A vehicle-portable parking meter device for paying parking charges and for displaying paid parking time comprises a radio-operable two-way pager (304,401) having a display screen (106) and a contact or contactless storage chip. The pager (304,401) can be installed in a vehicle so the screen (106) is visible from outside. The storage chip can be loaded with an amount of credit usable as parking fees and is connectable via a GSM or other radio network (305,306; 404,405) to a payment server (303,403) for paying parking fees by deduction from the amount of credit in the storage chip. The device is arranged for entering an intended parking time and an identification of a parking place, either by manual actuation of the pager (401) or by remote control using a mobile phone (301) so a message corresponding to the intended parking time and parking place is transmitted to the payment server (303,403). The pager's display screen (106) displays paid parking time in correspondence with the intended parking time and with an amount of credit deducted as paid parking fee. Paid parking time is displayed by the display screen (106) in response to a confirmation-of-payment message sent from said payment server (303,403) to the pager (304,401).