A method for assisting a driver to locate a parking space, comprising: with a first navigation system of a first vehicle, identifying a user-selected destination; and while a driver of the first vehicle is being guided by the navigation system towards the user-selected destination, acquiring parking availability information from a first space allocation device associated with a first parking zone, the parking availability information including second parking availability information for at least one second parking zone associated with a respective second space allocation device that is spaced from the first space allocation device; characterized in that the second parking availability information for the at least one second parking zone is communicated to the first space allocation device by at least one second navigation system of a respective second vehicle; wherein the method further comprises: with the navigation system, providing the parking availability information to a third space allocation device passed by the first vehicle; with a processor, selecting one of the at least one second parking zones based on the user-selected destination and acquired parking availability information; with the navigation system, proposing a route to the identified one of the at least one second parking zones; each space allocation device comprising a mechanism for authorizing the use of parking spaces of a respective parking zone and a communication device for communicating parking availability information with a navigation system of a vehicle. with a first navigation system of a first vehicle, identifying a user-selected destination; and while a driver of the first vehicle is being guided by the navigation system towards the user-selected destination, acquiring parking availability information from a first space allocation device associated with a first parking zone, the parking availability information including second parking availability information for at least one second parking zone associated with a respective second space allocation device that is spaced from the first space allocation device; characterized in that the second parking availability information for the at least one second parking zone is communicated to the first space allocation device by at least one second navigation system of a respective second vehicle; wherein the method further comprises: with the navigation system, providing the parking availability information to a third space allocation device passed by the first vehicle; with a processor, selecting one of the at least one second parking zones based on the user-selected destination and acquired parking availability information; with the navigation system, proposing a route to the identified one of the at least one second parking zones; each space allocation device comprising a mechanism for authorizing the use of parking spaces of a respective parking zone and a communication device for communicating parking availability information with a navigation system of a vehicle. with the navigation system, providing the parking availability information to a third space allocation device passed by the first vehicle; with a processor, selecting one of the at least one second parking zones based on the user-selected destination and acquired parking availability information; with the navigation system, proposing a route to the identified one of the at least one second parking zones; each space allocation device comprising a mechanism for authorizing the use of parking spaces of a respective parking zone and a communication device for communicating parking availability information with a navigation system of a vehicle.