🚗 Student Parking in Nottingham: A Complete Guide

Nottingham’s a brilliant city to study in — but if you’re bringing a car, you’ll want to understand the parking rules before turning up with a boot full of belongings. Between Nottingham City Council permits, university restrictions, and permit-only zones, student parking can get confusing quickly.

Whether you’re at the University of Nottingham or Nottingham Trent University, this guide explains everything you need to know about student parking in Nottingham for 2025.

🎓 Can Students Have a Car in Nottingham?

Yes — students can bring a car to Nottingham, but depending on where you live, you might face some limitations.

Here’s what you need to know based on your accommodation:

🏢 University Halls (UoN & NTU)

If you’re living in University of Nottingham halls, the general rule is:

❌ No parking for students in halls — unless you have exceptional circumstances.

Applications for exemptions are limited and often require medical or personal need justification. The same applies for Nottingham Trent University halls — parking isn’t included unless explicitly stated.

🔗 University of Nottingham – Parking Info

🔗 Nottingham Trent University – Parking Info

🏡 Private Student Housing

If you’re living in a student house in areas like Lenton, Radford, Dunkirk, or The Arboretum, you may be eligible for a residential parking permit — but only if your address is within a Nottingham City Council permit zone.

✅ Apply here:

👉 Nottingham City Council Parking Permits

🔍 Be aware:

Most student-heavy areas do require a permit
Each household is usually limited to 1 or 2 permits
You’ll need proof of tenancy and vehicle ownership

💰 Cost: Around £35–£70 per year, depending on vehicle emissions and zone.

🧾 Visitor Permits

Have friends or family visiting? You can request visitor day permits from the council (if your property qualifies). These usually allow a car to park for 1 day in the resident zone.

Check eligibility and order visitor permits here:

👉 Visitor Permits – Nottingham City Council

🚫 Where You Can’t Park

Parking enforcement is taken seriously in Nottingham — especially in Lenton and The Arboretum. Here’s where not to risk it:

On single or double yellow lines
Across dropped kerbs or on verges
In front of driveways
In residential bays without a permit (even briefly)

Fines typically range from £50–£100, and in some cases, vehicles can be clamped or towed.

🏠 Parking with Your Student House

Some student properties in Nottingham include off-street parking, particularly in areas slightly further from the city centre, like:

Beeston
Dunkirk
Mapperley
Carlton

At Student Housing, we offer a number of properties with driveways, garages, or private car parks, especially ideal for groups who need a car.

✅ Explore properties with parking:

👉 Student Accommodation with Parking – Nottingham