How expensive will parking be in major city centers by 2025?

Access to private vehicles in the urban centers of major European capitals continues to progressively decline. By 2025, cities such as Barcelona, ​​Paris, and Milan have strengthened their sustainable mobility strategies, expanding restrictions on the most polluting vehicles and increasing penalties for those who violate regulations .

In Barcelona, ​​unauthorized entry into the Low Emission Zone can result in a €200 fine, while in Milan, the fine for driving without a permit in Area C—the ZTL (low emission zone) in the historic center—can range from €80 to €300, depending on the severity of the violation. In Paris, the fine for not having the appropriate Crit'Air environmental sticker is €68 for passenger cars and reaches €135 for larger vehicles.

This regulatory tightening is accompanied by a progressive increase in parking costs in urban centers. According to data from Parclick, in Barcelona, ​​parking in the city center now costs an average of €1.11 per hour. In Milan, where access to the old town is especially monitored, the average price reaches €2.92 per hour. In Paris, the average rate in central parking lots is around €1.92 per hour.

In this context, those who must continue traveling by car—whether for work, personal needs, or a lack of alternative transportation—face an increasingly complex reality. The combination of high fines, restricted access, and rising prices is leading many drivers to seek more flexible and economical options. Among these options, parking in peripheral areas well connected to public transportation or using advance reservation systems in private parking lots is gaining ground.

Digital tools like Parclick have strengthened their usefulness in this new mobility model. According to data from the platform, in cities like Barcelona, ​​Paris, and Milan, it's possible to find low-cost parking options for under one euro per hour, as well as valet parking at airports or stations at prices significantly lower than a fine. Furthermore, reserving parking in advance allows access to lower rates and ensures availability in strategic areas, thus mitigating the economic impact of current restrictions and the progressive rise in urban parking costs.

As cities consolidate their transport decarbonization plans, the need to provide drivers with solutions that allow them to adapt to new mobility scenarios without losing functionality or incurring disproportionate costs becomes evident.