Park like a jerk in Spain? They might take your car « Euro Weekly News

We’ve all been there — either we’ve parked across two spots and annoyed someone, or we’ve been the ones fuming at someone else’s lazy parking.

Others have taken it even further. A few years ago, an Australian driver went viral for pulling off what many considered a parking offence of epic proportions — managing to occupy four public parking spaces at once. Now that’s a record.

Naturally, social media came for him — because let’s face it, everyone’s a justice warrior online — and he ended up with a hefty fine to remember.

Spain, like most countries, has laws in place to punish drivers who take up two (or more, like in Australia) parking spaces. And parking across multiple spaces in Spain can cost you — sometimes a lot.

What Spanish law says

According to Article 92 of Spain’s General Traffic Regulations, “every driver who stops or parks their vehicle must do so in a way that allows for the best possible use of the remaining space.”

The aim of this rule is quite obvious: to maximize limited public parking availability and ensure fair access for all drivers.

So, when a vehicle is parked across two or more spaces, it can be considered a violation — and that can lead to a fine.

How Much Is the Fine?

The answer is that it depends on the severity of the offence. Basically, it comes down to how many parking spaces you’re occupying or how much your bad parking disrupts traffic.

Minor offence: €80 to €100
Serious offence: Up to €200

Early payment discount: If paid within 20 calendar days, drivers are eligible for a 50% discount, but forfeit the right to dispute the ticket.

Fines can vary — and watch out for tow trucks!

You should know that each city or town in Spain has the authority to set its own traffic and parking rules. This means what’s considered a minor offence in one place might be treated more harshly in another.

This local flexibility allows municipalities to manage parking space availability according to their specific urban needs. For drivers, it’s a reminder to check local regulations wherever they go.

In cases where the vehicle severely obstructs other users or takes up multiple spaces, authorities may call in the municipal tow truck. This not only adds towing and storage fees to the original fine but can significantly increase the total cost of the incident.

The price to retrieve a towed car depends on the municipality but is usually substantial enough to encourage compliance with parking rules.