> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Run a parking audit

> Walk your spots and zones, confirm each car is where the map says, and fix mismatches before they become “where is this car?” calls.

## What you will accomplish

You will walk the facility with the [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) **Audit** tool, confirm or correct each space, and finish with a simple accuracy score your team can trust.

When you finish:

* Each checked spot matches what is actually on the floor
* Wrong or missing cars are fixed in the same walk
* The [parking report](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots/report) and car records stay in sync
* Your team can see when the last walk happened and when the next one is due

## When to use a parking audit

Use an audit when you need to **prove the map is true**, not when you are only parking one arriving car.

Typical times:

* A weekly or monthly lot walk your manager asks for
* After a busy drop-off weekend when cars moved quickly
* Before billing, insurance, or a customer pickup argument
* When the map badge says **Never audited**, **Due today**, or **Overdue**

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Audit vs everyday parking**
>
> If one car just arrived, use [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot.md). An **audit** is a guided walk of **many** spots so nothing is skipped.

## Before you start

* You can open [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) with a staff login.
* Your map already has spots or zones. If it is empty, an admin should follow [Set up parking spots and zones](/docs/parking-spots/set-up-parking-spots-and-zones.md) first.
* Plan a quiet 10–20 minutes for a small building, or longer for a full lot. You can pause and tap **Resume audit** later.
* Walk with a phone or tablet if you can. The audit screen is built for standing at each space.

## Open Audit from Parking Spots

**1. Open Parking Spots**

Click **Parking Spots** in the left sidebar, or go to [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots).

**Expected result:** The page title says **Parking Spots**. You see the map or table, plus a blue **Actions** button near the top.

**2. Click Actions**

Click **Actions**.

**Expected result:** A menu opens with **Audit**, **Report**, and other tools.

**3. Click Audit**

Click **Audit**. The line under the name says **Walk spots and review history**.

**Why this matters:** **Report** is history you read later. **Audit** is the walk you do now.

**Expected result:** A side panel opens. The heading is about starting or reviewing a walkthrough.

![Parking Spots page with the Actions menu open showing Audit, Report, Optimizer, and Bulk actions](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/dnUeKLAcvu1F7KNy/images/parking-spots/parking-spots-actions-audit-sep30.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=dnUeKLAcvu1F7KNy\&q=85\&s=6058b3f729fa18b09857dd8b74b2470d)

*On [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots), click **Actions**, then **Audit**. That is how you start a walkthrough.*

> [!TIP]
>
> **Faster path**
>
> If you see a small clipboard badge on the occupancy bar (or a pill that says **Never audited** / **Due today**), you can click that badge instead of opening **Actions**. Both open the same panel.

## Start a new walk, or resume one

**1. Read how many items you will check**

The bottom button shows a count, such as **Start audit · 16 items**. That number is every numbered spot plus cars parked only in a zone.

**Why this matters:** If the count is **0**, this location has no saved spots yet. Stop and set up the map first.

**2. Start the walk**

Click **Start audit · … items**.

**Expected result:** A full-screen walkthrough opens. The top bar shows **Step 1 of …** (or **Zone cars** when you are in a flexible zone).

**3. If you already have a walk in progress**

Look for a card labeled **In progress**. Click **Resume audit** to pick up where you left off. Click **Start new audit** only if your manager wants a fresh walk (the old unfinished walk stays in **Recent audits** until you finish or leave it).

![Parking audit start panel showing No audits yet, a Never audited badge, Schedule settings link, and Start audit button](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/dnUeKLAcvu1F7KNy/images/parking-spots/parking-audit-start-sheet-sep30.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=dnUeKLAcvu1F7KNy\&q=85\&s=20c2b9c144d7de8e1d84b7ae92b3c64c)

*The start panel lists **Recent audits** and a big **Start audit** button. Use **Schedule settings** if you need overdue reminders.*

> [!TIP]
>
> **You can close the walk and come back**
>
> Tap the **X** (Close audit) if a customer arrives mid-walk. Open **Actions → Audit** later and click **Resume audit**. Your checked steps stay saved.

## Check one numbered spot

Each numbered space (for example **A1**) is its own step.

**1. Stand at the real spot**

Read the large spot name at the top (for example **A1**). Walk to that space in the building before you tap anything.

**Why this matters:** Confirming the wrong row is the most common audit mistake.

**2. Compare the card to the car in front of you**

The card shows the year, make, model, plate, and owner the system thinks is there. If the spot is empty in the app, the card says **Empty spot**.

**3. If it matches, tap Looks good**

Tap the large **Looks good** button.

**Expected result:** The step is marked checked. The progress bar at the top moves forward.

**4. If the car left the building, tap Left facility**

Use **Left facility** when the space is empty **and** the car is no longer on your property (customer took it, transport left, and so on).

**Expected result:** The system clears that parking assignment so the map no longer shows the car there.

**5. If the same car is in a different space, tap Parked elsewhere**

Use **Parked elsewhere**, then pick the correct spot or zone.

**Expected result:** The old space opens up. The car record shows the new **Spot:** or **Zone:**.

**6. If a different car is in this space, tap Different car**

Use **Different car**, then search by plate, owner, make, or model. Read the current location on each row before you confirm.

**Why this matters:** Two similar cars are easy to mix up. The list shows where each car is already assigned so you do not double-park a record.

**7. If the app says empty but a car is there, tap Park a car here**

Search for the vehicle and assign it to this spot.

**Expected result:** The card updates to that car. The map shows it as present.

![Parking audit walkthrough showing spot A1 with a vehicle photo, owner details, and Looks good button](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/dnUeKLAcvu1F7KNy/images/parking-spots/parking-audit-walkthrough-spot-sep30.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=dnUeKLAcvu1F7KNy\&q=85\&s=bd63fcf423a10e0ab1f477d112f95838)

*Stand at the real space, read the card, then tap **Looks good** when the car matches—or use the fix buttons when it does not.*

![Parking audit spot card showing Left facility, Parked elsewhere, and Different car actions](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/dnUeKLAcvu1F7KNy/images/parking-spots/parking-audit-walkthrough-fix-actions-sep30.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=dnUeKLAcvu1F7KNy\&q=85\&s=76ca94f09e67f46762c87ee736041a1c)

***Left facility**, **Parked elsewhere**, and **Different car** fix the map during the walk so you do not need a second trip to the car record.*

> [!WARNING]
>
> **Next is not the same as Looks good**
>
> **Next** skips this space without saying it is correct. Use **Next** only if you cannot see the space right now. Skipped spaces do not count as confirmed.

## Check a zone (outdoor lot or overflow)

When cars park anywhere in a colored area (for example **Outdoor Lot**), the walk shows **Zone cars** instead of one spot name.

**1. Open the zone step**

Use the zone chips near the top (for example **Outdoor Lot 1/4**) to jump to that area.

**2. Tap each car you can see**

Select the cars that are physically in the zone, then tap **Looks good (N)**.

**3. Add a missing car**

If a vehicle is in the lot but not on the list, tap **Add car** and search for it.

**4. Mark cars that left**

Select a car that is gone and tap **Left facility**, or **Parked elsewhere** if it moved to a numbered spot.

**5. Use Camera mode when you have QR stickers**

Turn on **Camera mode** to scan facility QR codes as you walk. Then review **Confirm all match** or **Apply changes**.

**Why this matters:** Scanning is faster in a large overflow lot. You can still add or remove cars by hand if a sticker is missing.

> [!TIP]
>
> **Empty zone floor**
>
> If the zone has no cars in the system, you may see **Confirm empty**. Tap it only after you walk the real lot and confirm nobody is parked there without a numbered spot.

## Add a photo (optional)

**1. Tap Photo**

On a step, tap **Photo** if your team wants a picture of the row or a damage note.

**2. Attach the picture**

Choose a photo from the device. It is stored with this audit.

**Expected result:** A small thumbnail appears. You can open it later from **Recent audits**.

## Finish the walk and read the score

**1. Walk until the summary appears**

After the last step (or when you open the summary), you see **Occupancy accuracy** as a percent.

**2. Read the numbers in plain English**

**95%** means almost every checked space matched. The line under the number says how many matched, how many you **corrected**, and how many you **skipped**.

**3. Tap Finish audit**

Tap **Finish audit**.

**Expected result:** The walkthrough closes. The start panel now lists this walk under **Recent audits** with a status such as **completed**.

![Parking audit summary showing occupancy accuracy percent, matched count, and Finish audit button](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/dnUeKLAcvu1F7KNy/images/parking-spots/parking-audit-summary-sep30.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=dnUeKLAcvu1F7KNy\&q=85\&s=fba81e8dc4fa6fd82bf62d9d01abf931)

*The summary is your score for this walk. Tap **Finish audit** so the due date and history update.*

![Parking audit start panel after a completed walk showing Recent audits with an accuracy percent](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/dnUeKLAcvu1F7KNy/images/parking-spots/parking-audit-recent-completed-sep30.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=dnUeKLAcvu1F7KNy\&q=85\&s=a16782afdcfb40e1d477cfdae61fd206)

***Recent audits** lets you reopen a finished walk to see what changed. Share a high score with your manager after a clean weekend.*

## Turn on due-date reminders (admin)

Staff can run an audit even when reminders are off. Reminders only **nudge** the team.

**1. Open Operations**

Go to [Settings > Operations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/operations) and scroll to **Parking audit schedule**.

**2. Choose On**

Click the **On** card. The short line says **Flag when the last audit is older than your interval**.

**3. Set Audit every (days)**

Type a number such as **7** (weekly) or **30** (monthly). Click outside the box to save.

**Why this matters:** [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) then shows **Due in 3d**, **Due today**, or **Overdue 2d** so a walk does not slip for months.

![Settings Operations page showing Parking audit schedule Off and On cards with Audit every days field](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/Vn2lI_9XNN-wFS50/images/parking-spots/settings-parking-audit-schedule-sep30.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Vn2lI_9XNN-wFS50\&q=85\&s=cd362ef80a78a4aec080bc9ddd912961)

*Owners turn on **Parking audit schedule** in [Settings > Operations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/operations). Staff still start the walk from **Actions → Audit**.*

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Off vs On**
>
> **Off** means no overdue flag. You can still run audits. **On** means the parking page reminds the team when the last finished walk is too old.

For the rest of Operations (bays, cars for sale), see [Configure operations settings](/docs/settings/configure-operations-settings.md).

## Common mistakes to avoid

* Do not tap **Looks good** from the office. Walk to the space first.
* Do not use **Left facility** when the car only moved to **B3**—use **Parked elsewhere**.
* Do not tap **Next** on every space to “finish faster.” Skipped spaces are not confirmed.
* Do not start a second new audit if one is already **In progress**—resume it.
* Do not treat **Optimizer** or **Bulk actions** in the **Actions** menu as the audit. Those are different tools.

## Troubleshooting

> [!WARNING]
>
> **I do not see Audit in the menu**
>
> Refresh [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots). Make sure you clicked **Actions** (not **Filters & settings**). If **Actions** is missing, ask an admin to confirm your role includes parking access in [Settings > Team](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/team).

> [!WARNING]
>
> **Start audit is disabled and says no zones or spots**
>
> This location has no saved floor plan. An admin should open [Settings > Floor Plan](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/floor-plan), add spots, and click **Save Floor Plan**. See [Set up parking spots and zones](/docs/parking-spots/set-up-parking-spots-and-zones.md).

> [!TIP]
>
> **I assigned the wrong car during the walk**
>
> Stay in the audit if you can: go back to that step and use **Different car** again. If you already finished, open the car in [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars) and follow [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot.md).

> [!TIP]
>
> **The accuracy looks low but the lot looks fine**
>
> Low scores often mean many **corrections** or **skips**. Open the finished walk in **Recent audits** and read the **Changes** list. Fix habits (update the map when cars move) so the next walk is cleaner.

## What success looks like

* Staff can answer “where is this car?” from the map after the walk.
* Corrections happen during the audit, not hours later from memory.
* **Recent audits** shows a completed walk with a believable accuracy percent.
* If reminders are on, the parking page shows a due date instead of **Never audited**.

## What to do next

* Fix everyday moves with [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot.md).
* Use zones for overflow with [Work with zones on the map](/docs/parking-spots/work-with-zones-on-the-map.md).
* Review history for billing with [Review the parking report](/docs/parking-spots/review-the-parking-report.md).
* Return to the [Parking Spots overview](/docs/parking-spots/overview.md).


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.