05.04.2018 15:58:11
See Paris and park. Parking system of the capital of France
We continue the series of descriptions parking systems major foreign cities. Next up is Paris.
The parking “behavior” of local drivers in the French capital is different in that they like to park their cars close together, touching the bumper of the neighboring car. What we might call an accident is completely normal there. Otherwise, in Paris everything is relatively clear and accessible.
You can park your car both on the street and in the underground parking lot. It is forbidden to stand “second row”, stop in places where this is prohibited, and leave the car in places for the disabled and for unloading.
Paris street parking requires payment from Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 8 pm. During the holidays you can sometimes park your car for free on certain streets. The yellow sticker pasted on the parking meter will tell you which ones.
Parking rates vary depending on the area of the city. In the center, parking can cost 4 euros per hour (284 rubles), on the outskirts the price drops to 2.4 euros (170 rubles). You can pay for parking with a Paris Carte (sold in tobacco shops), a credit card or using mobile application. The parking meter will give you a receipt, which you need to place behind the windshield so that it is clearly visible. Parking time in street parking is limited to two hours.
Coming to Paris in a mobile van is not a good idea. It is prohibited to sleep in such cars in the city, so it is better to leave the van in a special campsite outside the city.
There are many underground parking lots in the capital, and they are open every day and around the clock. In some you can even leave motorcycles. Such parking lots are usually located in crowded places: near attractions, business centers and where people come for shopping. Underground parking lots are equipped with surveillance cameras and are guarded.
Tariffs for underground parking also differ depending on the location of the parking lot. Those located in popular places are more expensive - about 2.5 euros per hour and 20 euros (1,420 rubles) for a parking period of 12 to 24 hours. Outside the center, parking is generally cheaper - 10-15 euros per day. Also, underground parking lots may have special rates on weekends.
Underground parking in Paris differs from street parking not only in its location underground, but also in its convenient location and range of services. For example, for those who want to visit Notre Dame, there is a parking lot located directly under the cathedral. In some parking lots you will be offered a car wash, tools for repairs, and a locker for your motorcycle helmet. The main advantage of such parking lots is that a place can be booked in advance.
Parisians themselves have the opportunity to obtain a resident parking permit in their area. The cost of a permit for a year is 45 euros (3,200 rubles), for three years – 90 euros. Owners of electric vehicles natural gas and some “hybrids” can get permits for free.
Overall, driving your own or rented car around Paris shouldn't be too difficult. The rules are generally generally accepted: wear your seat belt, don’t honk unless necessary, have a Green Card policy with you ( compulsory insurance when operating a car, valid in 48 countries), do not occupy public transport lanes.
We wish those who are planning to visit Paris a good trip!
Please note that failure to comply with parking rules entails a 17-euro fine (if it is not paid within 45 days, it will increase to 33 euros). It is worth noting that it is not recommended to plan road trips at the end of the first and beginning of the last week of August. If we talk about the congestion of French roads, then no best time for entry into - Sunday evening, and for departure from it - Friday evening.
Features of parking in France
In France, it is not advisable to park near bridges, on sidewalks, cycle paths or in places where a car might obscure a road sign. Important: in the blue zone you can park for up to 1.5 hours, in the green zone it is allowed long-term parking, and parking in the red zone is prohibited. In addition, cars cannot be parked in front of fire hydrants, or on the street in the same place for more than a day.
Many French parking lots are equipped with horodateurs: these machines are designed to pay for parking spaces using special cards (they are sold in tobacco kiosks). You can park without paying in August, on weekends, on holidays and on weekdays from 7 pm to 7 am (in small towns, free parking is allowed from noon to 13:30). Concerning paid parking, then they are indicated by a white stripe and the P/Payant sign.
Parking spaces can be paid for through a special machine that accepts cash; bank and prepaid city cards; Moneo cards (electronic French payment system). Some cities offer their guests to pay for parking remotely. Thus, in the commune of Issy-les-Moulineaux, an electronic parking ticket can be purchased by phone (remote payments are accepted via the Internet or a voice server).
Parking in French cities
In Paris you can park at Baudoyer-Marais (in a parking lot with capacity for 47 cars, 15-minute parking costs 1 euro, 1-hour parking costs 3.90 euros, 4-hour parking costs 15.80 euros, 12-hour parking costs 35 euros ), Rivoli-Sebastopol (tariffs for a 267-space parking lot: 15 minutes/1 euro, 2 hours/8 euros, additional hours/4 euros, 24 hours/36 euros), Litece-Cite (prices for a parking lot with 211 spaces, 0 ,90 euros/15 minutes and 36 euros/24 hours)…
Autotourists will be able to leave their car at Parking Marengo, where up to 400 cars are guarded. Rates: 0.50 euros/15 minutes, 1.60 euros/45 minutes, 4.60 euros/2 hours, 15.80/day.
There are the following parking lots: Saint-Marc (for the first 15 minutes of parking you do not need to pay a fee; each of the 532 parking spaces costs 2.5 euros / 1 hour, 6.10 euros / 3 hours, 15 euros / day), Haute Vieille Tour (427 seats available; car owners pay 4.50 euros/hour, 6.10 euros/3 hours, 13.70 euros/12 hours, 15 euros/day, 3 euros/from 19:00 to 03:00) , Gare de Rouen (15 minutes of parking at Gare de Rouen, accommodating 381 cars - free, 45 minutes - 2.10 euros, 1.5 hours - 3.70 euros, 12 hours - 12.30 euros, 24 hours - 12, 80 euros).
For those who decide to explore by car, it makes sense to take a closer look at Providence (there are 95 parking spaces; prices: half an hour - free, the next 15 minutes - 0.50 euros, 12 hours - 23 euros), Cours Julien (it is equipped with 630 parking spaces; for parking for 15 minutes, car owners are charged 1.80 euros, 1 hour - 2.60 euros, 6 hours - 13.10 euros, 12 hours - 18.40 euros, 24 hours - 19.20 euros), Charles de Gaulle (528 parking spaces are allocated here; for 15 minutes you need to pay 1.1 euros, for half an hour - 1.90 euros, for 1 hour - 3 euros, for a day - 31.70 euros).
For auto tourists, parking is provided at 25 Rue Salomon Reinach (in the 30-space parking lot, 15-minute parking is free, then the following rates apply: 0.50 euros/30 minutes, 1.30 euros/1 hour, 2.80 euros/2 hours , 4 euros/3 hours), 236 Rue Garibaldi (has 218 parking spaces; prices: 1.30 euros/1 hour, 3.5 euros/2.5 hours, 4 euros/3 hours; parking on Sundays and Saturdays from 19:00 to 09:00 - free), Rue Victor Lagrange (parking for 15 minutes in this 93-space car park is free; 1 hour / 1.30 euros, 2.5 hours / 3.50 euros, 3 hours / 4 Euro).
Car rental in France
To draw up a car rental agreement in France, a traveler who is already 21 years old cannot do without an international driver's license and credit card. Approximate cost of car rental (louer ue voiture) in France: budget car– from 70 euros/day, and a category C car – 200-300 euros/day.
- on toll road(autoroute peage) will indicate a blue sign with the letter A (travel through the Frejus and Mont Blanc tunnels there will cost 43.50 euros, and there and back - 54.30 euros; on the Tancarville bridges - 2.60 and 5.40 euros, respectively; along A4 Paris - 38.20 euros; along A7 Lyon - Marseille - 24.60 euros; along A28 Abbeville - 34.70 euros);
- V populated areas it is permissible to drive at a speed of 50 km/h, and beyond that – 90-110 km/h;
- Low beams must be used in tunnels and in poor visibility conditions;
- gasoline prices: Gazole costs 1.2 euros, GPL - 0.59 euros, Sans Plomb 95 - 1.37 euros.
The narrow streets of the French capital, a significant number of local residents and visitors, cause traffic jams and problems with parking. Local authorities strongly recommend that tourists do not use their own or rented cars during their trip, so as not to aggravate the already difficult situation in the city. However, if you do not heed this wish, then be prepared to circle the capital in search of parking in Paris. Such a forced excursion can last quite a long time. Also keep in mind that the time a car can spend in street parking is limited; if you neglect the allotted period, your car will undoubtedly end up in a fine parking lot, and you will have to pay a tidy sum to return it.
Features of parking in Paris
Particularly desperate tourists who are not afraid of these difficulties should know several important points:
1) In Parisian parking lots There is a self-service system (you must pay for parking using a parking meter). To make payment you will need a special card (“Pari Card”), which can be purchased at bars, kiosks, and places where newspapers are sold. It has a certain limit (10 or 30 euros), the balance of which allows you to park.
2) Parking lots in Paris are indicated by a sign in the form of a white letter “P” on a blue background. The color of the parking space is of particular importance:
-white suggests the possibility of parking any vehicle
– yellow – intended for cars special purpose
- blue - provides the right to stop for a period of no more than one and a half hours.
3) There are several types of parking in the French capital, each of which has its own stopping rules. These include: underground parking, parking in the center, paid and free parking.
Parking rules in Paris
So, let's talk in more detail about the features of parking at each of these parking lots:
1) You can park on the streets and in the city center only in strictly designated areas. It should also be noted that the duration of stopping the car should not exceed two hours. To make it easier for the inspector to determine the legality of your parking, the receipt that the terminal will give you upon payment must be placed on the windshield. The absence of such a “permit piece of paper” is perceived as ignoring the established rules and is punishable by a fine.
2) You can leave your car in underground parking lots for several days. You can find such parking lots using standard signs, near which there is a descent underground. They are usually located near shopping and business centers, as well as in other places with large crowds of people.
3) Free parking in Paris are indicated by a yellow circle pasted on the standard “P” sign. They can be found using instructions at all parking meters in the city. It is worth noting that in any parking lot in the French capital you can leave your car free of charge at night (usually from 20 to 8 o’clock), as well as on Sundays and holidays. 24-hour free parking is available at most suburban metro stations (although it is not very safe!) and at hotels outside the city limits.
Parking costs in Paris
The amount of payment for leaving a car in the parking lot is determined by the proximity of the parking lot to the city center and ranges from 1 to 3 € per hour. Thus, the maximum cost is charged for a stop in the heart of the French capital, and the most reasonable prices installed in parking lots outside Paris.
In case of renting a parking space for a day (this is only possible on suburban and underground parking) the amount of payment is reduced and will be 10-15 euros per night.
How to pay for parking in Paris?
It was previously stated that payment for parking in the romantic capital is carried out using a parking meter, which can be found in every legal parking lot. Features of using this device are provided for surface and underground parking lots.
In the first case it is necessary:
— insert a parking card into the terminal
— follow the instructions on the board to determine the duration of the stop
- pick up a ticket that has fallen out of a special hole
— place it on the windshield.
To use underground parking you will need:
- press the button on the barrier that blocks the entrance
- pick up the ticket that falls out of the slot under the button and leave the car in a free section
— before leaving, you will need to insert this ticket into the terminal in the parking lot and, following the prompts on the screen, pay for the time spent in the parking lot
— get a new ticket, insert it into the slot on the barrier and leave at any one.
The biggest transport problem In Paris, this is not traffic or traffic jams, these are parking lots. Finding a place where you can safely, much less park for free, in Paris is very difficult, and sometimes impossible. We will tell you about the intricacies of parking in the capital of France. About car rental in Paris.
Street parking in Paris
If you want to park on the street, be aware that parking is usually paid from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (sometimes until 8 p.m.).
Free parking in Paris
At night, on Sundays, public holidays and in August, parking in Paris is free. Sometimes parking is also free on Saturdays. But be careful. If parking is free today, there will be a yellow circle posted on it, as shown in this photo. Otherwise there is a parking fee, even if you try to park on a Sunday.
How much does parking cost in Paris?
There are 3 parking zones in Paris. Prices range from €3 per hour in central Paris to €1 in the periphery.
You can pay for parking in a special machine with small change, or with the Paris Carte. You can buy this card at newsagents or Tabac stores. With this card you can pay from 10 to 30 €. The machine then gives you a ticket, you need to place it under Windshield so that you will not be fined.
Paid surface parking is limited to 2 hours.
If you happen to be traveling in a motorhome, remember that overnight parking of such vehicles is prohibited in Paris.
Underground parking in Paris
Underground parking lots work on the principle of 7/7 and 24/24, that is, around the clock. Such parking lots are indicated by a sign with a white letter "P" on a blue background, and, as a rule, are located in tourist, shopping and business areas of the city. You can find a map of Paris underground parking below, and in the attachment there is a file where you will find all the parking addresses.
The advantages of such parking are safety and unlimited parking time. We will not say that it is dangerous to leave a car in Paris. It is unlikely to be stolen or robbed. But they can cripple. And not criminals, but ordinary Parisians who decided to park next to you on the street. Look closely at French cars. They all have bumpers and doors scratched and very often torn off side mirrors. If you took car rental , you will have to pay for all this later.This is what we mean when we talk about parking safety.
Prices in underground parking vary depending on the area: in the center and tourist places– approximately 2.5 euros per hour, and a little more than 20 euros per day. On the outskirts of Paris, rates are, without exception, lower and you will pay on average between 10 and 15 € per night. Underground car parks also offer you packages for a weekend, a week or a month.
At the entrance to the parking lot, you must press a button to get a card and open the barrier. You pay at checkout using a machine. You place the paid ticket at the exit and leave the parking lot.
Sometimes you can reserve an underground parking space near the hotel when you book your car. Then you are guaranteed to receive a discount on parking. And this is a significant saving, considering the prices of parking in Paris.
What happens if I don't pay for parking in Paris?
IN best case scenario fine. It will be placed under the windshield wipers, as is often shown in French films. The fine starts from 17 euros.
But they can also confiscate your car if you park incorrectly or stand still for too long. To retrieve your repossessed vehicle, you will need your license and registration.
If the vehicle does not belong to you, you must, in addition to these documents, provide a power of attorney or contract.
You'll have to pay €126 for towing, €10 per day for parking, and then add a parking fine.
So, park correctly in Paris!
Parking in Paris... For a person who has encountered this problem at least once in his life, this phrase can cause a severe headache. The question immediately arises - where to park the car?
You will have to choose between parking on the street (which is generally an unrealistic task in the daytime) or in underground parking lots. The cost of parking a car is cheaper closer to the outskirts of Paris, outside the ring road, and more expensive in the center, which is natural.
If you decide to park your car on the street, then this applies general rule: You must pay for parking from Monday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Parking at night and Sunday is free.
In August and on public holidays, you can park for free on some streets: this is indicated by the yellow instructions located on the parking fee meter.
Tariffs for street parking are divided into three zones: 3 euros per hour in the center of Paris and 1 euro on the outskirts of the city. Parking fee machines DO NOT accept coins. You can pay for parking there only using the "Paris Carte", which can be bought at tobacco kiosks and at some newspaper outlets. The cost of Pari Cards is from 10 to 30 euros.
Find in right moment parking (it is indicated by a blue sign with the letter “P”), pay for parking by inserting the card into the machine. The machine will give you a paid ticket, which you need to place on the windshield so that it is visible. Street parking has a time limit of 2 hours. If you park your vehicle in the wrong location, it may be towed to the appropriate county lot. The address can be found at your local mayor's office.
When leaving a bicycle or scooter on the street, do not attach it to fences, poles or other street furniture.
To protect your vehicle from theft, you need to have a reliable anti-theft device.
Parking two-wheelers on the sidewalk is acceptable, but your vehicle must not interfere with pedestrians. However, be careful when parking on the sidewalk: fines for this have become more frequent recently. It is better to park your two-wheeled friend in special parking spaces designated for bicycles and scooters.
You should not park a motorhome or caravan in Paris like this vehicles cause traffic jams and are not welcome in the city. The caravan must be left in the parking area at the campsite. By the way, in Paris it is prohibited to spend the night in a trailer house.
Underground parking lots, of which there are many in Paris, are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for cars. Some parking lots also allow you to park motorcycles. Underground parking is easily recognized by the white letter “P” on a blue background, which can be especially often seen in tourist areas, in the city center and near business centers. The parking lots are guarded and have video surveillance.
The cost of parking depends on its location: in the city center and in tourist spots you will need about 2.5 euros per hour, 5 euros for 2 hours and 20 euros or more for parking from 12 to 24 hours.
On the outskirts of Paris, prices are noticeably lower and on average for 24 hours of parking you will pay from 10 to 15 euros. For holidays, long terms parking (weekly, monthly) special rates may apply.
To park, you need to drive up to the barrier, press a button, get a ticket, and drive to the parking spot.
Before you leave the parking lot, insert your ticket into one of the parking payment machines and pay for the parking time. When you arrive at the barrier, insert the paid ticket into the slot of the barrier machine so that it rises.
A complete list of parking places for cars and motorcycles can be found at:
