> ## 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.

# Work with zones on the map

> Click a zone on the parking map to see capacity, add cars, or move vehicles inside flexible parking areas.

## What you will accomplish

You will use a **zone** on the [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) map to see how many cars are inside a flexible area, add a vehicle to that area, or move a car out—without picking an exact numbered spot like **A1** or **B4**.

When you finish, your team can answer questions like “Is there still room in the outdoor lot?” and “Which cars are in overflow right now?” without walking the building first.

## When to use a zone (and when to use a numbered spot)

* **Use a numbered spot** when staff need an exact location for retrieval, customer updates, or billing tied to a specific space.
* **Use a zone** when cars can park anywhere inside a larger area and an exact box number is not required.
* **Use both on the same map** — numbered spots inside a zone show exact spaces; the colored zone background shows the flexible overflow area around them.

> [!TIP]
>
> **Why zones matter**
>
> Outdoor lots and overflow lanes change often. A zone lets your team record “this car is in the outdoor lot” without arguing about which row it sits in today. Numbered spots are better when every space has a sign your staff relies on.

## Before you start

* Your facility map should already include at least one zone. If not, an admin can add zones in [Set up parking spots and zones](/docs/parking-spots/set-up-parking-spots-and-zones.md).
* The car should exist in [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars) before you add it to a zone.
* Know whether the car needs an exact spot or only a general area.
* If clicking a zone shows an error about the floor plan, ask an admin to open [Settings > Floor Plan](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/floor-plan) and click **Save Floor Plan** once, then refresh [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots).

> [!WARNING]
>
> **Zones must be saved on the floor plan first**
>
> If a zone says it **has not been saved yet**, staff cannot assign cars to it from the map. This is not a bug—it means an admin needs to open [Settings > Floor Plan](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/floor-plan), confirm the colored zone is on the canvas, and click **Save Floor Plan**. After that, refresh [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) and click the zone again.
>
> **Expected result after save:** Clicking the colored **Outdoor Lot** or **Indoor Bay** area opens a zone window with capacity numbers—not an error message.

## How zones look on the map

On [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) in **Map** view:

* **Colored background areas** (for example a green **Outdoor Lot** or blue **Indoor Bay**) are zones.
* **Labeled boxes** on top (for example **A1**, **B3**, **Lift 1**) are numbered spots or lifts.
* Click the **open colored area** between or around spots to open the zone—not a numbered box.

![Parking Spots map showing Indoor Bay and Outdoor Lot zones with numbered spots and a legend for Available, Reserved, and Occupied counts](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ/images/parking-spots/parking-spots-map-overview-fresh.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ\&q=85\&s=aff8e410b59bed940271c11b931e6621)

*Zones appear as colored backgrounds behind spots. Click the colored area (not a numbered box) to open the zone window.*

## Open a zone from the map

**1. Open Parking Spots**

Go to [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) from the left sidebar.

**Expected result:** You see the facility map in **Map** view. Colored background areas are zones. Labeled boxes on top are numbered spots and lifts.

**2. Click the colored zone area**

Click inside a colored zone (for example the green **Outdoor Lot** area). Do not click a numbered spot box unless you want that exact space.

**Tip:** If your screen is zoomed in, scroll or zoom out until you see open colored space between spot boxes. Click that open area—not the label on a spot like **C1**.

**Why this matters:** Clicking **C1** opens the spot dialog for **C1** only. Clicking the green area around those spots opens the whole **Outdoor Lot** zone.

**Expected result:** A window opens with the zone name at the top (for example **Outdoor Lot**) and a capacity summary such as **1/4**.

**3. Read the capacity summary**

Near the top of the window, look for how many cars are in the zone and how many spaces remain (for example **1/4**).

**Why this matters:** Before you promise overflow parking, you can see whether the zone still has room.

![Zone dialog on the Parking Spots map showing Outdoor Lot with capacity counts and a list of cars currently in the zone](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ/images/parking-spots/parking-zone-dialog-window.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ\&q=85\&s=bd6134853ae276f3cbf56dd7554a4219)

*Click a colored zone on the map to open its window. You see capacity, cars inside the zone, and buttons to add or move vehicles.*

## Add a car to a zone

Use this when a vehicle is physically in the zone but does not need a numbered spot.

**1. Open the zone window**

Click the zone on the [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) map as described above.

**Expected result:** The zone window shows the zone name and capacity at the top.

**2. Search for the car**

Use the car search field in the zone window. Type the customer name, license plate, VIN, make, or model.

**Expected result:** Matching vehicles appear in the list below the search box.

**3. Select the correct vehicle**

If the customer owns more than one car, read the year, make, model, and plate carefully before you continue.

**Why this matters:** Picking the wrong vehicle is one of the most common parking mistakes—and it is hard to fix during a busy drop-off.

**4. Save the assignment**

Click the button to add the car to the zone (the label may say **Add to zone** or **Move Car Here**).

**Expected result:** The car appears in the zone’s car list. The map shows the car inside the colored zone area.

**5. Confirm on the car record**

Open the vehicle in [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars). Near the top, the parking button should show **Zone:** and the zone name (for example **Zone: Outdoor Lot**).

**Why this matters:** Staff who start on the car page—not the map—still see the correct location.

![Car detail page for a Porsche showing Zone Outdoor Lot on the parking location button near the top of the page](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ/images/parking-spots/car-record-zone-assignment.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ\&q=85\&s=85c4f30cb199ba408f49745c3de080dd)

*After you assign a car to a zone, the car record shows **Zone: Outdoor Lot** (or your zone name)—not **Spot: A1**.*

> [!TIP]
>
> **Expected result**
>
> The car appears inside the colored zone on the map. On the car record, the parking button shows **Zone: Outdoor Lot** (or your zone name) instead of **Spot: A1**.

## Move a car into a zone from a numbered spot

Many teams park cars in **A1** first, then move them to overflow when the indoor row fills up. You can move a car to a zone without opening the zone window first.

**1. Click the spot where the car is now**

On the map, click the numbered spot that currently holds the vehicle (for example **A1**).

**Expected result:** A spot dialog opens showing the car that is **Present** there and a **Move Vehicle** or **Move Car** button.

**2. Start Move Vehicle**

Click **Move Vehicle** or use the **Select spot, zone, or vendor…** search field.

**Expected result:** A search box appears where you can pick a new destination. You may see sections labeled **Zones** and **Spots**.

**3. Search for the zone**

Type part of the zone name (for example **Out** for **Outdoor Lot**). Under **Zones**, pick the zone and read the capacity numbers (for example **Outdoor Lot 1/4**).

**Why this matters:** The fraction tells you how full the zone is before you save the move. **1/4** means one car is assigned and three more can fit.

**4. Or pick a vendor when the car leaves the building**

If the car is going off-site—not to another zone inside your lot—scroll to **Vendors** in the same picker and choose the outside company.

**Why this matters:** A **zone** means the car is still on your property in a flexible area. A **vendor** means the car left entirely. See [Send a car to an outside vendor](/docs/parking-spots/send-a-car-to-an-outside-vendor.md).

**5. Click Move and confirm**

Click **Move** (or **Move Car**). Read any message about capacity before you confirm.

**Expected result:** The old spot shows **Available** or open. The car appears in the zone list and on the car record as **Zone: Outdoor Lot**.

![Parking spot dialog for A1 showing Move Car button and destination picker to move the vehicle to another spot or zone](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ/images/parking-spots/parking-zone-move-vehicle.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ\&q=85\&s=d8ca5b3b101b0a98f0f438841f20c7ea)

*From a numbered spot, use **Move Car** or the destination picker to send the vehicle to a zone or another spot.*

![Move vehicle picker showing Zones section with Indoor Bay and Outdoor Lot capacity counts and a Spots list below](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ/images/parking-spots/parking-zone-cars-list.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ\&q=85\&s=3c0b9085c39b6773662849d83a0cb35e)

*When you move a car, search under **Zones** to pick a flexible area. Capacity numbers like **1/4** show how full each zone is.*

> [!WARNING]
>
> **If you see Insufficient capacity**
>
> The zone may be full. Check the real lot, move another car out, or ask a manager whether **Additional Capacity** should be increased in [Settings > Floor Plan](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/floor-plan). Do not ignore this message—saving anyway can confuse the next teammate.

## When a zone is full but cars are still outside

**1. Walk the real lot first**

Count how many cars are physically in the overflow area. The app only knows about cars your team recorded.

**2. Move a car to a numbered spot if one opened up**

If **B3** or another indoor spot is now open, use **Move Vehicle** to pull a car from the zone into that spot. See [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot.md).

**3. Ask an admin about capacity only after the count is right**

If the real lot still has room but the app says the zone is full, a manager can review **Additional Capacity** in [Set up parking spots and zones](/docs/parking-spots/set-up-parking-spots-and-zones.md).

## Move or remove a car from a zone

**1. Open the zone that holds the car**

Click the zone on the map, or search for the car on [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) and follow the map to its zone.

**2. Find the car in the zone list**

Scroll through the cars listed in the zone window. Each row shows the vehicle and owner.

**3. Move the car to a numbered spot or another zone**

Use **Move** (or **Move Vehicle**) to send the car to a numbered spot or a different zone. Pick the destination from the search list.

**Why this matters:** Moving the record when the physical car moves keeps the map trustworthy for the next teammate.

**4. Remove the car if it left your facility**

If the vehicle is no longer on your property, remove it from the zone or update the car record so it no longer shows a parking location.

You can also start from the car record: open [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars), click the **Zone:** or **Spot:** button near the top, and pick a numbered spot or a different zone. See [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot.md) for the full car-record path.

![Car detail page for a Porsche showing Zone Outdoor Lot on the parking location button near the top of the page](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ/images/parking-spots/car-record-zone-assignment.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ\&q=85\&s=85c4f30cb199ba408f49745c3de080dd)

*Cars assigned to a zone show **Zone: Outdoor Lot** (or your zone name) on the car record—not **Spot: A1**.*

## Zone capacity in plain English

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Spot capacity** counts numbered spots drawn inside the zone on the floor plan.
>
> **Additional capacity** (set in [Settings > Floor Plan](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/floor-plan)) is extra room for cars assigned directly to the zone without a numbered spot.
>
> **Total capacity** is both added together. **Available** is what is left before the zone is full.
>
> **Example:** **Outdoor Lot 1/4** means one car is assigned to the zone and three more can fit before the zone is full.

> [!WARNING]
>
> **When the zone looks full**
>
> If **Available** is zero, do not add another car to the zone without checking the real lot. Either move a car out, assign a numbered spot elsewhere, or ask a manager whether additional capacity should be increased in the floor plan.

## How zones look in Table view

Zones also appear on the [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) table:

* The **Location** column may show a zone name for spots that sit inside a zone.
* Cars assigned only to a zone (no numbered spot) may not appear on a single spot row—they appear when you open the zone on the map or on the car record.

**1. Switch to Table view**

Open **Filters & Settings** and click **Table**.

**Expected result:** You see rows for each numbered spot with columns such as **Name**, **Currently Parked**, and **Reserved Customer**.

**2. Search for a zone name**

Type **Outdoor** or your zone name in the **Search** box. Rows tied to that area may appear in the results.

**Why this matters:** Table view is faster than the map when you need a sortable list during a busy afternoon.

**3. Open the car record for zone-only assignments**

If a car has **Zone: Outdoor Lot** on its [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars) record but no spot row, that is normal—the car is tracked at the zone level, not on **C1** or **C2**.

For help reading **Currently Parked** vs **Status** in the table, see [Find parking spots and available spaces](/docs/parking-spots/find-parking-spots-and-available-spaces.md).

## Common mistakes to avoid

* Do not click a numbered spot when you mean to use the whole zone—the spot dialog is for exact spaces only.
* Do not assign a car to a zone when your process requires an exact spot number for retrieval.
* Do not forget to update the zone when the car physically moves to a numbered spot inside the same lot.
* Do not promise a customer a zone spot when capacity shows **0** available—check the real lot first.

## Troubleshooting

> [!WARNING]
>
> **I clicked the map but only see a spot dialog**
>
> You may have clicked a numbered spot box instead of the colored zone background. Click the open colored area between or around the spots, or zoom out slightly and try again.

> [!WARNING]
>
> **The zone says it has not been saved yet**
>
> An admin needs to open [Settings > Floor Plan](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/floor-plan), confirm the zone is on the map, and click **Save Floor Plan**. Then refresh [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) and try again.

> [!TIP]
>
> **The zone says it is full but cars are not visible**
>
> Refresh [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots). If counts still look wrong, open each car listed in the zone window and confirm they are still physically there.

> [!TIP]
>
> **The car record still shows Spot instead of Zone**
>
> Open the car in [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars) and click the parking button. Pick the zone again and save. If it keeps reverting, assign from the zone window on the map so both views update together.

## What success looks like

* Staff can name which cars are in **Outdoor Lot** (or your zone) without walking the lot.
* Zone capacity numbers on the map match what managers expect before promising overflow space.
* Car records show **Zone:** for flexible parking and **Spot:** for exact spaces—never the wrong one.
* Moves between numbered spots and zones are saved when the physical car moves, not hours later.

## What to do next

* Need an exact space? Use [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot.md).
* Need to hold a spot before arrival? Use [Reserve a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/reserve-a-parking-spot.md).
* Setting up zones for the first time? See [Set up parking spots and zones](/docs/parking-spots/set-up-parking-spots-and-zones.md).
* Return to the [Parking Spots overview](/docs/parking-spots/overview.md).


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