or create a vehicle type

Parking rates are always defined per vehicle type.

You can:

Select an existing vehicle type, or
Create a new vehicle type if required

This ensures that each category of vehicle follows its own commercial and capacity rules.

Learn more about vehicle capacity and types

Step 3: Define capacity and tax details

For the selected vehicle type, configure:

Capacity assigned to that vehicle type
Rate status (active or inactive)
Tax to be applied. You can multiple taxes defined at org-level or parking level.
Currency (inherited from organization settings)

Inactive rates are saved but not applied to live sessions.

Step 4: Define the pricing model and tiers

In SISTEM, vehicle parking rates default to time-based pricing.

Once the vehicle rate is created, you define pricing tiers that control how charges are calculated based on parking duration.

While adding tiers, you can choose how each tier behaves:

Time-based – charges vary by duration

Slab-based – fixed slabs applied to time ranges later when you add tiers

Fixed pricing – a flat price regardless of duration later when you add tiers

Hybrid – a combination of slab, and fixed tiers

This allows a single vehicle rate to support flexible pricing structures without creating multiple rates.

The pricing model is determined by how tiers are configured, not by a separate rate selection.

Detailed configuration and behavior of each pricing type are explained in dedicated articles to keep rate setup simple and predictable.

Step 5: Save and activate the rate

Once all details are reviewed:

Confirm vehicle type and tax selection
Set the rate status to active
Save the configuration

The rate becomes immediately available for new parking sessions.

Step 6: Add Pricing Tiers

Pricing tiers define how charges change across time ranges.

Open the created Vehicle Rate
Click Add Pricing Tier
Enter tier details using the following fields:

Pricing Tier Fields

Pricing Tier
Defines the time range label for the tier
Example: 0–1 hour, 1–3 hours, Up to 24 hours
Min. Hours
The minimum parking duration (in hours) for which this tier applies
Max. Hours
The maximum parking duration (in hours) covered by this tier
Used to determine when SISTEM moves to the next tier
Price
The charge applied when a parking session falls within this tier
Price is calculated before tax

Tier unit Types

Slab: Price applies incrementally within the defined time range
Fixed: Flat price applies once the tier is reached
Use Slab for one tier and Fixed for another
Combine multiple tiers to create hybrid pricing
Control pricing progression precisely as parking duration increases

Managing and updating vehicle parking rates

Vehicle parking rates can be updated at any time.

Admins and managers can:

Edit existing rates
Activate or deactivate rates
Add new rates for additional vehicle types

Changes apply only to future parking sessions and do not affect completed sessions.

How rates interact with live parking sessions

When a vehicle enters a parking:

SISTEM identifies the vehicle type
Applies the active vehicle parking rate
Calculates charges automatically during the session

This behavior remains consistent across:

Manual entry
Pass-based entry (where applicable)
ANPR-based entry

Operators do not need to select or calculate rates manually.

Designed to scale with your operations

Vehicle parking rates are designed to evolve without disruption.