8/9/25

The Ultimate Guide to UCLA Parking: A Bruin's Survival Manual

Alright, let's talk about something that causes more anxiety for UCLA students than a final in Royce Hall: parking. Seriously, finding a place to stash your car in or around Westwood can feel like a competitive sport, & the rules are ANYTHING but simple. If you're a Bruin with a car, or thinking about bringing one to campus, you've probably already felt that little knot of dread in your stomach. But don't worry, I'm here to break it all down for you. This is your survival guide to navigating the wild world of UCLA parking.

The On-Campus Hunger Games: Applying for a Permit

First things first, let's tackle the beast: official on-campus parking. UCLA Transportation runs the show, & they've moved to a system called the Bruin ePermit Portal. Gone are the days of physical permits you hang from your mirror; now, your license plate is your permit.
Here's the thing you need to understand right away: parking spots are INCREDIBLY limited. UCLA has around 22,000 spots for a population of tens of thousands of students, faculty, & staff. More than 20,000 people drive to campus regularly, so you can do the math. It's not a guarantee you'll get one, even if you apply.

Types of Student Permits & The Pecking Order

UCLA has different classifications for students, & this determines how you apply & your priority.
  • Commuter Students: If you live in an off-campus apartment, this is you. You'll go through the main application process each quarter (except summer).
  • Resident Hall Students ("On the Hill"): Getting a permit if you live in the dorms is tough. You generally have to apply for an exemption & prove you have a real, pressing need for a car (like a serious medical condition or a crucial off-campus job).
  • University Apartment Tenants: If you live in university-owned apartments like Gayley Heights or Laurel, you also have to go through an exemption process. However, Weyburn Terrace residents have their own separate process & are generally not eligible for other campus permits.
  • Graduate Students: The news is a bit better for you. Professional school grad students can often purchase a permit directly without the whole application lottery. Medical students have their own specific process through the DGSOM website.
  • Carpool Permits: This is UCLA's golden ticket. If you team up with two or more Bruins, you get priority for permits & a discounted rate. It's one of the best ways to increase your chances & save some cash.
The priority system generally goes like this: graduate students, Regents Scholars, upperclassmen, & then underclassmen. So, if you're a first-year, your odds are, honestly, not great.

The Cost of Convenience (or lack thereof)

If you're lucky enough to snag a permit, it's gonna cost you. As of early 2025, you can expect to pay around $312 per quarter for a commuter permit & almost $400 per quarter if you live in university housing. That's over $1,200 a year just for the privilege of hunting for a spot in a designated structure. And don't even think about missing a deadline; UCLA is famously strict, & if you miss the application or payment window, you forfeit your spot. No exceptions.
For those who don't have a permit, daily parking is an option, but it adds up FAST. Rates can be up to $17 for a full day. Some students have reported spending over $700 in a single quarter just on daily parking, which is just not sustainable for most.

The Westwood Wild West: Off-Campus & Street Parking

So, you didn't get a permit. Welcome to the club. Now you're venturing into the wild world of Westwood parking. It's a mix of expensive private garages & a confusing maze of street signs.

The Private Garage Gamble

Westwood Village & the surrounding area are dotted with private & public parking garages. This is a viable, albeit pricey, alternative. Monthly rates can be all over the place, but to give you an idea:
  • Expect to pay anywhere from $200 to over $400 per month for an unreserved spot in a garage. Spots in places like the Westwood Center Garage or One Westwood can run you well over $200 or even $300 a month.
  • Some lots a bit further away might offer slightly cheaper rates, maybe in the $150-$250 range, but then you have to factor in a longer walk or a bus ride to campus.
This is where thinking outside the box can save you. While you're looking at these big commercial garages, don't forget about the peer-to-peer economy. There are tons of homeowners & apartment dwellers in Westwood & West LA who have an empty driveway or a garage spot they're not using. Platforms like Prked are designed to connect these homeowners with drivers like you who need a place to park. It's a pretty cool way to find a secure, convenient spot that's often way more affordable than a traditional monthly garage. You're basically renting a private spot from a local, which can be a total game-changer.

Street Parking: A Masterclass in Reading Comprehension

Ah, street parking. The dream of a free spot right next to campus. The reality? It's tough, & it requires military-level planning.
  • Metered Parking: In the heart of Westwood Village, you'll find plenty of meters. The catch? Most have a strict 2-hour maximum. And yes, it's heavily enforced. Parking enforcement in Westwood is no joke; they will chalk your tires & ticket you if you just feed the meter. You have to physically move your car.
  • Curb Colors are Key: Los Angeles street parking is a rainbow of rules.
    • Red: Never, ever park here. Just don't.
    • White: Passenger loading/unloading only.
    • Yellow: Commercial loading during the day (usually 7 am to 6 pm, Mon-Sat), but they often become free parking at night. READ THE SIGN.
    • Green: Short-term parking, usually 15 or 30 minutes.
  • Street Cleaning: This is the silent killer of many a student's budget. The residential streets north of Wilshire & around the university apartments have signs with street cleaning times (e.g., "No Parking, Fridays 8 am - 11 am"). If you forget to move your car, you're getting a ticket. Period.
  • The "Free" Zones: Some students have figured out a system, like parking on Veteran Avenue, where one side has street cleaning on Thursday & the other on Friday. This requires moving your car frequently & a lot of planning, which can add a ton of stress to your week.
Honestly, relying on street parking is a constant battle. One student on Reddit described spending about an hour each week plus a ton of stress just to manage their free street parking situation.

A Smarter Way: Ditching the Car (Mostly)

Okay, so on-campus parking is a lottery, & off-campus parking is expensive or a hassle. So what's the REAL solution? UCLA has been pushing this for years, & they're right: embracing alternative & sustainable transportation.
UCLA has one of the most comprehensive sustainable transportation programs in the country, & as a student, you have access to some amazing perks.
  • Public Transit (The Bruin U-Pass): This is HUGE. UCLA students get heavily subsidized passes for multiple transit agencies, including the Big Blue Bus & LA Metro. You can get pretty much anywhere you need to go for a fraction of the cost of a parking permit. A student who used to drive from Inglewood said he switched to public transit because the hassle of finding parking just wasn't worth it.
  • Biking: The campus is more bike-friendly than ever, with over 3,500 bike parking spaces & dedicated bike lanes. UCLA even has programs like "Earn-A-Bike," where you can earn a free bike for committing to a car-free commute.
  • Campus Shuttles (BruinBus): The BruinBus system is free for students & connects the main campus with areas like the Hill & Westwood. It's perfect for getting around during the day without having to move your car.
  • Carpooling: I mentioned it before, but it's worth repeating. If you absolutely need a car, find some friends to carpool with. You get a discounted permit, priority access, & you're helping ease congestion.

Special Case: The Dreaded Event Parking

Whether it's a basketball game at Pauley Pavilion or a concert at Royce Hall, event parking is a whole other level of chaos. Rates for events are typically $17-$20, but can go up to $30 for premium spots. The best advice here is to plan ahead. For many major events, you can pre-purchase parking online through LAZ Parking or the Bruin ePermit portal. This can save you a world of stress on the day of the event.

The Future of UCLA Parking

This whole situation is constantly evolving. There's a growing discussion, even among UCLA professors, about shifting away from the quarterly permit system entirely & moving to a daily-only payment model, similar to what UC Davis has done. The idea is that if you have to consciously pay every single day, you're more likely to consider other options, which could reduce traffic & pollution. In summer 2025, a new UCLA Center for Parking Policy is even launching to help cities rethink these outdated parking models.
So, what's the takeaway from all this? Having a car at UCLA is possible, but it's rarely easy or cheap. You have to be strategic, patient, & willing to explore all your options.
Hope this was helpful! The parking struggle is real, but with a little inside knowledge, you can definitely make it work. Let me know what you think
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