Uber has introduced Uber Parking, a new in-app feature enabling drivers to find, book and pay for parking spots in garages and lots ahead of time, integrating more than 13,000 facilities across over 400 cities through its recent acquisition of SpotHero.
The feature works by tapping a new Parking icon in the Uber app, which opens an interactive map with upfront prices and arrival times. Drivers can filter by self-park or valet, outdoor lot or garage, and whether staff are on-site. After entering vehicle details and licence plate, they can enter participating lots using a QR code on their phone or through automatic licence plate recognition. Reservations can be extended through the app, and cancelled for free up until the start time.
Uber Parking launches in 15 initial markets, including Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Denver, Miami, Nashville, Philadelphia, San Diego and Seattle. The feature will eventually roll out to SpotHero’s existing 400-city footprint.
Uber One subscribers can earn 10 percent back on parking reservations as account credits within 24 hours, which can be used on rides or Uber Eats deliveries. The company said its subscription service had grown to more than 55 million members across 47 countries as of late 2026.
The move also ties into Uber’s robotaxi ambitions. Uber works with more than 30 autonomous vehicle partners. In the long term, the company plans to use the parking facilities as holding areas for driverless robotaxis. Uber says stashing autonomous fleets off the street when demand dips helps keep empty cars from aimlessly circling city blocks, cutting down on traffic, emissions and vehicle wear.
The Verge said the move shows Uber wants to control physical roads and parking spaces, regardless of how people travel. It also said that by getting into parking, Uber is tacitly admitting its earlier mission to end personal car ownership and driver’s licenses did not succeed, while seeking to keep customers within its platform.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Uber Parking extends the company’s reach beyond ride-hailing and delivery into physical infrastructure, potentially increasing convenience for commuters.
- The feature is designed to keep users within Uber’s ecosystem, strengthening loyalty and competing with other parking and navigation apps.
- By linking parking with its robotaxi strategy, Uber signals a long-term vision of managing urban mobility and space, which could shape city traffic and parking policies.
Background
Uber, the ride-hailing and delivery company, has long pursued a mission to reduce personal car ownership. The launch of Uber Parking, based on its recent acquisition of SpotHero, marks a departure from that goal. Instead, the company is focusing on retaining users who drive their own cars, offering them parking reservations as a new service. The feature also ties into Uber’s investments in autonomous vehicles, where parking lots could become holding areas for robotaxis.
What to Watch
- Expansion timeline: Uber plans to roll out the feature to all 400 cities where SpotHero operates, but no specific dates have been given.
- Adoption of robotaxi integration: the number of autonomous vehicle partners and cities where parking facilities are used for robotaxis.
- Response from competitors, such as dedicated parking apps and city parking authorities.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedUber has launched in-app parking reservations in US cities.The Verge: “Uber announced the launch of Uber Parking, a native in-app reservation feature that allows drivers to find, book, and pay for garage and lot spaces ahead of time.”
- SupportedThe feature is powered by Uber’s SpotHero acquisition and is aimed at commuter loyalty and a robotaxi future.The Verge: “Powered by its SpotHero acquisition, Uber’s new parking reservation tool is a play for commuter loyalty — and a staging ground for its robotaxi future.”
- SupportedThe feature integrates more than 13,000 parking facilities across more than 400 cities through the SpotHero acquisition.The Verge: “The new feature is a result of Uber’s recent acquisition of SpotHero, integrating a network of over 13,000 facilities across more than 400 cities into the company’s platform.”
- SupportedDrivers can find, book and pay for garage and lot parking ahead of time.The Verge: “Uber announced the launch of Uber Parking, a native in-app reservation feature that allows drivers to find, book, and pay for garage and lot spaces ahead of time.”
- SupportedThe app shows an interactive map with upfront prices and arrival times, and allows filters for parking type and whether staff are on-site.The Verge: “You can filter spots by self-park or valet, outdoor lot or garage, and whether staff are on-site.”
- SupportedUsers enter vehicle details and a licence plate and can enter certain lots with a QR code or automatic licence-plate recognition.The Verge: “The app will prompt you to enter your vehicle details and license plate, after which can enter certain lots using a QR code on your phone or through an automatic license plate scan.”
- SupportedReservations can be extended in the app and cancelled free until they start.The Verge: “If your plans change, you can extend your time directly in the app or cancel for free right up until your reservation starts.”
- SupportedUber Parking is launching in the 15 listed initial US markets and will eventually roll out to SpotHero’s existing 400-city footprint.The Verge: “Uber Parking is launching in 15 initial markets, including Chicago, NYC, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Denver, Miami, Nashville, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Seattle — eventually rolling out to SpotHero’s existing 400-city footprint.”
- SupportedUber One subscribers can earn 10 percent back as account credits within 24 hours, usable on rides or Uber Eats deliveries.The Verge: “Uber One subscribers can earn 10 percent back on parking reservations as account credits within 24 hours. These credits can then be spent on rides or Uber Eats deliveries.”
- SupportedUber says Uber One has more than 55 million members across 47 countries as of late 2026.The Verge: “Uber says that its subscription service has grown to more than 55 million members across 47 countries as of late 2026.”
- SupportedUber works with more than 30 autonomous-vehicle partners and plans to use parking facilities as holding and waiting areas for driverless robotaxis.The Verge: “In the long run, these 13,000-plus parking facilities won’t just hold commuter cars — Uber plans to turn them into urban holding pens and waiting areas for driverless robotaxis.”
- SupportedThe Verge says the move reflects Uber’s desire to control physical roads and parking spaces and tacitly admits its earlier mission to end personal car ownership and driver’s licenses did not succeed.The Verge: “By getting into parking, Uber is also tacitly admitting that its earlier mission to end personal car ownership and driver’s licenses didn’t succeed.”
