Parking in Bucharest has changed considerably in recent years. Since 2023, the city operates on a unified system — a single rate across all zones, electronic control based on license plate numbers and payment through an app, with no ticket required on the dashboard. Most of these changes work in the driver's favor. The problem is that many people are still following the rules of an older system, and the fine for non-payment — 200 lei per day, applied automatically — makes no distinction between intention and simple ignorance. What follows is the up-to-date version of the rules, with everything that has changed and everything that remains valid in 2026.

How the parking system works

Public parking spaces in Bucharest are managed by the Municipal Parking Company of Bucharest (CMPB) and divided into three geographic zones. Since 1 March 2023, a unified pricing system has been in place, eliminating price differences between zones.

Zone 0 covers the strict city centre: Piața Universității, Piața Romană, Piața Unirii and the Old Town. It has the highest occupancy rate, particularly during peak hours. Zone 1 extends around the centre, covering popular residential and office neighbourhoods. Zone 2 includes areas further from the centre, where finding a free space is generally easier.

Fees apply every day of the week, including Saturday and Sunday, between 08:00 and 20:00. Outside these hours, parking in CMPB-managed spaces is free of charge.

How much does parking cost in 2026

Since 2023, Bucharest operates on a single rate across all zones: 5 lei per hour, applied daily between 08:00 and 20:00, including weekends. For those who know they will be staying all day, a daily pass costs 30 lei — more practical than paying hour by hour. A monthly pass is available for 500 lei, without a reserved space.

For residents, there is a resident permit: 50 lei per month or 500 lei per year, with a maximum of two permits per apartment. It is the most affordable long-term parking solution for those living in a CMPB-managed area.

Underground and shopping centre car parks have their own rates, ranging between 5 and 10 lei per hour, and generally operate around the clock. Popular locations include Parcare Unirii, AFI Cotroceni and Băneasa Shopping City.

How to pay: all available methods

One important detail to know from the start: once you have paid for your parking, there is no ticket to display on the dashboard. Control is carried out electronically, based on the vehicle's license plate number.

The official CMPB app is called Parking București and is available for free on Google Play and the App Store. It accepts card payments, allows parking spaces to be located on a map and enables the purchase of daily and monthly passes. It can be reached at parkingbucuresti.ro or by phone at +40 374 997 799.

A popular alternative is AmParcat, which offers additional payment methods — Revolut Pay, Apple Pay and Google Pay — and allows automatic parking extension. It also works in Sector 4 and in other Romanian cities. It is particularly useful if you park after 20:00 and want to purchase a pass in advance for the following day. Website: amparcat.ro.

For those who prefer SMS, the active number since 1 November 2024 is 7576. The message format is straightforward: the number of hours followed by the license plate number, with no spaces. For two hours, plate B123ABC, the message would be 2B123ABC.

The city also has over 300 parking meters, which accept payment by bank card, NFC phone, smartwatch or QR code, for periods of 1 to 5 hours or for the entire day. Cash is still accepted at some locations.

How much is the fine if you do not pay

The fine for non-payment of parking fees is fixed at 200 lei per 24 hours. If the vehicle is parked in a prohibited space, the penalty increases to several hundred lei, and there is also the risk of the vehicle being towed and immobilised until the full amount is paid.

Fines can be paid by card through the Parking București app, at parking meters or via the Ghiseul.ro platform.

Electric and hybrid vehicles: free parking

Since 1 January 2025, owners of electric and hybrid vehicles registered in Bucharest can park free of charge in all CMPB-managed public spaces. The condition is the annual registration of the vehicle in the Electronic and Hybrid Vehicle Information Register, at registru.cmpb.ro. Registration for 2026 had to be renewed by 28 February.

Where you can park for free in Bucharest

Every day between 20:00 and 08:00, CMPB parking spaces are free. One detail worth remembering: if you leave your car overnight and do not pay for parking before 08:00 in the morning, you risk a fine.

On the outskirts of the city and in residential neighbourhoods, street parking is generally not subject to fees. Areas around Herăstrău Park and Cișmigiu Park offer reasonable options for those willing to walk a short distance to their destination.

Several shopping centres — Promenada Mall, AFI Cotroceni and Băneasa Shopping City — offer free parking for customers for the first 2–3 hours. Conditions vary from one mall to another, so it is worth checking the specific rules beforehand.

Parking near the Palace of the Parliament

For visitors to the Palace of the Parliament, the best option is the car park on the eastern side of the building, in Piața Constituției. The standard rate is 5 lei per hour or 30 lei for the entire day, and the walk to the tourist entrance is approximately 10 minutes.

The basic rule

Before parking anywhere in Bucharest, check two things: the information sign in the area and the applicable time window. Most fines are not the result of deliberate evasion — they come from not knowing a few simple details: that paid parking applies on Sundays too, that the SMS number is 7576 and not an older one, or that a car left overnight needs to be paid for before 08:00 the next morning. Five lei an hour and two apps on your phone are all it takes to make sure parking in Bucharest stays straightforward.

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