Quick Summary:
- Enter the printed temporary plate number, not the VIN or reservation code.
- Photograph the paper tag, windscreen, and entry screen showing date and time.
- If entry fails, press the intercom, request a ticket, and keep it.
- If exit fails, call the car park operator first, then your rental desk.
Temporary paper plates are common on US vehicles, including some Texas car hire fleets. They can work fine with ANPR, also called licence plate recognition, but paper tags are easier for cameras to misread. The result is familiar, the barrier will not lift at entry, the pay station cannot find your stay, or the exit gate insists you have not paid. This guide explains what to type into pay machines and apps, what evidence to capture as you go, and who to contact at each step so you do not pay twice.
In Texas, you may see paper tags mounted in the rear plate position, sometimes behind a plastic cover, and sometimes displayed in the window. The camera in an ANPR car park typically expects a reflective metal plate, so glare, condensation, tint, or a creased tag can cause a mismatch. The key is to use the plate number printed on the tag, keep a clean trail of photos and receipts, and escalate to the right operator quickly when the system cannot match you.
If you are collecting at a major airport location, it is worth asking about plates before you drive out. Hola Car Rentals publishes local airport pages that can help you orient yourself to pick-up and procedures, such as car rental at Dallas DFW and car hire at Austin AUS. Those pages are useful context, but the steps below apply in any Texas car park that relies on cameras and barriers.
What to enter at the pay machine or in the car park app
Most ANPR car parks match your payment to the plate number they captured on entry. When you have a temporary paper plate, you usually still enter a plate number, but you must enter exactly what is printed, in the same format the operator expects.
Use the temporary tag plate number, not the VIN. A VIN is too long and is not what the car park is searching. Likewise, do not enter a rental agreement number, a QR code number, or a fleet unit number printed on the windscreen.
Type the characters exactly as shown. Pay machines may ignore spaces or hyphens, or they may require them, it varies. If the paper tag shows a space, try without the space first. If it shows a hyphen, try without the hyphen. Use only letters and numbers, and avoid guessing. If the tag shows similar characters such as 0 and O, 1 and I, or 5 and S, double-check under good light.
Match the state shown on the tag. Some systems ask you to select a state. Choose Texas if the tag is a Texas temporary tag. If your hire car has an out-of-state temporary tag, choose that state. This matters because the same plate sequence can exist in multiple states.
If the machine cannot find your vehicle, use the ticket option. Many barrier car parks offer two ways to park, ANPR or a printed ticket. If the machine or app cannot locate your entry, take a ticket at the entrance if you can, or ask the operator to issue one. A ticket creates a separate record that can be paid and verified at exit.
In an app, pay by location code if plate search fails. Some parking apps allow you to select the car park and pay for a session without relying on ANPR recognition. Use the car park location or zone code from signage, then enter your temporary plate as best you can. Keep proof of payment in the app and via email.
What to photograph and keep, before you need it
When plate recognition fails, the fastest resolution is usually evidence that links your vehicle, the temporary tag, and the time you entered. Take photos early, not when you are blocked at the exit with a queue behind you.
Photograph the temporary tag clearly. Stand square to the plate, fill the frame, and capture the whole tag including the plate number and the expiration date. If there is a plastic cover, wipe it. If the tag is inside the window, reduce reflections by changing angle.
Photograph the vehicle and tag together. Take a wider photo showing the rear of the vehicle with the paper tag visible. This helps if the operator later questions whether the tag belonged to that car.
Photograph the entry lane signage. Capture the rules board or sign that shows the operator name, intercom information, and any note about ANPR. This is useful if you need to identify who controls the barrier.
Photograph the entry screen if it shows a plate read. Some entry displays show what the camera read. If it misreads, a photo proves the mismatch was created at entry, not by your payment later.
Keep every receipt and confirmation. If you pay at a machine, photograph the receipt and keep the paper. If you pay in an app, screenshot the confirmation and keep the email. Make sure the receipt shows the time, location, and either your plate or your ticket number.
Note the entry and exit times yourself. A quick note in your phone, plus a photo with timestamp, gives you a reference if the operator claims you overstayed or did not enter.
If the barrier will not open on entry
Entry failures are usually easier than exit failures because you have not yet committed to the car park record. Do not tailgate another vehicle through a barrier. That can create safety issues and can also make the system record the wrong vehicle against the wrong stay.
1) Try the intercom. Most barrier lanes have a help button. Tell the operator you have a rental car with a temporary paper plate and the camera may not be reading it. Ask them to open the barrier and confirm what identifier they want you to use for payment later, your plate number or a ticket number.
2) Request a ticket if offered. If the operator can switch you to ticket mode, do it. A ticket bypasses the plate read and gives you a clear reference for payment and exit.
3) Use a different lane. Some sites have a separate lane for tickets or for oversize vehicles. Another lane may have a different camera angle and can read the paper tag better.
4) If you must abandon entry, capture evidence. Photograph the closed barrier, the lane sign, and the time. Then leave and use another car park. This avoids getting trapped later if the system half-recorded your entry.
If the pay machine or app cannot find your stay
This is a classic ANPR mismatch. The camera may have captured a partial plate, swapped a character, or missed the entry entirely. Your goal is to pay in a way that creates a verifiable record.
First, search alternative reads. If your tag contains 0, 1, 5, 8, try common misreads carefully. Only do this if you are confident, and stop if the machine shows a different vehicle, you do not want to pay someone else’s session.
Second, pay by ticket if you have one. Ticket payment is usually the cleanest solution. If you entered without a ticket and the system cannot find you, go to the help point or intercom and ask the operator to locate your entry manually. Provide your temporary plate number and entry time.
Third, pay at a staffed booth if available. Some garages still have attendants. Show them your temporary tag photo and ask them to process payment against your stay or issue an exit token.
Keep proof of the conversation. Note the operator name, time, and any reference number. If they tell you to exit and press the help button, write that down.
If the barrier will not open on exit
Exit issues happen when the system cannot match your payment to the plate it believes is in the car park, or when it cannot read the plate at exit to confirm you are the paid vehicle.
1) Use the intercom at the exit barrier. Tell the operator you are in a car hire vehicle with a temporary paper plate and you have paid. Offer the temporary plate number, your receipt or app confirmation, and your approximate entry time. If you have a ticket, quote the ticket number.
2) Do not reverse abruptly. If you are stuck at the barrier, remain safe and follow the operator’s instructions. Reversing in a confined lane can cause collisions.
3) Ask the operator to validate payment manually. Many systems allow them to open the barrier once they see payment in the back office. If the payment is linked to a slightly different plate read, they can often still match by time window and car park location.
4) If you had to pay twice, keep everything. Sometimes the fastest way out is a second payment, then dispute later. If you do this, keep both receipts, your photos, and the operator reference. Disputes are much more likely to succeed with clear evidence of the paper tag and the matching timestamps.
Who to call, and in what order
When a barrier will not open, call the party that controls the barrier first. That is almost always the car park operator, not the rental company. The operator has the ability to open the gate and check the ANPR record in real time.
1) Car park operator via intercom or posted phone number. Use the help button, then look for a phone number on the tariff board. Provide your temporary plate number, entry time, and proof of payment.
2) Your rental company desk only if you need vehicle documentation. The rental desk can confirm the plate number that should be on file, the vehicle description, and sometimes provide a letter or email confirming the temporary tag. They cannot usually open barriers remotely.
3) Hola Car Rentals support for booking level help. If you booked through Hola Car Rentals and you need assistance locating the rental provider details, your confirmation, or guidance on next steps, Hola can help you orient to the right contact. For airport-specific context, see car rental at Houston IAH or car hire at Fort Worth DFW.
How to reduce ANPR problems during your Texas trip
You cannot control how a car park’s cameras interpret a paper tag, but you can reduce the odds of errors.
Keep the tag visible and flat. If the paper plate is loose, curled, or partly obscured by a frame, ask the rental desk to secure it before you leave. If you notice it flapping, fix it promptly.
Keep the rear window clear. If the tag is displayed in the window, avoid piling luggage or reflective items behind it. Tint and glare can worsen readability, so choose angles and lanes that reduce reflections.
Choose car parks with ticket options when possible. If you are heading to an event or busy downtown area, a ticket based garage can be less stressful than pure ANPR with barriers.
Allow extra time at exit. Build in a few minutes for intercom delays, especially at airports, hospitals, and stadium garages.
If you are selecting a vehicle type for Texas driving, larger vehicles can change how the plate sits relative to cameras. This is not a reason to avoid any category, but it is another reason to capture your paper tag clearly. If you want to compare options, you can review pages such as SUV hire in Texas at IAH for general context on vehicle categories and typical use cases.
FAQ
Do I enter the paper plate number or the number on the rental paperwork? Enter the temporary paper plate number printed on the tag. ANPR systems match payments to plate reads, not rental agreement numbers or the VIN.
What if the pay machine shows the wrong plate for my vehicle? Do not pay against a plate that is not yours. Use the help button, ask the operator to locate your stay manually, or switch to a ticket payment if possible.
Can the rental company fix ANPR barriers that will not open? Usually no. The car park operator controls the barrier and the ANPR record. The rental company can help confirm your plate details or documentation if requested.
Is it safe to follow another car through a barrier if mine will not open? No. Tailgating can be unsafe and can also confuse the ANPR record, making payment disputes harder later.
What proof should I keep if I need a refund for double payment? Keep photos of the temporary tag, entry signage, and any entry display. Save both receipts or app confirmations, plus notes of operator names, times, and reference numbers.
