Overview

Free Parking is a Monopoly-themed card game for 2-4 players by Parker Brothers. Players manage parking meters using a deck of playing cards, trying to accumulate time on their meters while playing Point cards and using Special Parking cards offensively against opponents. The first player to put down Point cards totalling 200 points wins.

Components

• 90 Playing cards:
  • 38 Feed the Meter cards (20, 30, 40, and 60-minute denominations)
  • 36 Point cards (various point values)
  • 16 Special Parking cards (4 each of Officer Jones, Free Parking, Time Expires, Talk Your Way Out of It)
• 32 Second Chance cards
• 4 Parking meters with bases
• 1 Card tray

Setup

1. Insert parking meters into bases. Give one to each player and set all meters at “0” in “VIOLATION.”
2. Shuffle the Second Chance cards and place them face down near the tray.
3. Shuffle all playing cards together and deal 5 face down to each player. Place remaining cards face down in the draw section of the tray.
4. The person to the left of the dealer goes first.

Turn Structure

On each turn you may:

1. Draw a card from the tray.
2. Play a card from your hand.
3. Draw a Second Chance card if you choose to.

OR you may:

1. Exchange three cards: Trade three cards from your hand for three new cards from the draw pile. The only other action on this turn is drawing a Second Chance card if you want.

Actions

Feed the Meter Cards

Play a Feed the Meter card to add the corresponding amount of time to your own parking meter (20, 30, 40, or 60 minutes). Place the card in the discard tray and move your meter forward by the indicated time.

Point Cards

Cards that allow you to “spend” the time you have put on your meter to run errands (score points):

• To play a Point card, you must have at least as much time on your meter as the card requires.
• For example, with 30 minutes on your meter, you may play a 30-point card and reset your meter back to 0.
• On your next turn, you may either play a 10-point card (if you have one), or elect to add more time by playing a Feed the Meter card.

Overfilling your meter: If you already have some time on your meter and want to add more, but you only have large denomination Feed the Meter cards, you are allowed to “overfill” your meter. For example, if your meter is at 30 and you only have a 40-minute card, you may use that card and your meter still fills up to the top.

Special Parking Cards

Officer Jones (4 in the deck): Play this card against any opponent whose meter is on 0 in “Violation.” That player must then choose one of his already-played Point cards from the table in front of him, and discard it into the tray. You may play this at any time, even when it’s not your turn. If you play it on your turn, you then take your normal turn. If you play it out of turn, you still take your turn when it comes up. If you play it on your turn, you then take your normal turn.

Free Parking (4 in the deck): On your turn, play this card face up on the table in front of you. It remains there until your next turn. During that round, you are protected from Officer Jones. If another player plays Officer Jones on you, or if you pop up a Second Chance card (see Second Chance Cards), you are protected. If you have time on your meter, play your Point card, but leave your meter where it is without moving it down. However, while you have this card in front of you, you may not feed your meter, and you may be affected by other Second Chance cards. This card protects you for one full turn. Use it, then discard it at the beginning of your next turn.

Time Expires (4 in the deck): On your turn, play this card on any opponent. He or she must immediately put his meter back to 0. Use this card once, then discard. This costs a player their main turn, but you may still draw a Second Chance card if you want to.

Talk Your Way Out of It (4 in the deck): Somebody picking on you with a Second Chance card? Play this card and get away scot-free! This card cancels any action against you, including any Second Chance Card that you or another player draws. Use this card at any time, even when it’s not your turn. But once you’ve used it, you must discard it.

Second Chance Cards

You may elect to pick a Second Chance card — or not. They may be risky, but they add excitement. Once you’ve picked up a Second Chance card, you must do what it says.

Instructions from Second Chance cards may include:

• Being instructed to take a Point card from another player (they take their Point cards from the table, turn them over face down, fan them toward you, and you pick one)
• Being instructed to give an opponent one of your Point cards (you select which to give from those face up in front of you; if you have none, you get off easy)
• If an opponent loses a card, he selects which Point card he’ll lose from those on the table in front of him (puts it in the discard tray; he does not give it to you)
• Being instructed to trade places with another player (move to his seat, leaving your meter and all your cards behind; play proceeds to the next person whose turn it would have been if you hadn’t moved)

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Win: The first player to put down Point cards totalling 200 points wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Hand Size: Always draw enough cards to bring your hand back up to 6 cards at the start of your turn.
• First Turn: On your first turn, you should Feed the Meter if you have a Feed the Meter card in your hand.
• Officer Jones Timing: Can be played at any time, even out of turn.
• Free Parking Duration: Lasts one full turn (until the beginning of your next turn).
• Talk Your Way Out of It: Cancels any action against you; can be played at any time.
• Playing a Special Parking Card on Your Turn: You may choose to play a Free Parking or Time Expires card. If any of the playing cards on the draw pile are used up, shuffle all of the discard cards back into a new draw pile. You may play an Officer Jones card on another player.
• Exchange: You can exchange 3 cards for 3 new ones, plus optionally draw a Second Chance card. No other actions that turn.
• Meter Overfill: Allowed; meter goes to maximum regardless of the extra minutes.

Player Reference

Turn Options

1. Draw 1 card + play 1 card + optionally draw 1 Second Chance card
2. Exchange 3 cards for 3 new cards + optionally draw 1 Second Chance card

Card Types

| Card | Count | Effect | |——|——-|——–| | Feed the Meter (20/30/40/60 min) | 38 total | Add time to your meter | | Point cards | 36 total | Score points (costs meter time) | | Officer Jones | 4 | Force opponent at 0 to discard a Point card | | Free Parking | 4 | Protection for 1 turn | | Time Expires | 4 | Reset opponent’s meter to 0 | | Talk Your Way Out of It | 4 | Cancel any action against you |

Victory

• First to 200 points from played Point cards