Parking rules in Spain

A guide to parking in Spain

When on holiday in Spain, tourists will want to get off the beach and explore the nearby towns and small villages, which more fully reflect the life and culture of the Spaniards themselves. If you've hired a car, it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with the parking regulations, as they are often complicated: getting to your desired destination is one thing, but where can you leave your car without getting in the way and worrying about a possible fine?

If you park in an unauthorised place, there is a risk that your car may be towed away and you will be fined. In small villages and natural beauties everything is clear - you can leave your car in a place where it is not forbidden and where the car will not be an obstacle. But a trip to a big city will be accompanied by questions about finding a parking space.

So where can you park in Spain?

Large cities in Spain usually have a large number of public underground car parks. Drive in if you see a big sign ‘parking publico’ or a big letter ‘P’ with a downward arrow. Be sure to first pay attention to the additional information there: ‘libre’ - informs about the availability of free space, ‘ocupado’ - that everything is occupied. Rates vary everywhere, but you only pay for the time spent in the car park.

You can also park in large shopping centres - almost all shopping centres now have plenty of parking spaces. If you have made purchases here, then your parking will not cost you anything. If you parked in a shopping centre and didn't buy anything, you can pay for parking there. But you should always pay attention to additional information, because each shop sets its own rules for temporary car parking.

When looking for a free space on the street, pay attention to the coloured lines, which may allow parking (paid or free) or prohibit it.

Parking in the zone with blue lines(Zona azul)

This is the most common type of surface car park in Spain. If you see a free space with blue lines in a big city, you're in luck. Parking here is by the hour, you need to pay for the approximate time of placement (look around, there will be a terminal for payment somewhere nearby) and put a sheet with the payment in a visible place in the car. Unfortunately, you will not be able to pay for more than two or three hours, so you should take this into account in advance and either pay extra when the time expires or, if you want to go away for a long time, it will be better to use the underground car park. It is worth noting that in many cities this zone is free from 14:00 to 16:00 and from 20:00 to 9:00. That is, if you parked in the zone with blue dotted lines for example at 13:05 and paid for an hour of accommodation, you will need to vacate the space at 16:05. On Saturday after 14:00 and all Sunday - also free of charge. Different cities have their own minor differences, which can be found at the payment terminal.

Parking in the area with green and orange lines

In large Spanish cities, in residential areas, green and orange coloured dotted lines have become more and more common: these are spaces reserved for residents (those who live nearby) and pay a certain amount for permanent accommodation. Each city has its own rules: in some places with these colours you can park for free, but not for more than two hours. And in some you will have to pay for this time, but also allowed no more than two hours. Parking in these areas will cost more than in the area with blue lines. If in your search for a parking space you see a free, green or orange coloured space, look carefully at the signs that will inform you whether a visitor can park here and whether you have to pay for it.

Parking in a zone with white lines

More common in areas away from city centres or in smaller communities. The white dotted lines in these zones mean that they are free and you can park for as long as you like. The only exception is that you cannot park in spaces designated for people with disabilities.

Yellow lines on the pavement, what do they mean?

A solid yellow line. It is forbidden not only to park on such a line, but even to stop.

Dashed yellow line. Permits stopping the vehicle for loading unloading, but prohibits parking.

Yellow zigzag markings. It is usually seen at bus stops and special places where goods need to be loaded or unloaded.

Where is it not allowed to park in Spain?

- At pedestrian crossings.

- In front of garages and gates.

- Next to the ‘no parking’ sign(estacionamiento prohibido).

- In areas that are designated for the disabled.

- Where the kerb is painted yellow.

- In loading and unloading areas.