> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Parking Spots overview
> Learn how Parking Spots helps your team track where every vehicle is located in your facility.
## What you will accomplish
After reading this overview, you will know which Parking Spots guide to open first, how map view and table view differ, and how reservations differ from cars that are physically parked.
## When to use Parking Spots
Your team can answer one important question quickly:
**Where is each car right now?**
Use the [Parking Spots page](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) from the left sidebar whenever a car moves in your building. Parking Spots connects your real floor layout to your customer and vehicle records. When the map stays current, staff find cars faster, avoid putting two vehicles in the same space, and see which areas still have room.
This section is written for **anyone who parks, moves, or retrieves vehicles**—front desk staff, valets, porters, and facility managers. You do not need technical skills. If you can read a floor map and click a spot, you can use Parking Spots.
**Who should use this page**
Any team member who parks, moves, or retrieves vehicles should use Parking Spots. Facility managers usually set up the map first in [Set up parking spots and zones](/docs/parking-spots/set-up-parking-spots-and-zones).
*The Parking Spots page shows your facility map, current vehicle locations, reserved spaces, and spot availability in one place.*
## Three questions Parking Spots helps you answer
**Where is this car right now?** Search by plate, customer, or spot name on [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots). The map and table should match what staff see on the floor.
**Do we still have room?** Read the occupancy bar (**Available**, **Reserved**, **Occupied**) before you promise a spot to a customer.
**How long was it parked here?** Open [Parking Spots Report](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots/report) when you need history for billing, a customer question, or an internal audit.
## Read the occupancy bar at the top
Just above the map (or table), look for a short summary line. It usually shows:
* A **percent full** number (for example **14% full**)
* **Available** — spots with no car parked there and no active hold showing on the map
* **Reserved** — spots held for a future arrival (when your team uses reservations)
* **Occupied** — cars physically parked right now (the map may also say **Present** on a spot)
**Why this helps**
Glance at the counts before you promise a spot to a customer. If **Available** is low during a busy week, your team knows to search another row or zone before walking the building.
**Reserved on the bar vs Reserved in the table**
The occupancy bar counts spots that are **held for someone** right now. In **Table** view, the **Reserved Car** and **Reserved Customer** columns show *who* a spot is held for. Use both: the bar for a quick total, the table when you need a name. See [Reserve a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/reserve-a-parking-spot).
**Expected result:** The numbers change when someone assigns a car, saves a reservation, or moves a vehicle. They should match what you see on the map.
## Search from the top of the page
The search box at the top works in both **Map** and **Table** view. The placeholder says:
**Search by spot, plate, make, or model…**
Type a spot name (for example **A1**), a license plate, a make or model, or a customer-related match. Press **Enter** or pick a suggestion to jump to that spot on the map or narrow the table.
For step-by-step search help, see [Find parking spots and available spaces](/docs/parking-spots/find-parking-spots-and-available-spaces).
## What you can do from Parking Spots
* Create named spots such as A1, A2, Front Row 3, or Lift 1.
* Group flexible areas into zones, such as Main Storage, Outdoor Lot, or Service Area.
* Assign a vehicle to a spot or move it when the physical car moves.
* Reserve a spot for a customer or car before the vehicle arrives.
* Record when a car leaves for an outside vendor (transport, detail, mechanical work).
* Search the map or switch to table view when you need to find a spot quickly.
* Open the parking report to review which cars occupied which spaces during a date range.
* Run a parking audit to walk spots and zones and fix mismatches before they become pickup problems.
## Quick links by job
| I need to… | Open this page | Step-by-step guide |
| - | - | - |
| Set up spot names and the floor map | [Settings > Floor Plan](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/floor-plan) | [Set up parking spots and zones](/docs/parking-spots/set-up-parking-spots-and-zones) |
| Park a car during a drop-off visit on Schedule | [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) → **Open Event** | [Assign parking during a Schedule event](/docs/parking-spots/assign-parking-during-a-schedule-event) |
| Park a car that just arrived | [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) | [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot) |
| Find an open spot or a customer's car | [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) | [Find parking spots and available spaces](/docs/parking-spots/find-parking-spots-and-available-spaces) |
| Park cars in a flexible zone (outdoor lot) | [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) → click colored zone | [Work with zones on the map](/docs/parking-spots/work-with-zones-on-the-map) |
| Park a car when finishing a Schedule visit | [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) → **Open Event** | [Assign parking during a Schedule event](/docs/parking-spots/assign-parking-during-a-schedule-event) |
| Record a car at transport or an outside shop | [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars) → parking button | [Send a car to an outside vendor](/docs/parking-spots/send-a-car-to-an-outside-vendor) |
| Hold a spot before the car arrives | [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) → **Table** view | [Reserve a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/reserve-a-parking-spot) |
| Send a car to transport, detail, or off-site work | [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) → **Move Vehicle** | [Send a car to an outside vendor](/docs/parking-spots/send-a-car-to-an-outside-vendor) |
| Walk the lot and confirm the map is true | [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) → **Actions** → **Audit** | [Run a parking audit](/docs/parking-spots/run-a-parking-audit) |
| Review parking history for billing | [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) → **Actions** → **Report** | [Review the parking report](/docs/parking-spots/review-the-parking-report) |
## Open Parking Spots
Use your staff login. Customer portal logins do not include Parking Spots.
In the left sidebar, click **Parking Spots**. You can also go directly to [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots).
**Expected result:** The page title says **Parking Spots** and you see either the facility map or a table of spots.
Click the blue **Actions** button. **Audit** starts a lot walk. **Report** opens parking history. Admins edit the map in [Settings > Floor Plan](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/floor-plan) (or **Edit parking map** on [Settings > Operations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/operations)).
**Expected result:** You see **Parking Spots** as the page title, a search bar, **Filters & settings**, and **Actions**.
*Use **Actions** for **Audit** (walk the lot) and **Report** (history). Daily parking work still happens on the map or table below.*
## When a car arrives from Schedule
Many cars enter storage after a **drop-off** or **intake** appointment on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule). Parking Spots and Schedule work together: the calendar tells you *when* the car is coming; Parking Spots tells everyone *where* it ended up.
Open [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) and find today's drop-off or intake. When the vehicle is physically in the building, mark the event **In progress** or **Completed** if your team uses those statuses.
**Why this matters:** Staff who only watch the calendar know the car arrived. Staff who only watch the map know where it is parked. Both updates help the whole team.
If your event type asks for parking at the end of the visit, click **Open Event** on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) and follow [Assign parking during a Schedule event](/docs/parking-spots/assign-parking-during-a-schedule-event). Otherwise go to [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) and follow [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot).
**Expected result:** The map shows the car as **Present** or **Occupied**. The car record shows **Spot:** or **Zone:** at the top.
If the spot was **Reserved** before arrival, confirm **Currently Parked** shows **Present** after you assign the car. Use [Reserve a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/reserve-a-parking-spot) to clear or edit the hold if the plan changed.
**Make this a team habit**
Train porters and front desk staff: **car moves in the building → update Parking Spots before the end of the shift.** That one habit keeps the map, Schedule, and [parking report](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots/report) trustworthy.
## Start with the right guide
If this is a new workspace, start with [Set up parking spots and zones](/docs/parking-spots/set-up-parking-spots-and-zones). This creates the spot names and map layout your team will use later.
Use [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot) when a car arrives, moves to another spot, or needs its record corrected. If your team finishes drop-offs from [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule), use [Assign parking during a Schedule event](/docs/parking-spots/assign-parking-during-a-schedule-event) so parking is recorded when the visit ends.
Use [Find parking spots and available spaces](/docs/parking-spots/find-parking-spots-and-available-spaces) when the facility is busy and you need to search by spot name, car, customer, plate, or occupancy.
Use [Work with zones on the map](/docs/parking-spots/work-with-zones-on-the-map) when cars park in outdoor lots or overflow lanes without exact spot numbers.
Use [Reserve a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/reserve-a-parking-spot) when a customer has an approved spot but the vehicle is not physically parked there yet.
Use [Assign parking during a Schedule event](/docs/parking-spots/assign-parking-during-a-schedule-event) when your event types ask for a spot at the end of intake or drop-off workflows.
Use [Send a car to an outside vendor](/docs/parking-spots/send-a-car-to-an-outside-vendor) when a vehicle leaves for transport, detail, or repair off-site.
Use [Run a parking audit](/docs/parking-spots/run-a-parking-audit) when you need to confirm every space—not just the car that just arrived.
Use [Review the parking report](/docs/parking-spots/review-the-parking-report) when you need a date-based list of parking activity for operations, billing review, or an internal audit.
## Map view and table view
The Parking Spots page has two useful views:
**Map view** shows the floor plan. Use it when you want to understand the facility visually or click a spot on the map.
**Table view** shows rows and columns. Use it when you want to sort, scan many spots, reserve a spot from the row menu, or select multiple spots to delete.
Click **Parking Spots** in the left sidebar, or go to [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots).
Near the top of the page, click **Filters & Settings**.
Under the view options, click **Map** to see the floor plan, or **Table** to see a sortable list of every spot.
**Tip:** The **Table** / **Map** buttons live inside the **filters & settings** panel—not on the main toolbar. Open that panel first if you do not see them.
Click outside the panel or press **Escape** to return to the main page.
*Filters & Settings is where you switch between Map and Table view and control how much of the floor plan you see.*
*Table view helps you scan many spots at once, sort columns, and use row actions such as Reserve Spot.*
### Expected result
You can switch between a visual map and a detailed list without losing your place. Both views show the same parking information.
## Helpful terms
**Parking spot** means one exact place where a vehicle can be assigned, such as **A1** or **B4**.
**Zone** means a larger flexible area (for example **Outdoor Lot** or **Indoor Bay**) where a car can be assigned without a numbered spot. The map shows the zone as a colored background behind the spots.
**Lift spot** means a stacked parking space. One lift position can hold more than one vehicle, such as ground level and upper level. Levels can be labeled with numbers (**1, 2, 3**) or letters (**A, B, C**), depending on how your facility marks them.
**Reservation** means a spot is held for a customer or car, but the car may not physically be there yet.
**Present** (or **Occupied**) means the car is physically parked in that spot now.
**Available** means no car is parked there and no reservation is showing for that spot.
**Vendor** (on the car record) means the vehicle is at an outside company—not in a facility spot or zone.
## Lift spots, zones, and numbered spots
* **Numbered spot:** Use when staff need an exact location such as **A1** or **B4** for retrieval and customer communication. The map shows each spot as its own labeled box.
* **Lift spot:** Use when one physical lift holds two or more cars. Each level can show **Occupied** or **Reserved** separately. Set up lifts in [Set up parking spots and zones](/docs/parking-spots/set-up-parking-spots-and-zones).
* **Zone:** Use when cars park anywhere inside a larger area (outdoor lot, service lane, overflow). Assign the car to the zone from the car record or map when an exact spot number is not required. A car in **Outdoor Lot** may not have a numbered spot but still appears on the map inside the green zone area.
*Lift spots can hold more than one vehicle. Open **Lift 1** (or your lift name) and check each level before you assign or move a car.*
**Reserved vs Present on the same map**
On a busy day your map may show **Present** cars (physically parked), **Reserved** spots (held for someone arriving later), and **Available** open spaces at the same time. **Table** view is the fastest way to scan all three—see [Find parking spots and available spaces](/docs/parking-spots/find-parking-spots-and-available-spaces) and [Reserve a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/reserve-a-parking-spot).
## Keep the map trustworthy
The map is most useful when your staff updates it at the same time they move the car in the real facility.
* Update the record right after a car is parked or moved.
* Use clear spot names that match signs, floor labels, or your team's normal language.
* Use zones for flexible areas where cars move around often.
* Review the parking report regularly to catch stale or missing assignments.
## Recommended path for your first week
Follow [Set up parking spots and zones](/docs/parking-spots/set-up-parking-spots-and-zones) so spot names match your building.
Use [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot) each time a vehicle moves in the facility.
Share [Find parking spots and available spaces](/docs/parking-spots/find-parking-spots-and-available-spaces) so staff can search by plate, customer, or spot name.
Use [Reserve a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/reserve-a-parking-spot) when a space is promised but the car is not there yet.
Run [Run a parking audit](/docs/parking-spots/run-a-parking-audit) so the map matches the floor, then open [Review the parking report](/docs/parking-spots/review-the-parking-report) if you need history for billing.
## How parking connects to events and intake
Some workflows ask staff to park a car **while finishing an appointment**—for example after storage intake or a dealer drop-off.
In [Settings > Events & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events), open the event type (for example **Storage Intake**). Under **When this event completes**, choose **Ask where the car is going** and leave **Parking spot or zone** checked.
Read [Configure event types](/docs/events/configure-event-types) for the full setup path.
When staff complete the appointment on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule), the app can open **Assign Parking Location** and ask where the car should go.
After staff save, the car should appear on [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) in the spot or zone they chose.
**Expected result:** You do not need a second manual update if staff completed the parking step during the event.
**Pickup events can clear a spot with no prompt**
For events where the car simply leaves — **Vehicle Pickup**, say — set **When this event completes** to **Mark it as gone** instead. Staff fill in nothing: finishing the event frees the spot and the map shows it open again. This works however the event is completed, including dragging it to **Completed** on the calendar. Set it on the same event type screen in [Settings > Events & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events).
## Mark a spot out of service (inactive)
When a bay is blocked for repair, construction, or safety, do not just tell staff to avoid it—mark the spot **Inactive** in [Settings > Floor Plan](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/floor-plan) so it is clear in **Table** view.
* Open the spot in the floor plan editor and turn **Active** off (or use **Edit Selected Spots**).
* In **Table** view, the **Status** column shows **Inactive** for that row.
* Do not assign or reserve inactive spots until the bay is ready again.
## Related dashboard areas
Parking Spots works closely with other parts of the app:
* [Cars](/docs/cars/overview) — every vehicle should link to a customer and show a parking location on its record.
* [Contacts](/docs/contacts/overview) — customer names appear on reservations and the parking report.
* [Payments](/docs/payments/overview) — the parking report helps confirm how long a car was stored before billing.
* [Schedule](/docs/schedule/overview) — drop-offs and pickups on the calendar should match where cars are parked on the map.
## How-to guides in this section
* [Set up parking spots and zones](/docs/parking-spots/set-up-parking-spots-and-zones) — build the floor map admins use every day.
* [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot) — park or move a car in a numbered spot, zone, or lift.
* [Assign parking during a Schedule event](/docs/parking-spots/assign-parking-during-a-schedule-event) — pick a location when finishing a calendar workflow.
* [Find parking spots and available spaces](/docs/parking-spots/find-parking-spots-and-available-spaces) — search the map or table before you move a car.
* [Work with zones on the map](/docs/parking-spots/work-with-zones-on-the-map) — use flexible outdoor or overflow areas.
* [Reserve a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/reserve-a-parking-spot) — hold a space before the vehicle arrives.
* [Send a car to an outside vendor](/docs/parking-spots/send-a-car-to-an-outside-vendor) — track transport and off-site work.
* [Run a parking audit](/docs/parking-spots/run-a-parking-audit) — walk spots and zones and fix mismatches.
* [Review the parking report](/docs/parking-spots/review-the-parking-report) — history for billing and audits.
## What success looks like
When Parking Spots is working well for your facility:
* Staff can answer “where is this car?” in seconds using search or the map.
* Reserved spots are clearly marked before customers arrive, so two cars are never promised the same space.
* The map legend counts (**Available**, **Reserved**, **Occupied**) match what staff see on the floor.
* Off-site cars show **Vendor:** on the record—not a misleading spot on the map.
* The [parking report](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots/report) shows believable history because moves are recorded when they happen.
* A recent [parking audit](/docs/parking-spots/run-a-parking-audit) shows a high accuracy score, and overdue walks are easy to see from **Actions**.
## Troubleshooting
**I do not see Parking Spots in the sidebar**
Your account may not have permission to open parking features. Ask your facility owner or manager to confirm your role includes parking access in [Settings > Team](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/team), then sign out and back in.
**The map is empty but we have spots in settings**
An admin should open [Settings > Floor Plan](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/floor-plan), confirm spots appear on the canvas, and click **Save Floor Plan**. Then refresh [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots). New facilities start with [Set up parking spots and zones](/docs/parking-spots/set-up-parking-spots-and-zones).
**The map does not match the real building**
Staff must update the app when cars move. Train the team on [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot) and review the [parking report](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots/report) weekly to catch stale locations.
**Not sure which guide to open**
Use the **Quick links by job** table at the top of this page, or search the in-app docs from **Help** in the dashboard.
## What to do next
* New facility? Complete [Set up parking spots and zones](/docs/parking-spots/set-up-parking-spots-and-zones) before daily use.
* Car just arrived or moved? Follow [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot)—or [Assign parking during a Schedule event](/docs/parking-spots/assign-parking-during-a-schedule-event) if you finish the visit from the calendar workflow.
* Need to hold a space for a future arrival? Follow [Reserve a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/reserve-a-parking-spot).
* Finishing a drop-off on the calendar? Follow [Assign parking during a Schedule event](/docs/parking-spots/assign-parking-during-a-schedule-event).
* Car left for transport or detail? Follow [Send a car to an outside vendor](/docs/parking-spots/send-a-car-to-an-outside-vendor).
* Need to prove the map is true? Follow [Run a parking audit](/docs/parking-spots/run-a-parking-audit).
## Related topics
- [Run a parking audit](/docs/parking-spots/run-a-parking-audit.md)
- [Assign parking during a Schedule event](/docs/parking-spots/assign-parking-during-a-schedule-event.md)
- [Ask about schedule, parking, and records](/docs/ai-assistant/ask-about-schedule-parking-and-records.md)
- [Work with zones on the map](/docs/parking-spots/work-with-zones-on-the-map.md)
- [Customize your Overview dashboard](/docs/basics/customize-your-overview.md)
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