<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO REFLECT THE DECEMBER 12, 1997
THREE-FOR-TWO STOCK SPLIT.
</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>                               MAR-31-1997             MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                           7,981                  14,384
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   16,920                  24,061
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                78,627                  53,604
<PP&E>                                          89,934                 127,870
<DEPRECIATION>                                   1,822                   2,417
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 270,765                 516,116
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           87,031                  72,966
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           263                     295
<OTHER-SE>                                      85,173                 237,765
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   270,765                 516,116
<SALES>                                         97,348                 162,411
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                99,423                 165,950
<CGS>                                           74,174                 124,933
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   85,110                 141,573
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,320                   4,962
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 12,993                  19,415
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,678                   7,445
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,315                  11,970
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.32                    0.45
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.32                    0.44