What is DropIn and how does it work?
Learn how DropIn helps two nearby people coordinate a free, GPS-confirmed public car park handover without selling or reserving the space.
A handover, not a reservation
DropIn does not own, reserve, sell or guarantee a public parking space. It gives two nearby people a clearer way to coordinate a voluntary handover when one person is ready to leave.
There is no payment, bidding or priority lane. Normal road rules, parking signs and any visible local queue still apply.
The DropIn journey
The flow is intentionally short so it can be used from a phone in a busy car park.
- The departing person taps Give a park, confirms GPS, places the pin on the correct bay and says when they expect to leave.
- A nearby person taps Find a park and DropIn looks for a practical match within the local matching radius.
- The departing person sees the request and chooses Accept or Pass.
- After acceptance, both members see the selected vehicles, number plates, live location and arrival estimate.
- They complete the handover calmly, or end it safely if the public space is no longer available.
Why the departing person stays in control
The person giving the park must accept the request before private vehicle and location details are revealed. That prevents an automatic assignment to someone they do not recognise or cannot safely wait for.
If the request is not suitable, the giver can pass and DropIn can consider another nearby member.
Made for real car parks
DropIn began with the surfing community, where a short session can be followed by a long search for parking. The same one-to-one handover can help other local communities across Australia.
The app works in a modern browser on iPhone, Android, tablet or desktop. A GPS-capable phone is needed when giving or finding a park.
Questions about this guide
Is DropIn a parking reservation service?
No. DropIn coordinates a voluntary handover between two nearby people. A public parking space cannot be guaranteed.
Does DropIn charge a parking fee?
No. DropIn is free for members and there is no payment or bidding between the two people.
Can anyone see my plate or exact location?
No. Those details are hidden publicly and before acceptance. They are shared only with the matched member for the active handover.