<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO REFLECT THE EFFECTS
RECAPITALIZATION AND INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING IN OCTOBER 1995 AND THE SUBSEQUENT
STOCK SPLITS DESCRIBED IN NOTE 9 TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000949298
<NAME> CENTRAL PARKING CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          28,605                   9,979
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   11,998                  17,162
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                45,422                  39,600
<PP&E>                                          38,188                  79,057
<DEPRECIATION>                                   3,420                   5,875
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 107,212                 234,014
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           25,715                  48,831
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
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<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           262                     263
<OTHER-SE>                                      76,531                  96,588
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   107,212                 234,014
<SALES>                                        143,316                 222,976
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               147,452                 232,118
<CGS>                                          108,965                 171,697
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  126,384                 195,124
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                   4,582
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 21,068                  32,412
<INCOME-TAX>                                     7,232                  12,207
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                       0
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<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,836                  20,205
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .53                     .77
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .53                     .77