How do I scan my card for a free parking ticket?
Follow these steps:
- When visiting a National Trust pay-and-display car park, please take your membership card to the machine.
- As many of the machines are solar powered, you may need to press any button to 'wake' the machine up.
- Press the yellow highlighted button (indicated as the Member button on screen) and hold the QR code of your membership card flat against the scanning window on the left.
- The machine should beep to register the scan; your ticket will be with you in a couple of seconds.
- Please place the ticket in your car windscreen.
Tip: Having your card to hand when pressing the member button will prevent the machine timing out whilst you try to locate the card. If the machine does time out, just start again by pressing any button to 'wake' the machine.
I recently joined online, how do I get free parking?
You'll receive an email with your temporary membership card attached within 15 minutes of joining online. Instructions on how to get free parking are included.
Some temporary membership cards will include a barcode; this works in the same way as the barcode on your membership card. Scan the barcode at our pay-and-display machines and then place the ticket in your windscreen. You will need to start using your membership card when it arrives.
Other temporary membership cards will not include a barcode; in which case, a temporary parking pass will be included with your temporary membership card – display this in your vehicle at our car parks until your membership card arrives.
I recently joined at a National Trust place, how do I get free parking?
You'll be provided with a temporary parking pass that can be displayed on the dashboard of your car to enable you to park free. You will need to start using your membership card when it arrives.
What if the pay-and-display machine isn’t working?
Staff are often on hand in our car parks to help visitors. If the car park machine isn't working or is out of order, please see if there is someone available to help you. If not, where possible please leave a note in your windscreen with your arrival time and member number which can be found on your card (if you are a member).
Will members be fined if they do not have their membership cards?
No. If you do not have your card to scan for free parking you may receive a compliance notice if you do not pay for a ticket - this will not incur a fine.
Getting to and from the machine is difficult for me. What are you doing to help?
If you have mobility issues and you are a blue badge holder, remember that you're able to park for free in our pay-and-display car parks as long as you display your badge – there is no need to scan.
Though if you are with someone who can scan on your behalf, remember that the property will benefit from your visit. We are in the process of exploring what more we can do to support accessibility at our car parks.
Will the car stickers be phased out?
The National Trust has produced a car 'badge' of some sort for 70 years and we know that many members love displaying their car sticker. We’ve made some changes so that it’s more environmentally friendly. We’ve removed the date so that it can be used for several years and changed the material so that it’s completely recyclable, therefore members won't receive a new one each year. If you're a new member, you'll find your car sticker in your welcome pack, though this is no longer an indicator of free parking, so remember to scan your card.
Can I request a second car sticker?
A second car sticker can be requested from our Supporter Services Centre or via My National Trust. Please note, however, that the car sticker is no longer an indicator of free parking and a membership card will need to be scanned for free parking.
My car sticker no longer sticks, what shall I do?
Last year we changed the material of our car stickers so both the sticker and the backing are fully recyclable. You no longer need to display a sticker to get free parking at our car parks, you just need to scan your member card at our pay-and-display machines. However if you'd still like to show your support please get in touch with our Supporter Services team on 0344 800 1895 to order a replacement.
I’ve noticed some cars have different car stickers to mine - why is this?
Other groups within the National Trust are eligible for free parking such as staff, volunteers and tenants. We are currently working on a solution for scannable free parking for these groups but are relying on car stickers to indicate free parking for them in the meantime.
I’m a life member and I don’t have a scannable card. How do I access free parking?
All life membership cards should now be scannable at our pay-to-enter properties and at our pay-and-display car parks. During 2017 we contacted all life members who we have a valid email or postal address for and replaced the old style cards with a new scannable version. If you have not received a new card it may be that we don't have a valid contact address for you. In this case, please contact our membership department (see how below).
Our properties have been instructed to clip the corners of old style life membership cards on presentation (akin to a passport clipped corner) and to advise members to request new life cards from our Supporter Services Centre. In this instance, a temporary life membership form can be issued to provide free entry and free parking.
What personal details are held in the car park machine and can I be identified?
The data held by each car park pay-and-display machine to verify the membership card is a single unique encrypted code per member. No personal information on any supporter is held in the car park machines and no member can be identified from their scan except by the National Trust.
How will the data that is gathered from membership scanning be used?
The data we gather from scanning your membership card will be used in a variety of different ways. It will be used to allocate National Trust funds accurately to the places you visit to help them maintain facilities and footpaths, as well as enable us to manage our car parks more effectively.
We use summary data for analysis to understand which types of members are visiting which sites and when, to ensure we can provide the right facilities and information, as well as gain some understanding of average drive times people are making to our places.
And, as with membership card scans at properties, if you have given us permission, we’ll use the data collected to offer you a more personalised experience of the National Trust through more tailored communications. It will also make us more efficient so even more of your money goes towards caring for the places you enjoy and, in some instances, it will also help us plan how to get the on-site offer right for you.
For more information see our privacy policy.
