Parking lines in Spain are blue and white. Rent a car in Spain. Some features of Spanish traffic rules

Parking rules in Spain. Spanish parking is practically no different from ours: the same prohibitory signs, unauthorized spaces and fairly large fines for non-compliance with the rules. Therefore, if you are going to rent or buy a car, then brush up on your knowledge of parking rules - it will never be superfluous.

It is worth noting that the police are very vigilant about parking rules and should not be underestimated. Also, compliance with the rules is monitored by local residents, who can call a tow truck at any moment. However, there are exceptional cases, for example, football and a huge accumulation of cars near the stadium - the police turn a blind eye to this.

Underground parking

Absolutely all large shopping centers have paid underground parking. But, if you follow some simple rules, parking may be free for you. Some commercial centers develop paid/free parking schedules, usually in the afternoon. Also, a condition for providing a place may be the purchase of goods for a certain amount.

Parking in residential buildings is very popular; out of ignorance they continue to be called urban, although all of them have long been in private ownership. Such parking is marked with a “P” sign, and the availability of free spaces is displayed on a digital display. You should pay attention to their work schedule, some operate around the clock, others are already closed at 20:00 so that there are no incidents.

Many parking lots rent out spaces for long-term rent, so such spaces are marked, and even if there is no car there, you still do not have the right to park your vehicle there.

Surface parking

Surface parking is more strictly regulated and is divided into three main zones:

  • Blue. This is the most common zone, which is marked on the asphalt with a broken blue line with a drawing of a hand dropping a coin. The principle of its operation is simple: you park, go to a special parking meter and pay for the time you need. Place the received receipt under the windshield so that the controller can check it without any problems. Please note that the blue zone is not intended for long-term stays, the maximum parking time is 2 hours, if after the time has passed you have not picked up the car, the controller may impose a fine or even call a tow truck. The cost of a space ranges from 2 to 3 euros, but at certain times and days of the week, parking in blue zones is free, the regime is individual for each region. Pay attention to areas close to the beach: in winter they are free, but in summer it’s the other way around.
  • Orange or green. They exist in large cities and are considered a subtype of the previously discussed zone with some conditions. These areas are designed specifically for residents who can verify their status. Favorable conditions have been created for them, for example, they can leave a car for up to 7 days in a row (in some cases up to 90 days), the cost is much lower. Non-residents, in turn, can only buy a ticket for 1-2 hours of parking and at a strictly designated time for this. So there is no such difference between green and orange, it’s just that different cities use a different marking color and that’s all.
  • Parking for residents. These zones are intended only for those car owners who live next to the parking lot. The markings can be made in green or orange with a special pointer.

It is also worth remembering that the area marked with yellow diagonal lines is intended for loading/unloading vehicles. The maximum time for one machine is 30 minutes, it works strictly from 8 to 20 hours and is free. Those places where parking is completely prohibited are highlighted in yellow.

As in most major European cities, parking a car in Barcelona is not a trivial task and can be a bit nerve-wracking. This is especially true in some central areas during the daytime.

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

Keep in mind that cars with foreign registration receive more attention from scammers. When leaving your car in a parking lot, make sure your doors and trunk are locked and your windows are closed, or at least not open enough to allow someone to break in and get something valuable.

So, let's figure out what types of parking there are in Barcelona and how they are marked.

Types of parking (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 areas and lanes for buses, where you can also park for free at certain times.

Green zone (Àrea verda)

Parking spaces in Àrea verda are indicated by green markings painted 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 lots are usually free from 20:00 to 08:00 every day, and in some areas also on Saturdays and Sundays. From 1st to 31st August, all green areas are free of charge due to summer holidays, except those reserved exclusively for local residents.

We recommend that you always pay attention to parking areas nearby to avoid surprises and make sure you don't break anything. Please be aware that on some streets the sidewalk where you can park changes periodically.

Always check the information on the specific sign for your parking area.

Vehicles owned by both residents and non-residents may be parked in the green zone without restrictions outside of the operating hours indicated on the sign.

Parking tariffs in the Green Zone (Àrea verda)

For non-residents, parking costs 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 are indicated by blue markings painted on the asphalt. These parking lots are located near shopping centers, hospitals, schools, etc. The main purpose of these parking lots is to provide parking for the maximum number of people visiting the area.

The times when parking in the blue zone is subject to payment coincides with peak traffic 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 may be charged on Saturdays, and in the beach area on Sundays and public holidays.

Just like in the green zone, the side of the sidewalk where you can park may change periodically.

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 illegal parking and €150 for a tow truck.

Outside these times, you will be able to park your car in the blue zone for free, so there is no need to leave a ticket on your dashboard.

Parking tariffs in the Blue Zone (Àrea blava)

In the blue zone, tariffs are set based on existing parking demand. In Eixample and Ciutat Vella, where there is increased demand, tariff A applies, while tariff B applies in other residential 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 Montjuic Mountain), in the Bogatell area. You can leave your car in these places for a long time.

The main disadvantage of this type of 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.

Although we must not forget that Barcelona is famous for its developed public transport, and you can easily get to any area by metro or bus.

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

Here are a few 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 Bobiles, 2, 08905 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona

Unloading areas

In Barcelona there are areas designated for loading and unloading of trucks and minibuses, 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 the scheduled times, spaces marked with these signs are available for free parking.

Bus lanes

Some city bus lanes offer free parking on weekends. Typically such lanes are found on wide streets. Such as Muntaner or Balmes, for example. In any case, there should always be a sign above indicating the possibility of parking on weekends.

Next to each parking lot there must be a sign indicating who can stay in this parking lot and for how long.

The "Area residents" sign means that only residents can use the parking lot. A parking ticket is required from 08:00 to 20:00 Monday to Friday.

The “Àrea preferent” sign means that parking is permitted for everyone. However, for non-residents the maximum parking time is 1 hour. A parking ticket is required for non-residents 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 permitted for everyone. From 09:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00 from Monday to Friday, a parking ticket is required. Maximum parking time is 2 hours.

Garages in Barcelona

Barcelona has a sufficient number of underground parking lots. And along the roads there are information boards that indicate where the nearest parking lot is and the number of free spaces in it.

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

Advice to all travelers by car!!!

You should not go to the city center unless absolutely necessary. Public transport is well developed in the city: you can easily get to any point in the city center by metro or bus.

Parking on the streets of Spain

Tourists who come on holiday to Spain and use car rental services are certainly faced with the need to park their four-wheeled friend. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself in advance with the rules in force in Spain for motorists. Otherwise, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise in the form of a large fine, or even worse, the car will be towed to the impound lot.
According to the established rules, you can park your car only in specially designated areas. Police officers, municipal employees, as well as the townspeople themselves are closely monitoring the observance of order.
All parking in Spain can be divided into private (parking privado) and public (parking publico).
📍 Private parking can only be used by a limited number of people, for example, employees of a company or enterprise on whose territory the parking is located, as well as owners of apartments in the residential complex where the parking is located. Third-party car owners are prohibited from using private parking lots. If you leave your car there and the residents of the house or company employees notice this, they will most likely call a tow truck, and your “iron horse” will end up in the impound lot.
📍 Public parking is intended for use by an unlimited number of persons. They can be underground and above ground, as well as paid and free. Almost all large commercial centers, supermarkets and business centers have underground parking for their clients and visitors. Most often, they are paid. However, when making a purchase in a store or visiting some establishments, parking is provided free of charge. To do this, you must provide a parking ticket at the checkout when paying for goods or services. In addition, large supermarkets set free parking hours to attract more customers.

In urban areas, you can often find a P sign indicating a public parking lot located nearby. Usually under such a sign there is a glowing sign indicating the number of free seats. Sometimes it is replaced by a ticker with the words “Libre” (which means there are free seats) or “Ocupado” (there are no free seats). Most of these parking lots are also private, and a fee is charged for their use, which is made when the car leaves the parking lot.
Visitors to the parking lot should always pay attention to the opening hours. Sometimes the parking schedule coincides with the schedule of shops, offices, and institutions, although there are also 24-hour parking lots that can be used at any time.
When using public parking, two points must be taken into account: firstly, you cannot park your car in spaces designated for the disabled, marked accordingly, unless you have the appropriate permission. Secondly, in such parking lots there are spaces paid for under a long-term lease agreement and marked with signs “reservado”/“plaza reservada” (space reserved) or a sign with the registration number of the car that has the right to park in this place.

Surface paid parking along streets and avenues in Spain is divided into several zones, designated by different colors:
🚗 blue zone (Zona Azul/Area Blava). This is the most common form of surface paid parking in Spanish cities. Parking spaces are marked with a broken blue line on the asphalt and a sign depicting a hand dropping a coin. Payment for parking services is made in advance, that is, for the estimated time during which the car will be parked in this zone. At a machine (parking meter) located nearby, you must pay for parking and receive a paper ticket indicating the time during which the car can be parked, and place it under the windshield. If the paid period has expired, you must remove the car or make a new payment. The presence of a payment coupon is strictly controlled by municipality employees. If you are late in paying for parking, they will issue you a receipt with a fine, which can be paid directly at the same parking meter as the parking itself. This procedure is called “anular denuncia”; the check for payment of the fine, together with the issued receipt, must be placed in a small window located in the parking meter (usually in its lower part).
Features of using this parking area are:
– the maximum number of hours that can be paid for at one time is 2 hours, since the blue zone is not intended for long-term parking. In addition, most often, a minimum parking period is set, which is usually 30 minutes.
– the cost of an hour of parking in the blue zone varies in autonomies, provinces and even municipalities (from 1 to 3 euros/hour).
– the blue parking zone is paid during certain hours, the so-called peak hours: from 9 to 14 hours and from 16-17 to 19-20 hours, and on Saturday only from 9 to 14 hours. On Sunday, parking in the blue zone is free, as is the case at night.
🚗 green zone (Zona Verde/Area preferent) exists in Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Seville, Palma de Mallorca. When parking in this zone, residents living nearby have significant advantages over other car owners, non-residents. In this zone, parking costs for residents are significantly lower than for tourists and non-residents. In addition, in the green zone, residents can leave their car for several days at once without having to constantly run to the parking meter and pay for parking hours. Typically this period is up to 7 days, although some municipalities provide residents with the right to park their car for as long as 3 months. To enjoy these benefits, you must obtain a resident card from your local administration. To do this, you will need: a resident card (permiso de residencia) or passport, a certificate of residence (volante del empadronamiento) in the given municipality and a receipt for payment of vehicle tax for the current year.
🚗 orange zone (Zona naranja) exists in Valencia, Zaragoza and some other large cities. This zone is a complete analogue of the green zone.
🚗 zone for residents (Zona Residentes/Area Residents). Only car owners living nearby have the right to park in this zone. Most often, these parking spaces are marked in green or orange.
In addition to the above-mentioned parking zones, in Spain special sections of the road are designated for unloading and loading. Such zones are marked on the asphalt with diagonal yellow lines. Parking in these areas is limited to unloading and loading only, and the maximum stopping time varies from 15 to 30 minutes. Restrictions apply from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The use of such zones is free.
Of course, you need to remember about places where parking is completely prohibited. Such areas are marked with yellow color and a crossed out letter E (No Estacionar), as well as similar signs prohibiting parking, which include:
❌ taxi rank;
❌ area for loading and unloading goods;
❌ transport entry and exit zone (underground and above-ground garages and parking lots);
❌ areas reserved for use by emergency services (Ambulancia, Policía Local, Protección Civil);
❌ pedestrian zones closed to traffic;
❌ pedestrian crossings;
❌ roadsides with prohibitory markings in the form of a solid yellow stripe.

Convenient, in the off-season - quite affordable and eliminates the need for public transport.

But where there are cars, there are traffic police and fines.
I will not remind you about expired rights and...
Now let’s look at what the process of getting a Spanish fine and paying it looks like.

How to get a fine for illegal parking in Spain

We arrive by plane, take a car, drive to the city, park the car on the street.
We don’t pay attention to the yellow or blue stripe along the sidewalk - the Spaniards are generally funny people - they paint the asphalt with multi-colored stripes. Contemporary art, perhaps.
The inspector passes by, and that's it - we got a fine for illegal parking.

How much is a fine for illegal parking in Spain?

Depending on the locality, the amount of the fine can range from 30 to 80 euros.
By the way, stopping to pee on the side of a toll road costs 150 euros. This is true, by the way.
The good side, if in such a case as a fine, there can be a good side - by paying the fine within 10 days from the receipt of the receipt, we receive a 50% discount.

The car is a rental car - let the rental car pay the fine!

Although the idea seems logical, it doesn't actually happen. And this is what happens: we end our vacation. Rested and cheerful, we return home, and about a month later, we receive a letter from the rental company.
After skimming through it, we get an unpleasant surprise: we were fined 60 euros for illegal parking in the outskirts of Barcelona.
Remembering the 50% discount, we read the letter to the point where the rental company reports that it has withdrawn 36.30 euros from our account. Of these, 30 euros, for one thing and 6.30 for something else.

We are not strong in Spanish, so we come to the logical conclusion: the rental company paid a fine for us and charged 6.30 euros “for the trouble.”
We check the movement of money in our account. We make sure that the money has gone to Spain and breathe a sigh of relief - the fine has been paid.

Now the most important thing about fines in Spain, on rental cars

I ask everyone to sit down, and for those with weak hearts and heart problems, prepare some valerian.
Money taken by the rental company from your account a month after you returned the car is not a fine.
This is payment for the rental company pawning you to the police.
Yes, yes – you read that right. Exactly.
The police asked for the driver's details, the rental company sent them your home address, and charged 36.30 euros for it.

You yourself must understand - firstly, mortgaging you is a very complex and time-consuming process that cannot be cheap. And secondly, this is a service you desperately need, for which you are happy to pay.

Sarcasm aside, let's move on to the main question:

What to do with a Spanish fine?

If you have strong nerves and never, never intend to come to Europe again, and you do not have any property or bank accounts in Spain, you don’t have to pay the fine.

Although they will poison your life with letters and vague hints about possible difficulties with visas, the Spanish government has no real opportunity to grab you firmly by the gills and hold you accountable. At least not at the time of this writing.

If you plan to come again, or have just bought an inexpensive but nice one, you need to pay a fine.
The bad news is that usually when we receive a letter about a fine, there is no longer an opportunity to pay it with a discount.

Detailed payment instructions are printed on the fine letter itself. Immediately after the list of terrible penalties that await us in case of non-payment.
We are usually asked to pay the fine by credit card or bank transfer.
Which is what I recommend doing.

In case of any difficulties with the translation of the letter itself, or the payment process, I will be happy to assist.

. In this article we will talk about the basic parking rules in Spain.

Traffic rules in Spain are in many ways similar to Russian ones. You can park your car only in the designated place. At the same time, do not underestimate the strictness of the local police; they vigilantly monitor compliance with parking rules. The same can be said about the local residents. If you park in front of a house with a sign hanging on the façade prohibiting parkingsign, the owner of the house will certainly call a tow truck.

Of course, there are exceptional situations. For example, during football matches, police often turn a blind eye to illegally parked cars around the stadium. Or you'll just get lucky : the owner of the house with prohibited parking in front of the entrance is not there. However, you shouldn't count on luck. If you cannot find a place to leave your car, it is better not to break the law and use paid parking services.

1. Underground paid parking in Spain

  • In shopping centers and stores

    All major commercial centers in Spain have underground parking. In shopping centers located within the city, as a rule, these are paid parking lots, but if certain conditions are met, they can be used for free. Large shopping centers often offer free parking hours at certain times of the day (usually the afternoon), which can be extended by making purchases of the appropriate amount.

    Many grocery stores also have underground parking, which is free for customers. When paying for groceries, you must present your parking ticket at the checkout.

  • City underground paid parking

    In this case we are talking about underground parking lots located in residential and commercial buildings, marked with the sign “P”, parking publico (public parking). On the scoreboard The sign indicates the availability of free spaces: “libre” means that there are free spaces in the parking lot, “ocupado” means there are no spaces.

    Despite the name "public", these parking lots are private and fees are charged for their use. The cost of parking and the operating hours of parking lots depend on the calculations of the owner. There are parking lots that are open 24 hours, while others are already closed at 20:00. Therefore, when entering the parking lot, be sure to familiarize yourself with its operating conditions.

    Please note that paid underground parking spaces are available for long-term rent. Such parking spaces are designated with the words “plaza reservada” or simply “reservado”. Even if this place is free, you do not have the right to park your car there.


2. Surface paid parking lots

  • Blue zone

The blue zone, or "zona azul" (in Barcelona - "área blava") is the most common form of surface paid parking in Spanish cities. Parking spaces are marked with a broken blue line on the asphalt and a sign depicting a hand dropping a coin. If in underground parking lots payment is made upon leaving, then in the blue zone payment is made immediately after you park the car. At a special parking meter, you pay for the required amount of parking time, receive a ticket and place it under the windshield in a visible place. The availability of this coupon is strictly controlled by blue zone employees. If the time you paid for has expired, you must pay again and place the ticket under the windshield. Otherwise, you will be issued a fine, and the car may be towed to the impound lot.

  • Parking time. The maximum number of watches that can be purchased at one time does not exceed 2 hours. This limitation is explained by the fact that the blue zone is not intended for long-term parking and is designed to ensure the constant availability of parking spaces in the city. In addition, the presence of a blue zone eliminates the accumulation of abandoned cars on the streets of Spanish cities.
  • The cost of an hour of parking in the blue zone varies from city to city and is 2–3 euros. The blue zone is paid only during certain hours: from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00, on Saturday from 9:00 to 14:00. In different cities to the schedule minor changes may be made. So at night and on Sunday you can park in the blue zone for free. Be careful with the coastal area. In winter, you can usually park for free in the blue zone, but in summer the blue zone may require a fee for longer than usual.

  • Green and orange zones

The green zone, "zona verde" (in Barcelona - "área preferent"), and the orange zone, "zona naranja", exist in many large cities in Spain and are a kind of subtype of the blue zone, but with one difference. Car owners living nearby (residents) have significant advantages when parking in these zones compared to others (non-residents).

  • Price. If in the blue zone the cost of parking is the same for everyone, then in the green and orange zones the cost of parking for residents is significantly lower than for non-residents.
  • Parking time. Residents can leave their cars for up to 7 days at once (sometimes even up to 3 months), while non-residents can only buy 1–2 hours of parking at a time and at certain times of the day: Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 20:00 , some parking lots also allow parking on Saturday.

How do green and orange zones differ from each other? Both perform the same function, the color varies depending on the city. The green zone exists in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Palma de Mallorca and Seville, the orange zone in Valencia, Zaragoza and others. In order to take advantage of this parking, car owners must obtain a resident card. A prerequisite is the presence of registration in this place.

  • Residents only area

Only car owners living nearby have the right to park in these zones. This can be a green or orange zone with the sign "zona residentes" or "área residents" in Barcelona.

3. Unloading and loading area

These zones are indicated by diagonal yellow lines on the asphalt. Parking in this area is permitted for unloading and loading purposes only. The maximum unloading and loading time is usually 30 minutes from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 20:00. Use of these zones is free.

4. Parking is prohibited

As a general rule, places where parking is prohibited are marked on the asphalt yellow and a crossed out E or similar:

      • transport entry and exit zones (underground and above-ground garages);
      • areas for loading and unloading goods;
      • areas reserved for use by emergency services;
      • taxi stands;
      • pedestrian areas closed to traffic;
      • pedestrian crossings;
      • roadsides with prohibitory markings (solid yellow line), etc.


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