The 2 types of cars that can always park in any city in Spain

The Low Emission Zones (ZBE) and the anti-pollution protocols are forcing those drivers who travel between cities to add a stop in their trip preparations: to know what they can and cannot do with their vehicle. As far as parking is concerned, we are going to make it easy for you: these are the two types of cars with which you can park in any city in Spain.

Although the application of the norm is (quite) late, in compliance with the provisions of the Climate Change Law, all municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants will have to enable restricted traffic areas in which the movement of vehicles will be limited/prohibited more pollutants.

The LEZ map

At the end of 2022, the Government approved the Royal Decree that regulates the objectives and restrictions of ZBEs. It is, in reality, a very lax regulation since it does not establish what the restricted traffic areas should be like, or what limitations should be applied, and it leaves it up to the municipalities to decide which measures to address.

This means that if we were to draw a map of the LEZs and their prohibitions, each municipality would be painted in a different colour. In all cases, the most affected are the vehicles without a DGT label, known as A vehicles, which, in most cases, are totally or partially prohibited from accessing these areas.

This variety of criteria means that in cities like Madrid, which has two Special Protection Low Emission Zones (ZBEEP), apply different measures in each one: in Madrid Centro, vehicles without a badge are prohibited (with exceptions) from both access, while cars labeled C and B can circulate but not park on the surface; while in Plaza Elíptica they can park wherever they want.

In the metropolitan area of ​​Barcelona there are also restrictions but they are applied temporarily, leaving movement free during weekends and certain hours of the day.

The two types of cars that can park in any city in Spain

To play it safe, if you want to park without fear of being fined, you must drive one of these two types of cars.

• Zero Emissions Label, that is, electric cars (battery and hydrogen) and plug-in hybrids with at least 40 km of electric autonomy

• ECO label which includes LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), MHEV (microhybrid), HEV (hybrid) and PHEV (plug-in hybrid) cars with less than 40 km of electric range

The penalty for breaching the rules of a ZBE is included in the new Law on Traffic and Road Safety and is 200 euros without loss of points.