You’ve got your San Diego Comic-Con badge (hopefully, anyway), you’ve got your sights set on a hotel (or maybe you already booked one) – but what about parking?

It’s a crucial piece of the puzzle for many attendees – although Comic-Con International offers a free shuttle to area hotels, and the city has the trolley and other public transportation options, the ability to have your own car in the vicinity, especially if you’re local, is crucial.

Ace Parking announced that just like last year, parking lot assignments this year will utilize a lottery based system. However, there’s some new changes for 2018.

In order to be register, you’ll need to fill out an online form (up to two entries per e-mail) between now and April 22. New this year, you’ll also need to fill out your credit card information – though your card will not be charged. However, Ace Parking does state that Ace will run a pre-authorization against your card to ensure it is valid, in an effort to stop the sign-up spamming that has plagued the process in previous years (this will still not charge your card, even temporarily). You can use the same credit card up to twice when signing up.

After that, a random drawing will be done to select the winners, who will then be divided into groups, with a new group gaining access to book their space each week (beginning with Group 1 on May 1). Normally, Ace Parking has put attendees into six groups – but this year, it simply states that this will continue “until all groups have had a chance to purchase their permits”, at which time the remaining inventory will open to the general public. Last year, parking did not sell out before it went on sale to the general public – so if you aren’t selected, don’t fear.

No word yet on which lots will be available in the sale, but last year’s lots included theHilton Bayfront, the convention center, 707 Broadway, Padres Parkade, Diamond View Tower, Gaslamp City Square, Tailgate Park, MTS, 610 W Ash, Cedar Gateway, 6th & A, Evan V.J. Park, Comerca Bank Building, the Civic Center, 6th and K Parkade, Park It on Market, and more. We’ll update as we get more information.

Ace answered some common questions about how the lottery will be run:

Q: Does the on-line system require me to set up an account to purchase my permits?
A: Yes. You will need to set up an account during the checkout process. Your account will enable system features such as the ability to print your permit in the future, and tie all purchased permits to a single barcode that you can carry on your smart device for use at scanner equipped lots. Your account will be available for future purchases for parking at next year’s Comic-Con and other events with the same barcode assigned to you which will be replenished with future permit purchases as they are made.

Q: Will the system allow me to purchase multiple permits per day?
A: No. Each account is restricted to one permit per day for Comic-Con. If you need to purchase more than one permit, you will need to set up multiple accounts.

Q: Is there a way to purchase Comic-Con permits other than online?
A: The only way you can purchase advance parking permits for Comic-Con from Ace Parking is through the online system. However, the majority of the lots included in the online sale and others that are not included will be available for drive-up parking the day of the event. Drive up availability will be first come, first served for the remaining spaces not reserved online. The lots are expected to fill up fast. If you are planning to find parking the day of the event, you should get there early.

Q: Can cars be parked overnight? Or just during the hours of the event?
A: Overnight parking is not permitted. The lots close at 2 am and reopen at 6 am (Convention Center opens at 5 am). They close so they can be prepared for the next day. Most lots are pre-sold to full capacity each day, so any cars on the lot after 2 am, will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Q: If I send in multiple entries from multiple email accounts that I own and win one of them, can I purchase my permit with any of the emails I registered with or only the one that won?
A: Only the one that won. Your winning email address must be registered in the account you are going to use to purchase the permits. The purchase process will require you to log into your account first and will validate your email address. If your email address matches one on the selected list, you will be given the option to purchase a permit at the lot your name was drawn for. If there is no match, the option to purchase a permit will not be available to you.

You can find more information on Ace Parking’s website.

What do you think of Ace Parking’s new system? Let us know in the comments.