Drivers who rely on coins to pay for parking in Vancouver had better make sure they have a credit card or a parking app.

The city says it will soon eliminate coins as a payment option for street parking, “in an effort to streamline operation and modernize parking infrastructure.”

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“Vancouver is part of a growing number of jurisdictions no longer using coins for parking, including City of North Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina, Washington, DC,” the City of Vancouver said.

“The trend is driven by a desire to eliminate the ‘coin-handling lifecycle,’ which includes the labour of collection, the security of transport, and the high failure rate of physical coin mechanisms due to jams or vandalism.”

Unlike the other Canadian cities mentioned, Vancouver’s meters are in effect seven days a week, from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. In Winnipeg and Regina, for example, the city meters are only in effect until 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday

According to the City of Vancouver, only four per cent of its parking revenue comes from coin payments. Most use parking apps such as PayByPhone and HotSpot, it says.

In addition to apps and credit cards, users can pay by calling PayByPhone at 604-909-7275. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends and holidays, drivers can pay by calling 311.