Transportation and Parking Options for Undergraduate Students
This information applies to commuter undergraduate students who do not live on campus and resident students.
Choose Greener Options
Whether you take transit, share the ride, cycle, skate, scoot or walk to campus, you’ll save money and reduce carbon emissions. You can also earn incentives and have the reassurance of emergency ride home support through the Triton Commuter Club.
Bus, Trolley and Train
UC San Diego has robust public transit service and the riton U-Pass program provides students unlimited rides on all regional MTS and NCTD mass transit bus and trolley/light rail routes during academic quarters. All current undergraduate and graduate students who have paid quarterly registration fees are eligible for U-Pass. UC San Diego Extension students and visiting scholars are not eligible for the program.
Carpools and Vanpools
Carpools and vanpools offer an opportunity to share commute costs such as gas, parking and, with vanpools, vehicle rental and insurance. You’ll also receive preferred parking on campus that lets you reach your final destination faster. Carpools and vanpools can include faculty, staff and students.
Ride and Walk
Those who walk, bike, skate and scoot can qualify for 85-100% savings on a high-quality MIPS helmet through our through our Helmet Access Program or receive merchant discounts through our Rider Rewards program. University of California affiliates can access e-bike discounts.
Drive and Park
Commuter undergraduate students can purchase daily S permits through ParkMobile only. D and M permits are also available through ParkMobile. View ParkMobile zone codes for commuter students.
Anyone parking a motorcycle, motorized scooter or motorized bike (motorbike) is eligible to purchase a M (Motorcycle) permit. Valid M permits allow parking in motorcycle spaces only.
If driving alone is your best option, we encourage you to park once and avoid using your personal automobile to travel around campus during the day. Learn more about your options for getting around campus.
Permit Pricing
Learn more about parking permit options and pricing.
Valid S permits allow commuter students to park in these spaces:
- S: 24 hours daily
- D: 24 hours daily
- B: 4 p.m. – 7:30 a.m. weekdays and all day on weekends
- A: 5 p.m. – 7:30 a.m. weekdays and all day on weekends; not valid where posted “A permit required 24 hours a day/7 days a week.”
Valid SR permits allow resident students to park in these spaces:
- SR: 24 hours daily
- S: 24 hours daily
- D: 24 hours daily
- B: 4 p.m. – 7:30 a.m. weekdays and all day on weekends
- A: 5 p.m. – 7:30 a.m. weekdays and all day on weekends; not valid where posted “A permit required 24 hours a day/7 days a week.”
Note: See lots that require an access sticker.
Disability and Medical Accommodations
If you have a disability or medical condition that requires you to have access to a personal vehicle while at UC San Diego, you can apply for a Disabled Person parking placard or license plate from your home state or the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Regardless of your academic standing, if you have a Disabled Person placard or license plate, you are permitted to park in accessible spaces on campus without displaying a UC San Diego parking permit.
If you are not eligible for a Disabled Person placard or license plate and you need access to a personal vehicle at UC San Diego, register with the Office for Students with Disabilities. They can work with you to determine reasonable accommodations to help you access university programs and services, including evaluating your need for a vehicle on campus.
Student Resident and Lowerclassmen Commuter Parking
As a general rule, parking is not available for undergraduate campus residents. If you have extenuating circumstances that require you to have a vehicle, you may apply for an exception.
Lower division (first and second year undergraduate) commuters are only eligible to purchase daily D permits and are strongly encouraged to take transit. The Metropolitan Transit System offers a number of off-campus park and ride options with free parking for those who do not live within walking distance of a transit line.
Apply for an Exception
To apply for an exception to purchase a parking permit, complete the online exception request form. As each rationale must be substantiated, please include all relevant supporting documentation to support your application. A few examples appear below. Please be sure to submit the most up-to-date documentation available. If documentation is more than one year old, it may not be accepted as valid proof. Medical exceptions should be sought through the Office for Students with Disabilities. Please do not submit medical information to Parking and Commuter Services.
Examples (Note that this is not a complete list of accepted documentation.):
- Proof of employment for off-campus work commitments at a location that is not served by transit during your commute hours. (Looking for jobs is not a valid reason.)
- Utility bill establishing a local address from which public transit is not feasible.
- Proof of UC San Diego Athletic commitment via roster or Athletics webpage for commuters or residents.
A committee will evaluate justifications, supporting documents, level of hardship and space availability when reviewing exception requests and will make determinations on a case-by-case basis. Campus residents should not bring a car to campus unless they have already received a waiver; if you will need a waiver, apply as soon as possible. Commuters must submit applications by the end of week one of each quarter. Late exception requests will be reviewed for the following quarter.
Parking and Commuter Services will send an email response to all students who submit an exception request.
- If your request is approved, you will receive instruction on how to purchase a parking permit. This approval will be valid for the entire current academic year.
- If your request is denied, you may apply again for the next quarter if your situation changes. There is no appeal process.