Accurate & Reliable Vehicle Detection in Parking Garages

Optimising vehicle detection, speeding up order processing, and enabling seamless operations for quick-service restaurants and more.

Over 20 Years Experience

within the industry

Over 1 Million Sensors

sold worldwide

Custom Sensor Solutions

Tailored options for specific needs

Extensive Technical Support

5-star rated customer support

Why Vehicle Detection Matters

Parking garages are high-traffic environments where accurate vehicle detection is critical for maximising space, reducing congestion, and improving the customer experience. Many traditional systems struggle with reliability, leading to delays, wasted time, and operational inefficiencies.

Spaces appear full when they aren’t

Some systems fail to register vehicles leaving, causing bays to remain marked as occupied. This leads to underutilised spaces and unnecessary circling, even when parking is available.

Drivers waste time searching for parking

Without clear, real-time data on available spaces, drivers spend more time navigating the garage. This increases frustration, delays, and fuel consumption — especially during busy periods.

Cameras struggle in harsh conditions

Camera-based systems can be affected by low lighting, direct sunlight, rain, or reflections on surfaces. These issues reduce detection accuracy and result in false readings or missed vehicles.

The Smarter Solution: Ultrasonic Sensors for Reliable Vehicle Detection

Ultrasonic sensors take parking garage accuracy to the next level by using sound instead of light. This enables consistent, reliable detection in all conditions — ensuring drivers and systems receive accurate bay status in real time.

  • Works in any lighting or weather condition

  • Instant, accurate detection of parked or exiting vehicles

  • Reduces circling and congestion

  • Energy-efficient and low-maintenance

Smarter Vehicle Detection with Ultrasonic Sensors

Ultrasonic sensors enhance vehicle detection in parking garages by offering real-time accuracy, minimal maintenance, and consistent performance in all lighting and weather conditions—outperforming loop detectors and camera-based systems in reliability and cost-efficiency.

Key:
  • Performs reliably
  • Inconsistent or partially effective
  • Fails to meet requirement
Feature / Detection Method
Instant Parking Space Status
Works in All Environmental Conditions
Energy Efficient
Cost Effective
No False Triggers from Background Motion
High Reliability (Over 200,000+ Hour MTBF)
Ultrasonic Sensors
Passive IR Sensors
Manual Activation
Camera-Based Solutions
Swipe to view all detection methods

Overcoming Parking Garage Challenges with Ultrasonic Sensors

Parking facilities struggle with space management, traffic flow, and detection accuracy. Ultrasonic sensors help optimise occupancy tracking, reduce circling, and enable better driver guidance.

  • HRXL-MaxSonar-WR Products

    General purpose, millimeter resolution, medium-to-long range, and industrial grade.

    Find Out More 
  • Car Detection Sensors

    Purpose built for detection of cars in drive thru's, parking garages, street side parking, etc. Centimeter resolution, medium range. Optional USB Interface. Proximity True/False output.

    Find Out More 
  • Park Sonar-EZ Products

    General purpose, inch resolution, medium range, and low cost. Proximity True/False output.

    Find Out More 
  • I2CXL-MaxSonar-WR Products

    General purpose, centimeter resolution, long range, and industrial grade. Featuring an I2C interface.

    Find Out More 
  • SCXL-MaxSonar-WR Products

    General purpose, millimeter resolution, medium-to-long range, and industrial grade. Including self-cleaning technology, improving sensor operation in high condensation environments.

    Find Out More 

How Ultrasonic Sensors Work: The Technology Behind the Detection

To truly understand why ultrasonic sensors outperform traditional methods, let’s dive into how they work:

How Ultrasonic Sensors Detect Presence

Ultrasonic sensors use sound waves to detect nearby objects. When the sensor emits sound waves, they bounce back (or echo) after hitting a nearby object or person. The sensor calculates how long it takes for the sound to return, which tells it how far away the object is. When a person steps in front of the sensor, the sound waves return faster, and the kiosk is activated. This technology is precise, reliable, and unaffected by light-based conditions like sunlight or reflections.