Vancouver added a second mobile payment app to its on-street parking network in April 2026. HotSpot Parking joined PayByPhone as an official City of Vancouver payment platform — and within days of HotSpot’s arrival, the city also removed coins from every meter and pay station. If you park on Vancouver streets and haven’t updated your approach, both changes affect you.
This guide covers what changed, how HotSpot and PayByPhone compare in practice, and what the coin removal actually means for your daily routine.
What the City of Vancouver changed and why
The City of Vancouver awarded a multi-year contract to HotSpot Parking after a procurement process that began in late 2023. Vancouver City Council approved the contract unanimously. The stated reason: adding a second platform provides redundancy — if one app experiences an outage or technical problem, drivers have an immediate alternative. The city framed it as flexibility, but the reliability rationale is the more consequential one. A city with a single app vendor is exposed every time that vendor has a bad deployment.
HotSpot became available at all on-street pay parking locations starting April 2026. Signage was installed on meters to reflect the new option. Both apps are now active simultaneously across the full metered inventory.
Separately but simultaneously, the city ended coin acceptance at parking meters and pay stations effective April 27, 2026. Card and mobile payment are now the only methods. The coin removal wasn’t tied to the HotSpot addition — it had been planned as a modernization initiative — but the timing means drivers arriving in Vancouver for the first time after late April need to know that digging for quarters is no longer an option.
How HotSpot works at Vancouver meters
HotSpot uses the same 5-digit location code system as PayByPhone. The location code is posted on the meter sticker or pay station. You enter it in the HotSpot app, choose your duration, add a payment method, and confirm. The City of Vancouver’s parking enforcement system recognizes both apps — officers’ handhelds check the plate against both PayByPhone and HotSpot records simultaneously.
HotSpot does not charge an added convenience fee at Vancouver on-street locations. The city’s contract terms result in no per-session fee beyond the parking rate itself — the same structure that PayByPhone offers in Vancouver. This is notably more favorable than what drivers face in many US cities, where fees of $0.25–$0.45 per session are standard.
You can use HotSpot without creating an account via a guest payment option. For repeat parkers, creating an account stores your plate and payment method for faster sessions. SMS expiration reminders are available at no charge (carrier data rates may apply).
HotSpot is available on iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play).
How PayByPhone still works in Vancouver
PayByPhone’s role in Vancouver didn’t change when HotSpot launched. It remains a fully supported, City-authorized payment app for all on-street metered locations. The same 5-digit location codes work. The fee structure remains unchanged (no convenience fee in the Vancouver contract). PayByPhone accounts, saved plates, and session history carry over as before.
Drivers who’ve been using PayByPhone in Vancouver for years have no reason to switch unless they want to. The new development is simply that HotSpot is now equally valid at the same locations.
For background on PayByPhone as a company and platform, see our article on PayByPhone: 1999 to today.
Coins are gone — what that actually means
The April 27, 2026 end of coin acceptance is the change with the widest practical reach for casual visitors and out-of-town drivers. Vancouver meters now accept:
- Credit or debit card (tap-to-pay or chip/insert depending on the meter)
- PayByPhone (mobile app)
- HotSpot (mobile app)
That’s it. No coins. The practical implication: if you’re driving into Vancouver from out of province or from the US and expecting to feed parking meters with change from the road, that option is gone. Set up one of the two apps before your trip, or plan to use a card at the meter.
Both apps work without roaming issues for US visitors who have a standard Visa or Mastercard linked — the app charges your card in Canadian dollars. The rate displayed in the app or on the meter is in CAD.
Which app should you use?
For existing PayByPhone users: use PayByPhone. There’s no benefit to switching. Your account, plates, and history are all there.
For new users or occasional visitors: HotSpot’s guest payment option is genuinely useful if you don’t want to create an account for a single trip. PayByPhone also offers a guest flow, but HotSpot’s implementation is straightforward.
For drivers who park in multiple Canadian cities: HotSpot operates across several Canadian municipalities, as does PayByPhone. Check which app covers your other regular stops and consolidate on that one.
Neither app charges a convenience fee in Vancouver’s on-street system, so the fee structure isn’t a differentiator here the way it is in US cities.
What stays the same
Adding HotSpot and removing coins didn’t change anything else about Vancouver’s parking rules. Time limits, posted rates, permit zones, and enforcement schedules all operate exactly as before. The city’s hourly rates are visible on meter stickers and on the pay station screens; the apps show the current rate for the zone when you enter the location code.
Maximum session lengths vary by block and zone, the same as they did before. Some downtown blocks have 1-2 hour limits; outer residential commercial zones can run longer. The app and the meter sign both show the applicable limit for your specific location.
Practical setup checklist
Before parking in Vancouver:
- Download either HotSpot or PayByPhone (or both for redundancy — that’s literally what the city is offering you now).
- Create an account and save your plate and a payment card — or be ready to use the guest flow with your card on hand.
- Note that payment is in CAD. US cards work without issue; you’ll pay in Canadian dollars at the current exchange rate.
- Read the time limit posted on the meter or pay station before starting your session. The app lets you set an expiration reminder so you don’t have to watch a clock.
- Coins aren’t accepted anywhere on Vancouver’s on-street network as of April 27, 2026. Don’t plan around them.
FAQ
Can I use both HotSpot and PayByPhone interchangeably at the same meter?
Yes. Both are recognized by the City of Vancouver’s enforcement system. The officer’s handheld queries both databases when checking your plate. You can use whichever app you prefer at any given location — you don’t need to use the same app every time at the same meter.
Does HotSpot charge a convenience fee in Vancouver?
No. The City of Vancouver contract structure means no per-session convenience fee for on-street parking with either HotSpot or PayByPhone in Vancouver.
Do I need to create an account to use HotSpot?
No. HotSpot offers a guest payment option for drivers who don’t want to create an account. You’ll need a payment card. Creating an account saves your plate and card for faster future sessions.
What if the HotSpot app is down when I need to park?
Use PayByPhone. That’s the redundancy rationale the city cited for adding a second app. If one platform has an outage, the other is available. Card payment at the meter is also available.
What happened to coin-operated meters?
Coin acceptance ended at all Vancouver meters and pay stations on April 27, 2026. Card (tap or chip) and mobile app (HotSpot or PayByPhone) are now the only payment methods.
Does the same 5-digit location code work in both apps?
Yes. Both apps use the City of Vancouver’s 5-digit location code system. The code is on the meter sticker or pay station. Enter the same code in either app.
