Grand Rapids, say hello to convenient parking with the Motu app! No more digging for coins. You can finally enjoy easy parking.
Start using the Motu app today – it's simple! Park where you see Motu app signs and decals, pay for your parking session from your phone and be on your way.
Video Instructions
Written Instructions
- Download the Motu app from the Apple App Store, Google Play store, or use the web app
- Create an account with your mobile number.
- Now you can pay for your parking session from your phone.
- Park where you see Motu app signs and decals.
- You will always enter your zone number. If you are in a 'pay by space zone,' you'll enter the space number. If you are in a 'pay by plate zone,' you'll only enter the zone number.
- Select your approximate length of stay.
- Don't worry. You can stop or extend your parking session if you leave earlier or get out later than you thought.
- Relax! Welcome to parking as it should be.
Pay on the go!
- Pay quickly and securely with your smartphone
- Forget refilling the meter in the cold or rain
You don't need to rush.
- Get alerts when your parking session is about to end
- Stop worrying about how much time is left on the meter
- Add time to your parking session directly from your phone
- Stop a parking session if you leave earlier than expected
There are no surprise charges.
- Receive email receipts at the end of your parking session
- Manage your parking history through the mobile app, making tracking expenses easy
Pay in 1 Minute Increments
You'll select the amount of time you would like to park in 1-minute increments. You can extend or stop your session if you need to. Your parking session ends when the amount of time you selected has finished unless you extend your time.
Enforcing Parking Meters
Your Motu payment will not appear on the meter. Not to worry, parking enforcement staff see your mobile payment on their handheld device. Make sure you enter your license plate number correctly. The officers will use your license plate number and zone number to view your payment on their handheld device. When you start a parking session in a zone that requires a space number, they'll use your space number too.
Zone Number
You need a zone number to start your parking session. Enforcement staff uses the zone number to verify you paid for parking in the location you parked. Find the zone number on Motu signage near your parking space and decals on the pay stations and meters. In Grand Rapids, zone numbers range from 50200 to 70299.
Extending Time
You can extend time in 1-minute increments.
License Plate Number and Parking Multiple Cars
Your parking session connects to the license plate number you have stored. You can have multiple license plates and even add temporary license plates: login and select 'Vehicles' from the side menu. The app will automatically save recent license plate numbers you've used before.
You can start additional parking sessions with different license plate numbers by clicking 'New Session' in the side menu and following the prompts to begin a new session.
Using the 'Wallet' on Motu
The Motu wallet allows you to pre-load funds into your Motu account. We offer the Wallet so that people who don't have a credit or debit card can still have the convenience of using the Motu app. You can load it with a card or with cash.
To fund your Wallet with a card, you must follow the usual steps to initiate a parking session. You'll have the option to select 'Wallet' as a method of payment. At this point, you may buy the Wallet offer. Offers may vary, but the Standard Wallet offer is $20.
To fund your Wallet with cash, visit our office at 50 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. We're open Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM until 5:00 PM. We'll walk you through adding funds to your Wallet. Make sure to bring at least $20 the first time you come in. At any point, you can add funds to this Wallet.
How to Reload the Wallet
Once a Wallet is purchased, the offer will appear under the Wallets sidebar menu. At any time, you can add funds to this Wallet using a card on file. You may select a reload amount of any $5 increment, between $10 and $50. The Wallet has no minimum or maximum amount of funds.
To reload your Wallet with cash, visit the Grand Rapids Parking office at 50 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. The office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM until 5:00 PM. The staff will walk you through adding additional funds to your Wallet. Make sure to bring at least $10.
How to Request a Refund for Unused Funds
You may request a refund of any unexpired wallet funds by contacting the Mobile GR Department at mobilegr@grcity.us or 616-456-3290.
Do wallet funds expire?
If your account is inactive for more than one calendar year (January—December), your Wallet funds will expire. You have three months from the time your Wallet expires to request a refund of your unused funds. After April 1, expired Wallets with a balance of less than $25 are not eligible for a refund.
Expired Wallets with a value of $25 or more transfer to the Michigan Department of Treasury Unclaimed Property Division, per state law. To claim expired Wallet funds held by the State of Michigan, please visit unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov. You will need to provide your name and Motu ID number to submit a claim.
Accepted Credit Cards
Grand Rapids accepts all major credit card types. We do not accept pre-tax benefit cards as forms of payment for parking.
Parking History
Open the app or the website to manage your parking history. Click ‘Parker History’ in the My Account section of the app. You can view previous parking sessions and access receipts. The app only shows recent history. For a full parking history, visit motu.ppprk.com.
Payment Options
Open the app or the website to manage your payments. Login and select ‘Payment’ from the side menu. Select ‘Add Card.’ Enter your new card information and check the ‘Save Payment Info’ if you wish to save this card for future use. To delete a card, select ‘Payment’ from the side menu and choose the card you wish to remove, then ‘Delete Card.’ Payment options cannot be edited once they are entered.
Businesses and individuals can set up validation accounts for Motu. You can use validations to pay for customer or employee parking. Download these instructions to learn how: Motu Validation Account Instructions(PDF, 1MB).
Reset Your PIN
To change your PIN, you’ll login to the app or website and select the ‘Reset Pin’ button on the first page. It will then ask you for your current card information on your account for security reasons. If you don’t know your card information, please send an email to support@passportinc.com.
Update Your Email Address
To change your email address, use the app or website . Login and select ‘Profile’ from the side menu. Update your email.
Deactivate your Account
To deactivate your account, visit motu.ppprk.com. Login and select ‘Profile’ and then ‘Deactivate Account.’
Parking Discrepancies & Technical Issues
If you are having issues with your parking session and need questions answered, you can find FAQs within the Motu App by going to My Account > Support > FAQ. From there, you can review common questions, and if you would like to contact the Passport support team, you can click Contact Us to open the chat feature.
If you do not have a smartphone or do not want to use the app, you can also pay by calling Motu at 616-432-2478 and follow the instructions.
Check out the MOTU FAQs. Call the City of Grand Rapids if you have additional questions about parking in Grand Rapids or experience issues with one of our meters or pay stations.
Call Center Information
Call 311 or 616-456-3000
Open from 8:00am - 5:00pm, Monday - Friday