Paying for on-street parking in Exmouth and across Devon should now be easier and cheaper thanks to a change in online parking provider.

As more and more town centre shops start to re-open, Devon County Council is making pay-by-phone on-street parking as convenient as possible to help shoppers and commuters stay safe.

Cashless parking is already offered at Devon's on-street parking meters, but the pay-by-phone service will switch to RingGo from next month (August). The new service will mean that users no longer need to pay a convenience charge and it is hoped that more will opt to use this way of paying.

Paying by phone can help support measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, and to encourage cashless payment, Devon County Council is covering the service charge, so customers will pay the same parking fee as if they were using change to pay at the machine. Customers will only pay additional costs if they choose optional paid-for services such as text reminders.

It will also mean that all of the parking meters operated by Devon County Council and East Devon District Council will both be using the RingGo system from next month.

To register to use RingGo, either call the standard rate number displayed on the parking meters or visit www.myringgo.co.uk. Vehicle and payment details are required for initial registration.

Once you have registered you will be able to pay via the RingGo app, website or text message service.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: "With restrictions being eased we want everyone to feel safe when they visit our town and city centres, so making cashless parking as convenient as possible is another small way in which we can enable people to limit the spread of the virus and to help support the local economy. Moving to the RingGo system will provide much more convenience for customers across the county as it means that all parking meters in Devon and Torbay, whether they're on-street or in Council car parks, will now use the same service – so people will be able to use the same app for all of them.

"It's quick and easy and saves the hassle of making sure you have the right change, so hopefully it will encourage people to make the most of their visit to the shops. Coins can still be used in our on-street meters, but for anyone paying by cash, please remember to use hand sanitiser before and after paying at the meter."

Notices regarding the new service will be placed on all on-street parking meters and the service will be rolled out over the weekend of Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August. During this transfer period no cashless service will be available and we ask that drivers use coins to pay over this weekend.