Date Published: 13/09/2023

Parking your car in Spain: Know the difference between blue, green and orange zones

Different parking zones in Spain have their own time limits, rates and fines for breaking the rules

As a general rule, there’s no standard nationwide system of parking zones in Spain and the laws can vary from city to city, and even within different neighbourhoods of the same town. For this very reason, it’s important to check the regulations before planning a trip, but there is a broad overview of what the different colours denote.

Blue parking zones

Blue parking zones typically indicate areas where stopping is strictly regulated. It usually means that:

Parking needs to be paid for during specified hours.
Parking time limits and rates will vary depending on the specific town or city, but usually the maximum is four hours.
Drivers will normally have to purchase a ticket for use of the blue zone from a parking meter or through a mobile app.

Green parking zones

In green zones, priority is given to residents or vehicles with special permits who have no time limit when it comes to parking. For all other drivers:

Non-residents can usually park for up to two hours.
In addition to allowing less time, parking in the green zone is often more expensive.
Non-residents who fail to pay for parking may be subject to fines or could even be towed.

Orange parking zones

These parking spaces are far less common than the others but are still found in some cities. The rules for orange zones vary widely but in most cases it should be remembered that:

Parking time limits will be different depending on the town, and in some areas, non-residents aren’t allowed to use these spots at all.
Depending on the area, orange zones can indicate short-term parking only, loading zones or other specific regulations.

While blue, green and orange parking zones are the main colours adopted by cities in Spain, some regions also use red and other special signs to denote stricter rules for vehicles.

The most important point to remember is that each city or municipality in Spain can have its own parking regulations, including different colours, time limits and rates, so if in doubt, always check with the local authorities or official sources before parking up.

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