We have several options available to pay for your parking in car parks operated by the City.
PayStay app
Pay for parking by smart phone app, web, SMS or voice call
PayStay is a parking payment system that allows you to park and pay for parking on your personal device, without having to walk to a ticket machine, buy a ticket, return to your car and display the ticket on your car's dashboard.
To use PayStay for the first time, you'll need to register as a user by downloading the PayStay App, visiting the PayStay website or calling them.
Registering is a simple process and can be done at any time. Multiple vehicle registrations can be linked to the one account for convenience.
Call PayStay: 1300 322 111
About PayStay
Once registered there are several ways to use PayStay. The simplest way is through the PayStay App on your smartphone. It is as simple as:
- Open the PayStay App
- Select the vehicle registration
- Enter the parking zone number displayed on the parking sign. If the smartphone’s location services is enabled, the app will help you to identify where the car is parked
- Touch start
- When you return to your vehicle to leave, open the PayStay App and touch stop
In any of the on street or off street car parks operated by the City. PayStay availability is indicated on the green PayStay signs.
PayStay can't be used in the City's two Multi Storey Car Parks.
The PayStay session will continue until the maximum fee is reached for the zone your vehicle is parked in.
So if you park in a two hour zone you will pay for a maximum of two hours.
You can also select the option for the app to notify you if you drive off without ending your PayStay session.
The PayStay session will continue until the maximum fee is reached for the zone your vehicle is parked in.
So if you park in a two hour zone you will pay for a maximum of two hours.
You can register for and use PayStay via a phone call, SMS text message and via the PayStay website without using the App.
The PayStay system allows you to choose to receive a SMS text message reminder 15 minutes before your session is due to end.
You can also select the option for the app to notify you if you drive off without ending your PayStay session.
Parking fees
City centre parking fees:
On street
$2.20 per hour
Signed all day car parks
$2.20 per hour
$7.90 per day
Hargreaves Street Municipal Car Park (corner Hargreaves and Edward Street)
$2.20 per hour
$9.50 per day
All prices include GST.
Weekend parking is free, but please be aware that time limits still apply so please check the signs for the time period allowed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Pay for your parking at the smart meter
Smart parking meters allow you to go to the meter, enter your registration, pay and continue on your way without returning to your vehicle to place a ticket on your dashboard.
Once all of the ticket machines in the city centre have been replaced, the City will be able to provide motorists with real time parking availability information via maps in the PayStay app. This will help you to see where you are likely to find available parking instead of having to drive around searching.
- Enter your car's number plate into the meter using the keypad
- Press OK
- Select your payment type (card or coins)
- If you are using credit card use the more or less arrows to select how much time you would like to pay for
- Press OK
- Then tap or insert your card
- Choose whether you would like an e-receipt or not
- Enter your car's number plate into the meter using the keypad
- Press OK
- Select the payment type coin or card
- Insert the number of coins required for the amount of time you are paying for. The amount of time paid for will display on the meter
- Then press OK
- Choose whether you would like an e-receipt
You can type your registration number into any of the smart meters in the city centre and it will show you how much time you have remaining.
You can add time to your vehicle's stay at any of the smart meters in the city centre by entering your registration into the meter.
However this is limited to the time restriction on the signage where your vehicle is parked e.g. 2P means a two hour maximum stay. Staying for longer than the time limit on the sign may result in an infringement being issued to you.
The new smart meters supply an e-receipt if you choose the option to receive one.
- When you complete your payment using the smart meter, the meter will display a message asking if you want an eReceipt. Select “yes” if you would like a receipt
- A 4-digit receipt code will be shown on the screen
- Record this receipt number (Tip: record the number by taking a photo with your phone, or make a note in your phone)
- Visit the my-receipt.com website
- Enter the 4-digit receipt code
- Enter the vehicle licence plate number
- Choose to save or print the eReceipt
Register your details for eReceipts
You can choose to register your email address at my-receipt.com so that all future receipts and transaction details for the same vehicle registration number will be sent to your email address. You will need to use the 4-digit receipt code mentioned above to set this up.
Once registered, if using the same vehicle, you will only need to select yes when asked if you would like an e-receipt and the system will email you the eReceipt.
The smart meters don't give change. However in an effort to reduce the need to carry change, the City purchased machines which also have a credit card payment option and introduced PayStay.
Pay for your parking at the ticket machine
Parking ticket machines are still installed in several locations throughout Bendigo's city centre. While they are being phased out, you can still pay for parking at any of these ticket machines and place the ticket on your dashboard where they are installed.
Parking tickets can only be used in other locations where the fee for parking is the same. This means that all day tickets purchased in the City's all day car parks can't be used in time restricted areas.
Parking meters and ticket machines with faults
Please report any faults with parking meters/ticket machines by using the fault reporting information on the meter or ticket machine, or contact our Customer Service Centre on:
If a parking meter or ticket machine is broken you are entitled to park only for the amount of time indicated on the overhead parking sign. You may get an infringement if you stay for longer than the time restriction even if the parking meter is broken.
If a parking meter or ticket machine is broken you can still pay for parking using the PayStay app on your phone.
Vehicle registration numbers pattern
Victorian registration numbers follow one of two patterns unless they are custom or special vehicle registration plates.
The first pattern is number, letter, letter, number, letter, letter (i.e. 4FG6HK).
The second pattern is letter, letter, letter, number, number, number (i.e. ABC234).
Remembering these rules when paying for parking at one of the Smart Meters or via PayStay will help you avoid the common mistake of confusing zero with the letter O and the number one with the letter I.