The RACQ has renewed its battle against car park prices in Brisbane's CBD after its research revealed the city had the most expensive short-term parking costs in the country. 
The motoring club's research showed it cost an average $15.03 for 30 minutes' off-road parking in Brisbane's CBD, compared with $13.56 in Sydney and $10.71 in Melbourne.
For one hour, Brisbane motorists paid $27.63, compared with $27.60 in Sydney and $19.47 in Melbourne.
RACQ spokesman Paul Turner said Brisbane motorists needed to "vote with their wheels" to send a message to the city's commercial car park operators by avoiding the more expensive options.
He said motorists should "shop around" online and book their car parks in advance.
"It's not something we're used to doing for parking, but it's something we can do more of," Mr Turner said.
"Plan ahead, go online and shop around because you can get better rates if you book in advance online."
Mr Turner said the RACQ's concerns were not so much about people who commuted to work; public transport was usually a good option, he said.
But rather, it was concerned about the city's night time economy.
Mr Turner said there was an economic cost associated with the high prices that went beyond the drivers' wallets.
"What we're talking about is the future of the CBD as a destination and while public transport plays a role, it's only part of the solution," he said.
"Public transport doesn't always operate at the times people want to come into the CBD and our concern is the CBD is pricing itself out of being a centre for entertainment, dining, the ability to watch a movie, when it's such an expensive area to park."
Mr Turner said the best options for motorists were the Brisbane City Council-operated car parks at King George Square and Wickham Terrace.
"You've basically got two commercial operators in Brisbane and then you've got the BCC," he said.
"Now BCC prices are pretty good. They drove the average down a bit, but the prices in Brisbane are still pretty poor."
Brisbane compared more favourably with the southern capitals when it came to longer-term parking.
For two hours, Brisbane drivers in the CBD paid $45.26, compared to $53.45 in Sydney and $38.70 in Melbourne.
Brisbane drivers paid an average $68.68 for four hours' off-road CBD parking ($74.31 in Sydney and $63.74 in Melbourne) and $71.18 for eight hours ($75.78 in Sydney and $65.81 in Melbourne).
Mr Turner said Brisbane's CBD on-street parking was the cheapest of the three major cities.