How to pay for parking in spain. Car rental in spain. Car rental in Spain

19.09.2020

As in most major European cities, parking your car in Barcelona is not trivial and can be a little nerve-racking. This is especially true in some central areas during the day.

If you are visiting Barcelona with a foreign registered vehicle and do not have an apartment with a garage, then you need to find a secure parking. Although the city has a large number of parking spaces, car parks in Barcelona have limited space. They also fill up very quickly.

Keep in mind that foreign-registered vehicles are getting more scammers. When leaving your car in the parking lot, make sure your doors and trunk are locked and your windows are closed, or at least not open enough for someone to get in and get something of value.

So let's find out what types of parking lots are available in Barcelona and how they are marked.

Parking types (zones) in Barcelona

There are three types of parking spaces in Barcelona: green zone, blue zone and free zone. In addition, there are special markings for unloading points and bus lanes, on which you can also park for free at certain times.

Green zone (Àrea verda)

Parking spaces in Àrea verda indicated by green markings on the asphalt. These parking lots are primarily intended for local residents who pay only € 1 per week.

For those who do not have a resident card, the price is higher and parking is limited to one or two hours.

These parking spaces are usually free from 20:00 to 08:00 every day, and in some areas also on Saturdays and Sundays. From August 1st to August 31st, all green areas are free due to summer vacations, except for those that are exclusively for local residents.

We recommend that you always pay attention to the next to the parking lot to avoid surprises and to make sure that you have not violated anything. Be aware that on some streets the sidewalk where you can park changes periodically.

Always check the information on the specific sign for your lot of parking spaces.

Vehicles owned by both residents and non-residents can be parked in the green area without restrictions outside the working hours indicated on the sign.

Parking rates in the Green Zone (Àrea verda)

For non-residents, the cost of parking is from € 2.75 to 3.00 depending on the area from 08:00 to 20:00 on weekdays. The rest of the time, parking is free.

Blue zone (Àrea blava)

Parking spaces in Àrea blava indicated by blue markings on the asphalt. These car parks are located near shopping malls, hospitals, schools, etc. The main purpose of these car parks is to provide parking for the maximum number of people visiting the area.

The times when parking in the blue zone is payable coincides with the peak driving times in the city. This is from 09:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00 on weekdays. However, parking in the city center can be charged on Saturdays, and in the beach area on Sundays and public holidays.

Just like in the green area, the side of the sidewalk where you can park may change from time to time.

Parking in the blue zone is currently paid for everyone and is limited in time from 1 to 4 hours, depending on the area. Parking must be paid immediately after stopping at the nearest parking meter.

The issued ticket must be placed under the windshield so that it is clearly visible to the controller. Otherwise, he may issue a fine. Typically, the fine is € 100 for incorrect parking and € 150 for paying a tow truck.

Outside of the specified times, you can park your car in the blue zone for free, so you don't have to leave your ticket on the dashboard.

Parking rates in the Blue Zone (Area blava)

In the blue zone, rates are set based on the existing demand for parking. In Eixample and Ciutat Vella, where there is an increased demand, tariff A applies, while tariff B applies in other areas of Àrea Verda. Tariffs C and D apply in areas where there is less demand for parking.

Free zone

Finding free zones in the city center will be problematic. Basically, such zones are located on the outskirts of the city: in the Zona Universitaria area, in the Poble Sec area (near the Montjuic mountain), in the Bogatell area. In these places you can leave your car for a long time.

The main disadvantage of such parking is that you leave your car far from the center and sometimes even far from the area in which you live. And such parking lots are not guarded and do not provide security guarantees.

However, do not forget that Barcelona is famous for its developed public transport, and you can easily reach any area by metro or bus.

You can also consider options for free parking in the La Maquinista shopping center (Calle Potosí), near the Ikea store (сalle Сiencias 100). However, these car parks may be closed at night.

Here are some more addresses with free parking:

Av.Carmen Amaya, 44, 08902 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat
Carrer d'Enric Bargés, 3, 08014 Barcelona
Carrer de Josep Serrano, 77, 08024 Barcelona
Carrer de la República Dominicana, 264 (La Maquinista), Barcelona
Sagrera, 44, 08027 Barcelona
Carrer de Berenguer de Palou, 78, Barcelona
Passeig de Valldaura, 223 08016, Barcelona
Carrer Bòbiles, 2, 08905 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona

Unloading places

Barcelona has areas dedicated to the loading and unloading of trucks and vans, where you can park a certain type of vehicle for 30 minutes from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 20:00.

These zones are marked with yellow zigzag markings. Outside of the timetable, places with such markings are available for free parking.

Bus lanes

On some bus lanes in the city, you can park for free on weekends. These lanes are usually found on wide streets. Such as, for example, Muntaner or Balmes. In any case, there should always be a sign at the top indicating the availability of parking on weekends.

There must be a sign next to each parking lot indicating to whom and how long can be in this parking lot.

The “Àrea residents” sign means that only residents can use the parking lot. From 08:00 to 20:00 Monday to Friday, a parking ticket is required.

The Àrea preferent sign means that parking is allowed for everyone. However, for non-residents, the maximum parking time is 1 hour. A parking ticket for non-residents is required from 08:00 to 20:00 from Monday to Saturday, and for residents only from Monday to Friday.

The Àrea blava sign means that parking is allowed for everyone. From 09:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00 Monday to Friday, a parking ticket is required. The maximum parking time is 2 hours.

Garages in Barcelona

There are plenty of underground parking spaces in Barcelona. And along the roads there are information boards that indicate where the nearest parking lot is and the number of free places in it.

Unfortunately, they have one significant drawback - their high cost. You can pay from € 17 to 30 per day.On the other hand, if you want to stop for a couple of hours to watch the singing fountains, then underground parking can be considered a perfectly acceptable option.

Advice to all travelers by car !!!

You shouldn't go to the city center unless absolutely necessary. Public transport is well developed in the city: by metro or bus you can easily reach any point in the city center.

If your plans include renting a car on vacation, you should familiarize yourself with the nuances of parking in. In addition, the country has toll tunnels (travel on the 5-kilometer Cadi costs 12.5 euros, and on the 2.5-kilometer Vallvidrera - 3.7-4 euros) and roads, for which both cash and a card are suitable. So, for driving on AP-6 - Adanero (70 km) you will have to pay 12.40 euros, for VAP-7 - (178 km) - 17.20 euros, for AP-41 Madrid - (60 km) - 9.20 Euro.

Features of parking in Spain

If a motorist sees an inscription or a yellow strip on the sidewalk, it means that it is not allowed to leave the car there. To park in Spain, you need to find a parking lot, and if it is marked in blue, it means that you need to pay for a parking space at a machine located nearby.

When exploring some Spanish cities, you can come across the Ora Zona system operating there: its advantage is that the driver can get a parking ticket when visiting a stall or small store (it gives the right to park for 30-90 minutes).

Those who stumble upon underground parking should know: for those entering there, information will be displayed whether there are free or no parking spaces in the parking lot. You need to pay for the parking space at the ticket office located at the exit from the underground parking.

Spanish underground parking lots:

paid underground parking in the shopping center: you can use their services free of charge as part of “free parking hours” (coincides with the siesta time), which can be extended if you buy goods for a certain amount in the shopping center.
paid public underground parking: Typically, Purking public (P) is located in office or residential buildings, and the price of a parking space is set independently by each owner. The working hours of some of them are limited (for example, until 20:00) or lasts around the clock. Free space will be indicated by the libre board. And if there are no places in the parking lot, the ocupado board will light up. If a parking space is reserved (long-term rental) and marked reservado, it means that parking there is prohibited.

Paid surface parking in Spain

Such parking lots, or rather their zones, are painted in different colors. In the blue zone (zona azul), the seat fee is paid at the entrance to a special parking meter. Those who received the coupon must secure it under the windshield. You can leave a car for free in zona azul at night and on weekends. It is worth noting that the blue zone of the coastal regions of the country has its own peculiarities: parking services do not need to be paid for in winter, and in summer, the paid parking time usually increases.

As for the orange (zona naranja) and green (zona verde) zones, they do not give any privileges to autotourists (they can be used by drivers with a resident card and registration in this place).

In Spain, there are special parking zones: in zona residents (for residents) those who live next to it can leave their car. If you see diagonal yellow lines on the asphalt, then you have a loading and unloading area in front of you, which is allowed to be used on weekdays from 8 am to 8 pm for no more than half an hour (you do not need to pay). Important: the “No parking” sign is drawn on the asphalt in the form of a continuous yellow line.

The car of the violator of the parking rules can be evacuated, and to find out its fate, you need to call the Municipal Police Department.

Parking in Spanish cities

Parking at Plaza del Carmen in Madrid costs 0.040 euros / 1 minute (1.22 euros / 30 minutes, 2.15 euros / 1.5 hours, 31.25 euros / day), at Garaje Guva - 2.55 euros / 1 hour (30 euros / 24 hours), and on Vazques de Mella - 1.23 euros / 30 minutes (3.39 euros / 90 minutes, 31.25 euros / 24 hours).

For 1 minute at Villur Parking, motorists will pay 0.65 euros (subsequent minutes are charged at 0.059 euros; the fee for a whole day of parking is 40 euros), for every minute of parking on El Born - 0.044 euros (26.50 euros / day), and for 1 minute for Parking Condal - 0.056 euros (a whole day of parking will cost 30 euros, and overnight parking from 9 pm to 9 am - 20 euros.

Visitors to Valencia can leave their car at Parking Centro (1 minute of parking will cost 0.045 euros, and the whole day - 20 euros), Heroe Romeu (30-minute parking is paid at 1.50 euros, hourly - 2.40 euros, 2- hour - at 4.25 euros, 3-hour - at 6.10 euros, 4-hour - at 7.95 euros, and 5-hour - at 9.80 euros; parking during the day costs 22.65 euros) or Parking Estacion Valencia Nord (the first 15 minutes of parking are free, and from 16 minutes there is a tariff of 0.73 euros; 30 minutes of parking will cost 1.37 euros, and the whole day - 25.80 euros).

To leave a car in Avenida del Mar, you need to pay 8 euros / 12 hours, for Aparcamiento Mercado - 0.05 euros / 1 minute (4.91 euros / 1.5 hours, 0.032 euros / each additional minute, 17 euros / whole day), and on Las Terrazas - € 0.06 / 1 minute (€ 1.5 / 30 minutes, € 0.03 / each additional minute, € 18.20 / whole day).

Car rental in Spain

For car rental you will need an international driver's license and a card with 500 euros on it (security deposit). The age of the autotourist must be at least 21/23 years old. The average rental amount is 30-80 euros / day. If desired, you can purchase extended or insurance with a reduced deductible amount (TPL, PAI, CDW and others).

The Kingdom of Spain amazes with the beauty of unique architectural monuments, which, together with colorful traditions, ancient history and beautiful landscapes, will not leave indifferent any tourist. P. Picasso, S. Dali, A. Gaudí and other famous creators left a huge cultural heritage that annually attracts travelers from all over the world to Spain. When planning a trip to this wonderful country by private car, do not forget that parking in Spain has its own characteristics, without which you can ruin your vacation.

Parking options

In Spain, parking is regulated by local authorities in accordance with the legislation established by the government. Various types of signs and special road markings are used to indicate parking restrictions.

There are ground and underground parking spaces. Underground parking is usually paid. Terrestrial ones can be both paid and free - they differ in the colors of the road markings.

Parking rules in Spain

As in other countries, in Spain, road signs indicating that parking is allowed are rectangular or square, with a white frame and the letter "P".

Parking rules change depending on the day of the week, time of day or a specific week of the month - all this information is indicated on the signs.

If you are traveling by a rented car, the answer to basic questions can be found in the article: ““.

Some locations require a parking permit during business hours called Horas laborables.

There are ticket terminals - expendedores de tickets para estacionamiento in the areas marked with the blue or blue road markings - zona azul. Often, next to such markings there is a sign with the image of a hand lowering a coin. Using such parking, the driver is obliged to buy a ticket and put it under the windshield of the car.

Payment takes place immediately after parking the car. The maximum parking time at one time does not exceed two hours. This parking is usually free on weekends and holidays.

In some cities, zona azul parking works according to the Ora Zona system. In this case, parking tickets can be purchased at tobacco kiosks and other retail outlets. They give the right to stand in the parking lot for 30, 60 or 90 minutes.

In the coastal area, for example in the Costa Brava, parking in the blue zone is free during winter, but it will take longer than usual during summer.

Free parking is available on the streets of Burgas, Murcia, Salamanca and other popular tourist cities in Spain. If the road markings are white or absent at all, this means that parking is allowed.

A parking zone with a yellow line on the road means that parking is prohibited.

A green zona verde or orange zona naranja road marking line indicates the possibility of parking for persons with a special permit or local residents from nearby houses. This is a subset of the blue parking zone, but in this case residents have advantages over city guests.

Next to such a zone is a sign with inscriptions that should be read carefully.

A sign with the words “Area Preferent” allows the car to stop for a maximum of two hours. For residents of the zone where there is such parking, the cost will be several times less, the rest will have to pay the full amount.

On the sign that says "Area Preferent", you also need to look at what hours and on what days you have to pay, and when it is not necessary.

Area Resident allows parking exclusively to residents of the area. Their cars have stickers of a certain color on the windshield, assigned to the given area. If you are not a resident, it is prohibited to leave your car there.

Sometimes a wheelchair sign may be drawn along with blue or yellow lines. He points to the possibility of parking for cars of people with disabilities.

There are also unloading areas where parking is only allowed for unloading and loading for no more than 30 minutes. These zones are free and are marked with yellow diagonal lines on the asphalt.

In many cities, private entrances and garage doors have a sign that reads "Prohibido estacionar". Parking in front of this sign is often prohibited.

In addition, parking is always prohibited in places where there are yellow markings or a solid yellow line on the asphalt, and a sign with a crossed out letter E is located nearby, as well as on:

motorways or toll roads;
in places where the vehicle blocks the visibility or passage of other vehicles;
roads for cyclists or public transport;
pedestrian crossings;
in areas for loading and unloading (more than 30 minutes);
before the sign "Vado Permanente";
in the areas of entry and exit of vehicles;
taxi stands.

You can also leave your car in parking lots in shopping centers or near a store. As a rule, these are paid parking, but in some cases the fee is not charged. For example, large shopping centers have free afternoon hours, which are extended by purchases in the store for a certain amount.

Conditions differ in the underground car park located next to the shops. It is available to customers absolutely free of charge, provided that they make purchases in the store. To take advantage of this offer, you must present your parking ticket upon exiting at the checkout.

Parking Publico is a paid underground car park located in commercial and residential buildings and usually occupies several floors (for example, as a multi-storey car park in Malaga). There is a sign at the entrance indicating the number of vacant seats. The inscription “libre” means that there are vacant places, and “ocupado” - that there are no places, respectively.

Parking maps in Spain

As a rule, the number of parking spaces on the streets in the center of major tourist cities or near famous landmarks, for example, near the Alhambra in Granada, is very limited.

Therefore, to find a parking space, it is better to use such special Internet services as Car Parking Europe or Parkopedia. There is also an interactive map with the exact address of parking lots and their rates.

Free parking spaces in big cities are mostly located on the outskirts and are often not indicated on maps.
For example, finding free parking in Barcelona on the map is almost impossible. On the popular Parclick service, you will see more than 200 parking lots, but all of them will be paid.

Take a sociological survey!

The cost of parking in big cities

The average cost of parking in the capital of Spain will cost 1.5-3 euros per hour, and the price for 24 hours will range from 25 euros and more.

In Valencia, an hour of parking costs 2-3.5 euros, while the cost per day at some parking lots within the city does not exceed 8 euros, while the average price per day in the central part of the city reaches 17-25 euros.

In Seville, an hour of parking costs 1-2 euros. There are also several parking lots where the first hour of parking will be free. They will take an average of 18-20 euros per day.

In the central part of Bilbao, the price of parking per hour is 2-3 euros, and per day - 16-18 euros.

In Barcelona, \u200b\u200ban hour of parking costs an average of 2-4 euros, and a day - 26-35 euros.

Some car parks, such as the SABA private car park network, offer customers a subscription for a certain number of days or months. Their purchase will allow you to save 80% and more per month if you take into account the daily cost of parking.

In this case, the private parking space will be marked “plaza reservada” or “reservado”, and no one else can park a car there.

How to pay for parking

Payment for a parking space in an outdoor parking lot takes place in the parking meters, which are located along the parking zone. Cash and credit cards are accepted for payment.

The payment system is simple: choose the required amount of time, insert a card or throw coins and press the payment button. Sometimes vending machines do not provide for change, so when using cash, you should take care of changing it in advance.

The receipt will indicate until what time you can leave the car. If the paid interval includes free hours, they will be automatically added and taken into account in the time marked on the receipt.

In the underground parking at the entrance in front of the barrier, a ticket is taken from the machine. Payment takes place upon returning to the car. It is necessary to insert the coupon into the terminal for payment, then the amount for payment will be displayed. After that, the terminal will issue a ticket, which is presented at the exit from the parking lot.

A sample parking ticket includes the following information:

date of validity;
time of leaving the parking lot;
the cost for the used parking space;
payment time;
ticket number.

Penalties

In recent years, fines for incorrect parking in Spain have increased significantly. A minor violation of the rules leads to the accrual of a penalty in the amount of 100 euros and more (or 20% less for prompt payment).

If the vehicle is towed, an additional towing fee of about 100 euros will be charged.

Conclusion

Tourists in Spain who do not know the parking rules can face difficulties during the entire vacation. To avoid these problems will help understanding a few basic rules: when parking, you should always pay attention to the road markings and their color along the side of the road, as well as the inscriptions of signs.
Free parking is available on the outskirts in medium-sized cities, while large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona are practically non-existent, so paid parking is a better option.
Parking in Spain: Video

Do not forget that when refueling a vehicle, your mobile phone must be switched off.

Traffic rules in Spain

Most of the Spanish roads are equipped with cameras that record the speed of vehicles passing by and transmit the data to the nearest police station. If you break the speed limit, a police officer will stop you and punish you financially. In order to avoid further trouble, it is worth paying this fine.

It is only required to use dipped headlights during the day in tunnels. The use of anti-radars in Spain is strictly prohibited. For this violation, a colossal fine is imposed - 6,000 euros.

When renting a car, you need to make sure that there are two warning stop signs, a spare tire and a vest with reflective stripes.

In Spain, it is strictly enforced that drivers use seat belts, and special restraints are purchased for children. You can drive and talk on the phone at the same time only using the speakerphone. If you do not follow this rule, your wallet will be seriously damaged.

Fines in Spain

Violation of traffic rules in Spain will inevitably lead to the fact that you have to pay a fine in an amount depending on the severity of the offense. For example, speeding in Spain is considered a serious violation, especially if the speed is exceeded by more than 50% of the established speed. In this case, a summons about a fine can come by mail. In this case, the penalty receipt received from the policeman must be paid on the spot. This is a prerequisite for foreign citizens. The advantage will be that for payment on the spot there is a 50% discount.

Exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 km / h - from 100 to 600 euros
A trip to a red traffic light - 200-300 euros.
Neglecting seat belts - 200 euros.
Calling by phone - 200 euros.
Driving into the oncoming lane - from 400 to 500 euros.
Drunk driving - from 500 euros.

Most small towns in Spain have traffic lights that are controlled by radars. If you exceed the speed limit, the traffic light will automatically turn on the red light.

Payment of fines in Spain online

If the summons about the fine came by mail, then you can pay the fine online, with a credit card from any of the major payment systems, for example, Maestro or Visa. To do this, in your computer browser, you must activate the option that allows you to accept cookies. Detailed instructions on how to pay online fines issued in Spain can be found.

Surprisingly, in Spain there are conditions, the observance of which will allow you to get a certain discount when paying fines. For example, if you hurry up and make a payment within 15 days from the moment of establishing the offense, the amount of the fine can be reduced by 50%. However, taking advantage of such a discount and paying a lower amount, you thereby lose the right to appeal the offense in an administrative manner.

Toll roads in Spain

To use the toll roads, the tourist will have to fork out a little. The amount of payment directly depends on the distance. You can pay for the service either by credit card or in cash.

On such roads, there are special lanes at the entrance and exit from them, which are indicated by a blue circle with white lines in a square. These lanes are intended for local residents who have cars with an automatic toll device on such a road. The fare has been increased since January 2019 on some Spanish roads.

You can see the fares for the main toll roads in Spain.

In addition to toll roads, there are toll tunnels near Barcelona:

Cadi (length 5 kilometers): motor vehicles - 9.83 euros, cars - 12.08 euros, trucks and cars with a trailer - 26.36 euros.
Vallvidrera (length 2.5 kilometers): during rush hour - motorcycles - 3.38 euros, cars - 3.34 euros; off rush hour - motorcycles € 3.01, cars € 3.86.

Parking in Spain

Highlights

In the heart of major Spanish cities, it is always difficult to find a free parking space, especially free. The area marked in blue means that the parking lot must be paid at a nearby machine. In some places, parking in the daytime on weekdays without a special document is generally prohibited.

Underground parking lots at the entrance have information about free places or about their complete absence. There is a cash register at the exit from a parking of this kind.

Some Spanish cities have the Ora Zona system. It allows you to purchase a parking ticket in a small supermarket or stall, which will allow you to park your car for a short time from half an hour to 90 minutes.

It is forbidden to leave the car on the sidewalk with a yellow stripe or Vado inscription.

Despite the fact that everything looks very difficult, it will not be difficult to park correctly in Spain if you study the issue in advance and familiarize yourself with certain rules that are in many ways similar to Russian traffic rules. The main one of these rules is that parking is allowed only in specially designated areas. At the same time, it is important to note the fact that compliance with this rule is closely monitored not only by policemen, but also by local residents. Therefore, you do not need to take risks and rely on luck when parking near a house that has a parking sign prohibiting parking. The owner of the house will not turn a blind eye to this and will definitely call a tow truck.

Of course, as with any rule, there are exceptions. For example, during a football match, the police will not issue a fine if you leave your car near the stadium. In other cases, when faced with difficulties in finding a parking space, you should not take risks and break the law - look for paid parking.

There are enough paid parking lots in Spain and it won't be difficult to find them. There are both underground and surface parking lots.

Underground car parks in Spain

Paid underground parking in shopping centers

Often any shopping center in Spain has a paid parking lot. However, you can use parking absolutely free of charge - this opportunity is provided by almost all large commercial centers, subject to certain conditions. For example, if you visit a shopping center during the so-called “free parking hours” (usually siesta time), there is no charge for parking your car in the parking lot. Moreover, it is possible to extend this time by simply shopping for a certain amount.

Along with large shopping centers, there is the possibility of free parking in regular grocery stores. To do this, you just need to show your parking ticket to the cashier when you pay for your purchases.

Public underground paid parking

In Spanish cities, public parking is marked with a special symbol “P” (Parking publico). Such parking lots are usually located in residential and office buildings, and despite the fact that they are called public, it will not be possible to park on them for free. Public parking is private property, so the cost of services, as well as the opening hours, may vary and depend on the owner of a particular parking lot. This can be a 24-hour mode, or a more abbreviated version, for example, until eight in the evening.

Before using the public parking service, we advise you to familiarize yourself with the conditions of its work in advance. And you should start by studying the information that is indicated on the board located directly under the pointer. If the word "ocupado" is lit on the board, then all the seats are occupied, otherwise you will see the word "libre" - there are free seats.

Another feature of Spanish underground car parks is the ability to rent a parking space for a long time. When choosing an empty seat, pay attention to whether the empty space is marked with the designation "plaza reservada" or a more abbreviated version - "reservado". This means that the designated place is reserved for a long time and you cannot park here.

Surface paid parking

In Spain, paid surface parking zones are usually marked with different colors.

Blue zone

This parking zone is the most common option. It is called “zona azul” in Spanish and is denoted by a special blue dotted line on the roadway, as well as an icon in the form of a drawing, which shows a hand dropping a coin. Please note the difference in the payment system. Unlike underground parking, payment is not made upon departure, but immediately after you have parked. For the convenience of paying in the blue zone, there are special parking meters designed to pay for parking depending on the time you need. The coupon received from the parking meter must be placed in a clearly visible place under the windshield. The presence of such a ticket is vigilantly monitored by employees of the blue zone. And do not forget to extend the parking time if it has expired, and leave the ticket with additional payment in the same conspicuous place. A careless attitude to timely payment can lead to undesirable consequences - you can be issued a fine, and the car can be taken to an impound parking lot.

The blue parking zone in Spain is designed specifically to prevent large congestions of cars left on the streets, and therefore it is not usually considered a place for long-term parking. That is why you will not be able to purchase a parking ticket for several hours at once. The maximum number of hours for one payment is no more than two hours.

It should be noted that paid parking can significantly hit your pocket, because the average price for 1 hour is from 1 to 3 euros. But there are also positive aspects - on weekends, as well as at night, there is no payment for parking in the blue zone.

Paid parking hours may differ depending on which city you are in; details are always indicated on the sign. Basically, you will have to pay for parking:

from 9:00 to 16:00, and from 16:00 to 20:00 - on weekdays,
from 9:00 to 14:00 - on Saturday.

The coastal area has its own characteristics. In winter, parking in the blue zone can be used free of charge, but in summer, the paid parking time can be increased, so we recommend that you learn about these features in advance.

Orange or green zone

These zones are designed for parking under special conditions, and you can find it in almost any major city in Spain. In fact, here we are dealing with the same blue zone, but such it is exclusively for those who are not fortunate enough to live in the neighborhood. The owners of cars who live nearby can enjoy a number of advantages, from preferential prices for paying for parking and ending with the ability to leave the car for a long time (from a week to 3 months).

For other car owners, the parking rules, as well as payment, will not differ much from the blue zone. You can pay for parking at a time with a time limit (up to 2 hours), moreover, you can use the parking only on set days of the week. Most often these are weekdays, with rare exceptions when parking is possible on Saturday. Parking times are from 8:00 to 20:00.

What is the difference between the orange and green zones? There are no differences in the very purpose of the zone. It's just that in some cities zones are designated differently. For example, the green ("zona verde") zone will be designated in Madrid and Barcelona, \u200b\u200band in Zaragoza and Valencia, the same zone will be marked in orange, and will be called "zona naranja".

Recall that only car owners with a resident card can use the privileges of this parking lot. At the same time, there must be a registration in this place.

Special parking areas

In addition to public parking areas, there are also specialized parking spaces, access to which is significantly limited, as well as areas where parking is prohibited in principle. These areas include the following categories.

Resident area - marked with the “zona residentes” icon and is intended exclusively for parking of cars owned by nearby residents.

Loading and unloading area - denoted by markings made on the asphalt in the form of diagonal yellow lines. It is allowed to use it only for the purpose of loading or unloading at a strictly allotted time: from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 20:00. Moreover, there are restrictions on the duration of parking - no more than 30 minutes. There is no charge for using such a zone.

No Parking. It doesn't matter what city you are in - the designation of such a zone will be the same. If there is a continuous yellow line on the asphalt, it is best not to park in this area.

What to do if your car was evacuated in Spain

In most cases, the reason for this is the violation of the rules in force on the territory of this state. Before you park, be sure to pay attention to the no-parking warning signs. Usually in Spain they are installed in the following zones:

Also, be sure that you will not find your vehicle if you park it on a double solid line or in a place where your vehicle will obstruct other traffic or pedestrians.

Please note that tow truck services in Spain are by no means cheap and prices may vary depending on the city. The most painful thing on your wallet will be the evacuation of a car in Madrid, Barcelona and Zaragoza. The more “loyal” cities in this regard include Leon, Melilla and Jaen.

You broke the rules, but managed to arrive at the place before the car was loaded onto the tow truck? In part, you are lucky and there is a chance to negotiate with a service employee. If you're lucky, you can only get off with a verbal warning. Otherwise, you cannot do without paying a fine, just do not forget to demand a receipt for payment.

Is it possible to refuse to pay for tow truck services at all? You can, but in this case the car will remain in the parking lot and you will not be allowed to pick it up from there. So, as you can see, this is not an option, and, unfortunately, you will have to pay.

And one more nuance. The presence of unpaid fines in your possession will not be the basis for hindering the return of the car from the parking lot. You will be allowed to pick up the car, requiring you to pay only the costs of the current evacuation.

Luck was not on your side and the car was evacuated after all? The first thing to do is call the Municipal Police Department. Here you can get information about the location of the parking lot, from where you have to pick up the car in the near future.

How to pick up a car from a parking lot in Spain?

The easiest way in this situation is for those who own the evacuated vehicle. In this case, you will need to present a driver's license, as well as an identity document. In addition, you may be asked to show the documents for the car.

The worst case will be if the car is not yours and the owner is another person. You will need to provide not only an official permission for the right to use (power of attorney) from the owner of the car, but also his documents.

We also advise you not to aggravate the situation by making too insistent demands to return your car in case it was evacuated at the end of the working day and the parking lot is already closed. Please be patient before the start of a new working day, because in this situation no "cases-exceptions" are provided.

Summing up: do not violate the established traffic rules, park your car only in the right places, do not neglect the services of paid parking - and you can completely protect yourself from many unpleasant situations and unplanned expenses.

august 2012

I would immediately like to appeal to those who ate the dog on this topic, if possible, do not rush to phrases like: I also have Newton's binomial, discovered America, etc. I will be very happy if my information will help at least one who thinks but doubts. Because autotriping is always interesting and exciting.

Many people rightly believe that taking a car on vacation is a kind of stressful factor. It seems like I came to rest, but here again at the wheel. But the roads in Europe, as you know, are very good, and, probably, only there I got real pleasure from driving. Here is an example of a typical Spanish toll motorway. Counter streams are always separated. There are at least two lanes in each direction.

Example of a toll highway

Another such road. The toll highway is indicated on the signs with the inscription Toll. A little about how the payment of tolls on toll highways is arranged. In certain areas, the road expands several times (signs warn about the approach of such a place in advance), there are a number of barriers across the road (as at the entrance to airport terminals), you need to drive up to one of them, press a button and get a ticket, the barrier will open. This ticket fixes the place of entry. After overcoming a certain section, the road expands again, again a series of barriers. Some of them are equipped with automatic machines for accepting money, some with booths where cashiers work, all this is also indicated by signs from above. I drove this way and that way. More often through cashiers. The distance of the road along which you go without meeting these points is different everywhere. For example, if you go from Blanes to Barcelona, \u200b\u200bthere are as many as 3 of them 70 km away, each time for 1.5 euros. But from Tarragona to Valencia, at a distance of 260 km, there is only one, but he will immediately take 24 euros. It happens that money is taken immediately before entering a paid site. For example, Andorra has a five-kilometer Tunnel del Cadi, which will charge 12 euros for travel immediately upon entry. In the row of barriers there are many points of passage for holders of certain cards. I guess it's kind of like a season ticket. By the way, I would be grateful if someone from the community could tell you how it works.

Highway signs

And this is a free road. One lane each way, limited overtaking opportunities.

Free road

Sometimes, when traveling through picturesque places with beautiful views, you can find such a sign. This means that literally in a hundred meters there will be a special parking pocket so that you can take pictures and not experience any inconvenience.

Special sign

Another one of these pockets.

One of the pockets

In Portugal, it is very convenient to alert drivers about refueling in the direction of travel. With distance to them and even prices.

Alerting drivers about gas stations

Now to city driving. This is Madrid. Dedicated lane for public transport and taxis with a special stop. Once, while in Malaga, I drove into this lane by mistake. Taxers, of course, went nuts from such impudence. I had to retire sooner.

Madrid. Dedicated lane for public transport

Zaragoza. Also a dedicated lane, but for cyclists.

Zaragoza. Dedicated lane for cyclists

In the old cities of Spain, such as Seville or Granada, traffic in the center goes along very narrow streets.

Seville. Center movement

The central squares and pedestrian zones are separated from the carriageway by columns. In principle, it's convenient, you can't be mistaken that you entered the wrong place.

Pedestrian areas are separated by posts

Gradually, we move from traffic to parking lots. Parking in European cities is probably the most daunting factor for anyone considering renting a car. Indeed, if you look for free parking, and even close to the center, you can often see such a picture. This is the city of Algeciras.

Algeciras city

It often happens that parking is completely impossible. Also Algeciras.

Algeciras. It is impossible to park

But in reality, everything is not so scary. In the overwhelming majority of cases, parking can be found, and it is often even easier in the center than outside it. These are underground parking lots. Take Valencia, for example. The very center, you can see the tour bus in the background. And in front of the car briskly dives down the arched descent. The parking sign has an electronic board on which LIBER is lit, that is, it is free. This is an expensive option. If you leave your car in such a parking lot, go for a walk for 3-4 hours, it will cost 8-10 euros. In Barcelona on La Rambla I got 12 euros off. But this is the maximum. More than 12 euros, I have not paid anywhere else.

Valencia. Entrance to the underground parking

An example of a two-way entrance to an underground parking. Malaga.

Malaga. Two-way entrance to the underground parking

The only time I met such an inscription at the parking lot, informing that all the places are taken.

All seats are taken

In addition to underground, there are also multi-level aboveground ones, such as this one, for example. Empty, most likely due to the fact that this is most likely a shopping center that has finished its work. Also Valencia.

Valencia. Multilevel overground parking

You can always have multi-level parking lots in reserve, it is expensive, but a reliable option. In second place in terms of attractiveness are municipal parking lots. They are marked with blue paint on the asphalt. The scheme is simple. You find a place, park the car, go to the machine and throw coins. Prices are much lower. For a couple of euros, you can keep the car for 3-4 hours. The vending machine issues a receipt, which indicates the end time of the parking.

Municipal parking designation

This photo shows a payment machine. Andorra la Vella.

Andorra la Vella. Payment machine

Free it, i.e. deliver and not pay, it will not work. From time to time, a special uncle appears, who controls the presence of coupons under the glass of the car. Filmed in the city of Cartagena. Such parking is also less reliable - they can open a wheelbarrow. It is important that after 18:00 paid parking turns into free. And the tariff starts ticking again only from 9:30 the next morning. Therefore, especially in the evening there is a real hunt for such places. On weekends, by the way, it's also free.