Driving on toll roads in Spain. Highways in Spain. Spain Traffic Rules: Video

Before we started living in Spain, we never had the opportunity to understand and feel the difference between free and toll roads. In three months we managed to drive almost 15 thousand km here (okay, 4 thousand of them were the road from Moscow, but the remaining 10 thousand km were local).

What catches your eye in general after Russia:

In Russia they DO NOT know how to drive fast. Try to keep the speed limit of 80 km/h along the serpentine road, which is allowed by the rules; at first it was difficult to drive even 50 km/h - this is the recommended speed in some sections. We can talk for a long time about how much experience we have and how powerful our car is, but local kids driving 30-year-old Citroens with heels really beat almost any Russian on the serpentine) At least go study again;

There are a LOT of cars on hand. It is clear that the BMW 7 Series will have an automatic transmission, but Peugeots, Golfs, Focuses, Fiats, Citroens, etc. - like the ones on the handle;

Passing at speeds up to 50 km/h is not accepted. Pinch and squeeze too. If you turn on the turn signal on the highway, you can stop without looking in the mirror - they will definitely let you in;

If you are driving on the main road, the one driving on the secondary road will brake at the VERY LAST moment. He will let you through, we will smile, but at first it is very strange and unusual;

Many old cars are in good condition. A couple of times we tried to buy something like a W210 or E39... well, they are only good from the outside, even taking into account the price of 4-6 thousand euros, the body yes, but years are years and runs of 300-500 thousand km. .. In the end, we settled on a car with a guarantee. By the way, even 20-year-old cars here offer a warranty from 1 month to 1 year (this is if you buy it from a dealer). But you get to the good stuff quickly; there haven’t been any 20-year-old cars with low mileage yet));

Typical ad:

Now to the roads:

Free roads are much more beautiful and interesting. They pass through cities, beaches, mountains, fields, cafes, restaurants. As tourists, we used to often travel only on toll roads. Very in vain;

Free roads are noticeably slower. Constant speed limits of 50-70 km/h, traffic lights at pedestrian crossings, constant circles (in Spain they really love them. At first you don’t understand, but we’re already into it);

A nuance, if you want to stop at a store, cafe, or gas station that you see on the horizon, you need to go to the backup 300-500 meters away. Extremely unusual;

Toll roads almost always have a limit of 120 km/h, but people go under 200 km/h. Most cars cruise at 125-130 km/h. There are few cameras. The fines are large. Police on the roads are rare. But this is Catalonia and not the season. In the south, people say that not everything is so happy.

Toll roads cost money. When we traveled from Barcelona to Alicante - this is 550-600 km, in total we paid more than 50 euros. Although everything usually costs 1-2 euros.

Pay attention to the 3+ button. If there are three or more people inside the car, then you need to press. Then they will check using the cameras to see if there were 3 or more people in the car and give a discount (it will be returned to the card).

If you go to Andorra, there is a tunnel there, 5 kilometers long, costs 19 euros, passes in 3 minutes. On the way back we tried to take the free route. As a result, we drove around for 2.5 hours mountain serpentine at a speed of 30-40 km/h (it was simply impossible to go faster, because there were constant turns, ascents and descents). But very pretty.

Your trip to Spain will be unforgettable if you decide to rent a car. Today I will talk about my real experience, about the many nuances of driving on Spanish roads: where to park, what determines the cost of travel on the motorway, fines, basic traffic rules and speed limits.

Before traveling to Spain, I debated for a long time which option to choose: travel as standard, like many people do, on foot, or rent a car. I liked the latter more, since I am an avid motorist, and it was also interesting for me to see the country, and not just a few famous attractions. In addition, I already had experience traveling by car in Italy, which turned out to be very successful. It was really cool and awesome. Although there was one problem. You can find out the nuances from the article Car roads Italy.

For independent travel necessary good connection, various situations may arise along the way. You can simply get lost or you may need to call somewhere. After my trip to Italy, I still had an Orange SIM card. In principle, I was happy with everything about it. I decided that I would take it. But then I remembered that the tariff in Spain is different. I went to the website to check how everything would work there. I saw that when purchasing a new SIM card, a bonus of 1 or 2 GB is provided, depending on the balance. I decided to take the second one. Moreover, the previous trip showed that sometimes voice communication is needed. I took a SIM card with a 2 GB bonus and distributed the Internet to 2 phones and a tablet without any problems. Everything is very convenient.

Car rental and toll roads

If this is your first time renting a car abroad, then know that most companies require a passport and an international driving license. Also, some put forward a number of other requirements, for example, driving experience of at least 2 years and age from 21. The cost of renting a car in Spain starts from 30 euros and can reach up to 80 per day, it all depends on the class of the car. Don't be surprised if you are asked to leave a deposit equal to the rental price (I left 50 euros). After returning the vehicle, the deposit is returned in full, verified from personal experience.

Now I’ll tell you more about my trip to Spain. I flew to Barcelona and rented a middle class car for 50 euros + the same amount of deposit. It was possible to leave your credit card instead of a cash deposit, but I didn’t dare.

Roads in Spain can be tolled or free. By the way, if you travel on toll highways, it’s both faster and more economical due to lower fuel consumption. In this case, you need to calculate everything and think twice about the route. Just like in Italy, moving through tunnels is also paid.

But the fare is calculated a little differently, the price depends on several factors:

on how many kilometers traveled;
what category of vehicle;
season;
traffic congestion, or rather, whether you are in rush hour or not.

For example, for the distance from Barcelona to Valencia, which I covered, I had to pay 40 euros (347 kilometers), highway AR-7. I got acquainted with the prices in advance so that the invoice would not be a shock to me. Before your trip, I advise you to do the same. You can find approximate tariffs on the website of the Spanish motorways (costs are updated once a year). But keep in mind that these are only approximate prices, because if you get there during rush hour, it will be more expensive. In addition, a lot depends on the chosen highway and the season of your trip.

Parking in Spain

Parking in Spain is not so simple; if you are not prepared, you can get into trouble. To prevent this from happening to you, I’ll tell you the main subtleties and nuances.

On weekdays and weekends, parking rules may differ; it is also important to consider the time of day. In some places you need to get a permit if you want to park during business hours.

Parking spaces are especially tight in the center of Barcelona; you have to try very hard to find a free space. Before parking your car in the blue zone, you need to buy a ticket from a special machine. Please note that you can pay from 9 to 14.00 and from 16.00 to 21.00 on weekdays, on weekends - from 9 am to 2 pm.

If you can't find a surface parking space, don't despair, because many large Spanish cities have underground parking areas. By the way, before entering, I advise you to read the information on a special board that indicates the number of free parking spaces. This will save a lot of time. You need to pay at the ticket office or at special stations, not like with us before you park the car, but after, when you are leaving.

By the way, in big cities The Ora Zona system is current - you buy a parking ticket at any retail point of sale, for example, at a tobacco kiosk. You can park the car for 30, 60 or 90 minutes, very convenient. I did this in Valencia. I bought a ticket for an hour, parked the car and went to enjoy local cuisine. If you are late, you will have to pay extra for the extra time. But be careful, if there is a tow truck sign in the parking lot, then if you are 10 minutes late, you may no longer see your car. I saw something similar, it was not a pleasant sight, I really felt sorry for the guy...

At the site of the car that was towed there should be a sticker indicating the address and telephone number. But I advise you to carefully monitor the time, otherwise you will spend a lot of nerves and money (towing will cost 100 euros), after all, it’s a foreign country and a rented car. Also, be careful and do not park in spaces for disabled people; the fine here is 200 euros.

Basic traffic rules in Spain

If you decide to see the country by car, you will have to familiarize yourself with the basic traffic rules. The following speed limits apply in Spain:

in populated areas you can drive no more than 50 kilometers per hour;
outside the populated area up to 90 km per hour;
on a highway up to 100 km;
On the motorway the speed limit is 120 km per hour.

There are also restrictions on the minimum speed - at least 60 km on the autobahn.

I’ll say right away that in Spain it’s better not to break traffic rules. If you think that no one sees you and you can press the gas a little harder, then this is not so. Since 2010, speed cameras have been installed everywhere. If the rules are violated, the policeman is given a photo of the car and, near the nearest control point, the motorist will be fined a significant, large amount. I don’t recommend experimenting; it’s a very expensive pleasure, as my friends told me. By the way, if a tourist does not have the opportunity to pay the fine on the spot, he may be detained.

They are no less strict about alcohol here, although Spain is famous for its wines, you should not drink before your trip. The maximum level of alcohol in the blood is 0.5 ‰, if the driving experience is less than two years, then no more than 0.3 ppm is allowed. If the indicators are exceeded, you will have to pay 500 euros for violation. If the blood alcohol level is twice the permissible limit, then such a rash act will cost 1,000 euros. The same amount will have to be paid if this is a repeated violation.

If you refuse a test for the presence of alcohol or drugs in your blood, you will be fined 500 euros.

I note that talking while driving a car is prohibited unless there is a special talking device that allows you to communicate without using your hands. And also, when I stopped at a gas station, I noticed a crossed out phone number. After talking with the employees, I learned that I needed to turn off my phone while refueling, which I quickly did. Otherwise, you will be fined 200 euros.

Payment of fines

Police officers have the right to demand payment of a fine on the spot. At the same time, the person is given a receipt for payment. If the tourist cannot pay in cash, vehicle delayed until payment is received. By the way, in Spain there are special conditions: In case of violation and payment of the fine on the spot, a 50 percent discount is given. True, the tourist loses the right to appeal the decision. It is also possible to receive a receipt by mail, but it must be paid within 20 days using the Internet or any banking institution (in this case there is also a 50 percent discount). By the way, local authorities can track the violator by his license plate number and send him a fine receipt to his home. Therefore, I do not advise you to break the rules. What makes me happy this time is that, having the experience of traveling in Italy, I did not receive a single fine, which is what I wish for you.

Spain captivated me with its beauty, local residents very friendly and welcoming. Behind short term I was able to see a lot interesting places, which are simply not accessible to most tourists without a car. Enjoy freedom, because having a car, you can go anywhere in the country and see unique places. Let me tell you for sure, it was worth it, I would do it again. Despite many nuances, I strongly advise traveling this way. After all, this is a real buzz and pleasure.

Today I will talk a little about toll roads in Spain, in particular in Andalusia and Catalonia. For tourists they are not particularly needed, only if you need to get there quickly. The permissible speed on them is 120 km/h, but many go 140. But you must admit, it’s more pleasant to ride along the sea, stop in different towns and observation platforms than driving along a concrete fence for several hours in a row.

Just recently we drove along the AP-7 toll road from to. We needed to go skiing in the morning hot-air balloon, and next time don’t be late. The pleasure is not cheap! The journey cost about €9 and the same for petrol. I told you how we rented a car.

Toll road payment procedure

Before entering the toll road, you will be warned several times and offered free detours. There are several payment options:

When you enter you receive a ticket, when you leave you pay
You pay only upon departure or upon entry

You can pay in cash, bills, coins or by bank card(but be careful with it! More on that below)

Before the payment points, the road is divided into many lanes (see photo at the beginning):

Blue tracks for automatic payment using devices under glass (not for us!)
Payment only by cards (cards on signs)
Payment by cards and cash
Manual – payment through an operator, this is the easiest way :-)

If you have any difficulties with payment, click on the contact button and an operator will come to you and help you pay.

Be careful when paying by card!

I had an unpleasant incident with payment. I think it's like that for everyone. When leaving the highway, I paid for the fare with my card. We took out about €7. Then a day later you receive an SMS about the withdrawal of €1 with the description: parking peaje Madrid. Then another day, then again upon arrival home! I haven’t been to Madrid, which means it’s being removed or blocked by the highway payment office.

For what? After all, I already paid €7. Apparently for some reason they check the map after each trip on the toll road. They say that in a month they will return the blocked euros.

But I did not conduct experiments and blocked the Tinkoff card. The bank returned the money to me and reissued the card for free. Next time I will pay cash for toll roads.

What do you think about these write-offs?

I don't advise you to count by hand. The most convenient service for calculating route costs is. The site is ugly, but very functional. It works all over Europe, maybe even more. You ask from where and where, and it offers several route options. It shows how much you will spend on travel, gasoline and how long you will be on the road. So you will decide for yourself the optimal time-money path.

There is also a purely Spanish site -. It contains more accurate data on road tolls, but it doesn’t show anything other than the price.

Well, don’t forget about the good old Google Maps. He builds routes between cities well. In the options there is a checkbox to avoid toll roads.

How can I save up to 20% on hotels?

It’s very simple - look not only on booking. I prefer the search engine RoomGuru. He searches for discounts simultaneously on Booking and on 70 other booking sites.

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

Parking options

In Spain, parking is regulated by local authorities according to legislation set by the government. To indicate parking restrictions, use Various types signs and special road markings.

There are above-ground and underground parking spaces. Underground parking is usually paid. Ground ones can be either paid or 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 permitted are rectangular or square in shape, with a white border and the letter “P”.

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

If you are traveling in a rented car, you can find the answer to your basic questions in the article: ““.

In some places you must have a permit to park during working hours, called Horas laborables.

In areas marked with a blue or blue line of road markings - zona azul, there are ticket terminals - expendedores de tickets para estacionamiento. Often, next to such markings there is a sign with the image of a hand lowering a coin. When using such parking, the driver is required to buy a ticket and place it under the windshield of the car.

Payment occurs immediately after parking the car. The maximum parking time at one time does not exceed two hours. On weekends and holidays This type of parking is usually free.

In some cities, zona azul parking lots operate under the Ora Zona system. In this case, parking tickets can be purchased at tobacco kiosks and other retail outlets. They give you the right to park for 30, 60 or 90 minutes.

IN coastal zone, for example in the Costa Brava, in winter time Parking in the blue zone is free, but summer period it is paid for longer than the usual period.

On the streets of Burgas, Murcia, Salamanca and other popular tourist cities Spain has free parking. If the road markings are white or completely absent, this means that parking is permitted.

A parking zone marked on the road with a yellow line 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 subtype of the blue parking zone, but in this case residents have advantages over city guests.

Next to such a zone there 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 an area where such parking is available, the cost will be several times lower, while others will have to pay the full amount.

On the sign where it says “Area Preferent”, you also need to look at what hours and on what days you need to pay, and when this is not necessary.

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

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

There are also unloading zones where parking is only permitted for unloading and loading for a maximum of 30 minutes. These zones are free and are marked with yellow diagonal lines on the asphalt.

In many cities, private driveways 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 there is a sign with a crossed out letter E nearby, as well as on:

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

You can also leave your car in parking lots in shopping centers or next to the store. As a rule, these are paid parking lots, but in some cases there is no charge. For example, large shopping centers have free afternoon hours, which are extended by purchasing goods in the store for a certain amount.

In the underground parking lot located next to the shops, conditions are different. It is available to customers absolutely free of charge, provided they make purchases in the store. To take advantage of this offer, you must present your parking receipt at the checkout counter.

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

Parking maps in Spain

Generally, on-street parking in the central areas of major tourist cities or near famous landmarks, such as the Alhambra in Granada, is very limited.

Therefore, to find a parking space, it is better to use special Internet services such as Car Parking Europe or Parkopedia. Available there interactive map With exact address parking lots and their tariffs.

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

Take a sociological survey!

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 be 25 euros and more.

In Valencia, an hour of parking costs 2-3.5 euros, while the cost per day in some parking lots within the city does not exceed 8 euros, while 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 is free. They will charge an average of 18-20 euros per day.

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

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

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

In this case, the private parking space will be designated “plaza reservada” or “reservado”, and no one else will be able to park there.

How to pay for parking

Payment for a parking space in a street parking lot occurs at parking meters, which are located along the parking area. Cash and credit cards are accepted for payment.

The payment system is simple: select the required amount of time, insert a card or throw coins and press the payment button. Sometimes the machines do not provide 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 lot at the entrance in front of the barrier, a ticket is taken from a machine. Payment occurs upon return to the car. You need to insert the coupon into the payment terminal, then the amount to pay will be displayed. After this, 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;
cost per used parking space;
payment time;
coupon number.

Fines

IN last years Fines for illegal parking in Spain have increased significantly. A minor violation of the rules results in a penalty of 100 euros or more (or 20% less for prompt payment).

If the vehicle is towed, an additional towing fee of approximately €100 will apply.

Conclusion

Tourists in Spain who do not know parking rules may encounter difficulties throughout their holiday. Understanding a few basic rules will help you avoid these problems: 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 the signs.
Free parking is available on the outskirts of medium-sized cities, while in large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona they are practically non-existent, so it is better to use paid parking there.
Parking in Spain: Video

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

Traffic rules in Spain

Most Spanish roads are equipped with cameras that record the speed of cars 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. To avoid further troubles, it is worth paying this fine.

The use of low beam headlights during the day is only required in tunnels. The use of anti-radars in Spain is strictly prohibited. This violation carries a colossal fine of 6,000 euros.

When renting a car, you need to make sure that it has two warning triangles, a spare wheel and a vest with reflective stripes.

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

Fines in Spain

Breaking the rules traffic in Spain will inevitably result in you having to pay a fine in an amount depending on the severity of the offense committed. For example, speeding in Spain is considered a serious violation, especially if the speed is exceeded by more than 50% of the limit. In this case, a summons for a fine may arrive by mail. In this case, the fine received from the police officer must be paid on the spot. This is a prerequisite for foreign citizens. The advantage is that there is a 50% discount for paying on the spot.

Speeding by more than 30 km/h - from 100 to 600 euros
Traveling through a red traffic light costs 200-300 euros.
Neglect of seat belts - 200 euros.
Telephone conversation - 200 euros.
Driving into the oncoming lane costs from 400 to 500 euros.
Drunk driving – from 500 euros.

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

Paying fines in Spain online

If the fine summons arrived by mail, then you can pay the fine in online mode, having credit card any of the major payment systems, for example, Maestro or Visa. To do this, you must enable the option on your computer's browser that allows you to accept cookies. Detailed instructions For online payment of fines issued in Spain, you can find.

Surprisingly, in Spain there are conditions, compliance with which when paying fines will allow you to receive a certain discount. For example, if you hurry up and make payment within 15 days from the moment the offense was established, the amount of the fine may be reduced by 50%. However, by taking advantage of such a discount and paying a smaller amount, you thereby lose the right to appeal the offense administratively.

Toll roads in Spain

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

On such roads, there are special lanes when entering and exiting 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 automatic toll payment devices on such roads. The cost of travel on some roads in Spain has been increased since January 2019.

Tariffs for major routes toll roads in Spain you can see .

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 trailers - 26.36 euros.
Vallvidrera (length 2.5 kilometers): during rush hour - motorcycles - 3.38 euros, cars - 3.34 euros; not during rush hour - motorcycles 3.01 euros, cars - 3.86 euros.

Parking in Spain

Basic moments

In the heart of the big ones spanish cities It’s always difficult to find a free parking space, especially a free one. The area marked in blue means that you must pay for parking at a nearby machine. In some places, it is generally prohibited to park during the daytime on weekdays without a special document.

Underground parking lots at the entrance have information about free spaces or their complete absence. There is a cash register at the exit of this type of parking lot for payment.

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

It is forbidden to park a car on the sidewalk with a yellow stripe or the words Vado.

Despite the fact that everything looks very complicated, parking correctly in Spain will not be difficult if you study the issue in advance and familiarize yourself with certain rules, which 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 the police, but also by local residents. Therefore, there is no need to take risks and rely on luck when parking near a house that has a 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 football match the police will not issue a fine if you leave your car not far from the stadium. In other cases, if you encounter difficulties in finding a parking space, you should not take the risk and break the law - look for paid parking.

There are plenty of paid parking lots in Spain and finding them is not difficult. There are both underground and surface parking lots.

Underground parking in Spain

Underground paid parking in shopping centers

Often, any shopping center in Spain has paid parking. However, you can use parking absolutely free of charge - almost all large commercial centers provide this opportunity, subject to certain conditions. For example, if you visit a shopping center during so-called “free parking hours” (usually siesta time), then 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 the big shopping centers, there is a possibility free parking and in regular grocery stores. All you have to do is present your parking ticket to the cashier when you pay for your purchases.

Public underground paid parking

In Spanish cities, public parking is indicated by 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 is not possible to park there for free. Public parking is private property, so the cost of services, as well as operating hours, may vary and depend on the owner of a particular parking lot. This may be around the clock, or a shorter version, for example, until eight o’clock in the evening.

Before using a public parking service, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with its operating conditions in advance. And you should start by studying the information that is indicated on the board located directly under the sign. 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 parking is the ability to take a parking space in long term rental. When choosing free space note whether the empty space is marked with the designation “plaza reservada” or the more abbreviated version “reservado”. This means that the designated seat is reserved for long term and you can't park here.

Surface paid parking lots

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

Blue zone

This parking zone is the most common option. In Spanish, it is called "zona azul" and is indicated by a special blue dotted line painted on the road surface, as well as a drawing icon depicting a hand dropping a coin. Please note the difference in payment system. Unlike underground parking, payment is made not upon leaving, but immediately after you park. For ease of payment, there are special parking meters in the blue zone designed to pay for parking depending on the time you need. The ticket received from the parking meter must be placed in a clearly visible place under the windshield. The presence of such a coupon is closely monitored by blue zone employees. And don’t forget to extend your parking time if it has expired and leave the ticket for additional time in the same visible place. A careless attitude towards timely payment can lead to undesirable consequences - you may be issued a fine and your car may be taken to the impound lot.

The blue parking zone in Spain is designed specifically to prevent large accumulations of cars left on the streets, and therefore it is not usually considered as a place for long-term parking. This is why you will not be able to purchase a parking pass 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 price for 1 hour averages from 1 to 3 euros. But there are also positive aspects - on weekends and at night there is no charge for parking in the blue zone.

The schedule of paid parking hours may vary depending on which city you are in; the details are always stated 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 zone has its own characteristics. In winter, parking in the blue zone can be used for free, but in summer, paid parking time may be increased, so we recommend that you learn about these features in advance.

Orange or green zone

These zones are intended for parking on special conditions, and you can find it in almost any major locality Spain. Essentially, here we are dealing with the same blue zone, but it is only for those who are not lucky enough to live in the neighborhood. Car owners living nearby can enjoy a number of advantages, starting with preferential prices for parking and ending with the ability to leave the car for a long period (from a week to 3 months).

For other car owners, parking and payment rules will not differ much from the blue zone. You can pay for parking at a time with a time limit (up to 2 hours), in addition, you can use parking only on specified days of the week. Most often these are weekdays, with rare exceptions when you can park on Saturdays. Parking hours are from 8:00 to 20:00.

What is the difference between the orange and green zones? There are no differences in the purpose of the zone itself. It’s just that some cities designate zones differently. For example, the zone is denoted in green (“zona verde”) in Madrid and Barcelona, and in Zaragoza and Valencia the same zone will be denoted in orange and called “zona naranja”.

Let us remind you that only car owners who have a resident card can use the privileges of this parking. At the same time, there must be registration in this place.

Special parking areas

In addition to general parking areas, there are also specialized parking areas, access to which is significantly limited, as well as areas where parking is generally prohibited. These zones include the categories listed below.

Zone for residents - indicated by the “zona residentes” icon and is intended exclusively for parking cars owned by residents living nearby.

Loading and unloading area - indicated by markings applied to the asphalt in the form of yellow diagonal lines. It is permitted to be used only for loading or unloading purposes at strictly designated times: Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 20:00. Moreover, there are also restrictions on the duration of parking - no more than 30 minutes. There is no charge for using this 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 better not to park in this area.

What to do if your car is towed in Spain

In most cases, the reason for this is a violation of the rules in force in the territory of a given state. Before you park, be sure to look for no-parking warning signs. Typically in Spain they are installed in the following areas:

Also be sure that you will not be detected if you park it on a double solid line or in a place where your car will interfere with the movement of other vehicles or pedestrians.

Please note that tow truck services in Spain are by no means cheap and prices may vary depending on the city. Car evacuation will hit your wallet the hardest in Madrid, Barcelona and Zaragoza. Cities that are more “loyal” in this regard include Leon, Melilla and Jaen.

Did you break the rules, but managed to arrive at the scene before the car was loaded onto a tow truck? You are partly lucky and have a chance to come to an agreement with a service employee. If you're lucky, you can only get away with a verbal warning. Otherwise, you won’t be able to avoid paying a fine, just don’t forget to ask for a receipt of payment.

Is it possible to refuse to pay for tow truck services altogether? You can, but in this case the car will remain in the impound 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 will not be a reason to prevent you from returning your car from the impound lot. You will be allowed to pick up the car, but will only be required to pay the costs of the current evacuation.

Luck was not on your side and the car was towed after all? The first thing to do is call the Municipal Police Department. Here you can get information about the location of the impound lot, from where you will be picking up your 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 a towed car. In this case, you will need to present a driver's license as well as an identification document. In addition, you may be asked to show documents for the car.

Things will be worse if the car is not yours and the owner is another person. You will need to provide not only 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 persistent demands to return your car if it is towed at the end of the working day and the impound lot is already closed. Be patient until the start of a new working day, because in this situation there are no “exception cases” provided.

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

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