DRIVERS have a new tool to help guard against parking tickets and tow fees – and it could keep your car safe from winter weather too.
SpotHero, an app that helps drivers find available parking spaces, becomes even more popular as winter weather rolls in, one of the company’s top execs said.
The SpotHero app is more popular in the winter as drivers try to avoid snow and ice covering their cars (stock image)[/caption]
SpotHero’s Chief Revenue Officer Matt Sullivan[/caption]
The tool connects drivers with available parking spots, cutting out the middleman.
It empowers car owners to reserve and pay for parking spots from their phones via SpotHero’s website or app.
SpotHero’s Chief Revenue Officer Matt Sullivan told The U.S. Sun. that as temperatures drop, more people are motivated to lock down their parking spots before having to leave the comfort of their cars.
“Winter weather creates unique parking challenges that make SpotHero more appealing to drivers,” Sullivan said.
“The cold temperatures and snow make finding convenient, covered parking much more critical.
“Drivers are more motivated to use our app to find indoor, sheltered parking that protects their vehicles from harsh winter conditions.”
SpotHero was created by CEO and co-founder Mark Lawrence after he was hit with thousands of dollars in parking fines while living in Chicago.
Aside from the notoriously chilly weather, Chicago drivers have another reason to use SpotHero to reserve their spots – an annual overnight parking ban with massive fines.
The law bans people from parking on certain streets between 3 am and 7 am from December 1 to April 1, regardless of whether it snows.
It’s meant to ensure roads are clear for snow plows.
If they’re ticketed, drivers are hit with a $60 fine in addition to a $150 tow fee and a $25 per-day storage charge.
That adds up to a minimum of $235 – and the cost increases daily.
“SpotHero helps drivers save money by avoiding the costly towing and parking tickets during Chicago’s winter overnight parking ban,” Sullivan said.
“By connecting drivers to thousands of parking spots away from the blue snowflake signs, our app helps users completely avoid these significant financial burdens.”
Sullivan said the app’s popularity grows in Chicago in the winter in part due to the parking ban, which leaves some drivers searching for their cars in impound lots outside the metropolis.
“Additionally, with Chicago’s overnight parking ban and the risk of expensive towing, people become more proactive about finding reliable parking solutions,” Sullivan said.
“The inconvenience of street parking during winter – dealing with snow, ice, and tight parking restrictions – drives more users to seek out pre-booked, guaranteed parking spots through our platform.”
What is SpotHero?
Established in 2011, SpotHero is now the top downloaded parking reservation app in America.
SpotHero allows drivers to find affordable parking by searching on its website or app.
Drivers can reserve hourly, monthly, airport, and event parking at thousands of lots and garages across North America through SpotHero.
Since 2011, the app has helped to park over 50 million cars, according to SpotHero’s website.
The company was created by co-founders Mark Lawrence and Larry Kiss after Lawrence faced $5,000 in parking tickets while living in Chicago.
SpotHero is available in over 300 cities in the US and Canada.
Source: SpotHero
Drivers can use SpotHero to search and compare parking prices in hundreds of US cities.
The app and website allow users to see prices for hourly, monthly, airport, and event parking in off-street locations.
“Our app provides real-time parking availability, allowing drivers to reserve indoor garage spots in advance, effectively eliminating the risk of towing during the overnight parking ban,” Sullivan said.
“By connecting drivers to thousands of safe, legal parking alternatives, we help them completely avoid the costly fines and stress of winter parking violations.”
Once you reserve your parking space on the app or website, SpotHero provides a QR code you use to access your spot.
SpotHero is available in most major North American cities, including New York City, Los Angeles, and a dozen Canadian cities.
SpotHero helps drivers avoid parking fines and getting stuck in winter weather (stock image)[/caption]
