As of 2025, parking in Bucharest is a two-layer puzzle: city-managed PMB spaces (the blue ones) and sector policies, which added their own networks and subscriptions. Below is a practical guide to what you really pay, how you pay it, and the main exceptions.

1) The common base citywide: PMB blue spaces

• Hourly rate: 5 lei/hour, daily 08:00–20:00 (free outside this window). There’s also a day pass: 30 lei and a monthly pass: 500 lei (useful for firms/employees downtown).
• Residents (general PMB pass, no reserved spot): 50 lei/month or 500 lei/year (max. 2 passes per housing unit).
• How to pay: preferably via the Parking București app or meter. Paying by SMS to 7576 works, but operators add fees; in practice many end up paying over 6 lei/hour via SMS or third-party apps.
• Important exception (from Jan 1, 2025): electric and hybrid cars park free in PMB spaces (annual registration required in the CMPB registry).

2) Residential parking fees (rented, white markings)

Unified citywide by CGMB; for 2025 the annual amounts are:
 Zone A – 754 lei, B – 628 lei, C – 502 lei, D – 376 lei. You pay the sector that manages your space, typically by March 31 (often with a two-instalment option).

3) What each sector changed in 2025

Sector 1

• New network of public, non-reserved paid parking:
  • Residents in their own area: 500 lei/year.
  • Residents from other S1 areas: 60 lei/month or 720 lei/year.
  • Non-resident, non-named pass (everyone else): 200 lei/month (individuals) / 300 lei/month (companies).
  • Short-stay pricing: 1 leu/hour; day pass: 7 lei; charged 08:00–20:00; nights free.
  • Barrier lots: 3 lei/30 min or 5 lei/hour; night pass 150 lei/month; residents’ 24/7 pass 250 lei/month.
• Residential: CGMB A–D rates above.

Sector 2

• Public paid network: in 2025 there isn’t a sector-wide paid network comparable to S4/S6; there is a subscription regulation (HCL S2/2024), and a project envisioned 50 lei/month for evening/night use, but no large-scale rollout announced. Check on-street signs and the ADP S2 platform.
• Residential: CGMB A–D rates.

Sector 3

• Extended “non-named” model: pay by the hour (typically 5 lei/h daytime) or get a non-named parking subscription: 50 lei/month (local residents) or 500 lei/year; for non-residents, 100 lei/month. You must leave a contact number on the dashboard and vacate the spot if the named holder arrives.
• Decebal underground lot: ~4.2 lei + VAT/hour.
• Residential: CGMB A–D rates.

Sector 4

• On-street rates (24/7 since April 2025):
  • Green Zone: 1 leu/hour
  • Yellow Zone: 4 lei/hour
    (changed from the old 1 leu/2 hours and 2 lei/hour; nights now charged too).
• “Vignette”/special fee for those without a residential spot: 540 lei/year (access to S4 public lots), introduced late 2024; handled via the S4 platform. Exemptions exist for those with private-property parking (proof required).
• Barrier lots & local park&ride: rates aligned with zoning (1–4 lei/h); check the entrance sign.
• Residential: CGMB A–D rates.

Sector 5

• Local network (HCL S5/76/2025):
  • Charged hours: 08:00–20:00; 3 lei/hour; nights free.
  • Monthly pass (non-reserved): 60 lei (individuals) / 100 lei (companies).
  • Reserved spots: 100 lei/month (no blocker) / 150 lei/month (with blocker installed by admin).
  • Barrier lots: 150 lei/month (individuals) / 200 lei/month (companies).
• Residential: CGMB A–D rates.

Sector 6

• Public paid parking (e.g., Iuliu Maniu Blvd.):
  • 1 leu/hour; 7 lei/day; 60 lei/month (non-named pass); charged 08:00–20:00; nights free. Pay via eSector6, AmParcat, or SMS.
• Residential: CGMB A–D rates.

4) Special case: Străulești Park & Ride (M4)

From May 1, 2025: 1.5 lei/hour and 300 lei/month pass. Metrorex removed the old perk for metro pass holders, citing operating costs.

5) “What does it actually cost?” — three common scenarios

1. Stopping downtown in a blue PMB spot, 2 hours, paying by SMS: 5 lei × 2 + fee = usually >10 lei (slightly above list price). Tip: use the Parking București app or the meter to avoid the SMS fee.
2. Evening, on street in S4: it’s charged 24/7 – 1 leu/hour (Green) or 4 lei/hour (Yellow). Nights are no longer free.
3. Daytime in S6 near Iuliu Maniu, 6 hours: 7 lei/day (cheaper than 6 lei by the hour). Nights free.

6) How to quickly check you’re paying the right thing

• Look at the on-street sign. PMB uses blue boards; S4 marks by colors (Green/Yellow); S6 clearly shows 08:00–20:00.
• Use the app that matches the area.
  • PMB: Parking București (or SMS 7576).
  • S4: PS4/TPark/AmParcat platforms (apps display zone and price).
  • S6: eSector6/AmParcat/SMS, with hour/day/month options.
• If you drive electric/hybrid, register with CMPB for free parking in blue PMB spaces (mandatory annual renewal).

7) Before you park in another sector, remember

• Sector networks aren’t interchangeable. A pass in S6 doesn’t cover S4. Always check the exact zone in the app/signage.
• S3 has special rules on “named” spots: you may be asked to vacate within 5 minutes if the holder arrives; ignoring it risks fines/towing.
• S1 is rolling out in stages: rates are approved but appear gradually on the ground; check local signage or S1’s platform.

TL;DR – the key numbers for 2025

• PMB (blue): 5 lei/h; 30 lei/day; 500 lei/month; resident PMB 50 lei/month or 500 lei/year; SMS 7576 (watch the fees). Electric/hybrid: free.
• Residential (all sectors): A 754 / B 628 / C 502 / D 376 lei/year.
• S1 (public, no barrier): 1 leu/h; 7 lei/day; passes 500 lei/year (local residents), 60 lei/month/720 lei/year (other S1 residents), 200–300 lei/month (non-named, individuals/companies). With barrier: 3 lei/30 min or 5 lei/h; night 150 lei/month; residents 250 lei/month (24/7).
• S2: no city-wide public paid network operational (regulation/projects exist).
• S3: non-named subscriptions (50 lei/month/500 lei/year — residents; 100 lei/month — non-residents); day-to-day hourly pricing (e.g., 5 lei/h); Decebal ~4.2 lei + VAT/h.
• S4: 24/7 – 1 leu/h (Green), 4 lei/h (Yellow); special fee 540 lei/year for those without a residential spot (with exemptions).
• S5: 3 lei/h (08–20), nights free; passes 60–150 lei/month (depending on reservation/barrier).
• S6: 1 leu/h; 7 lei/day; 60 lei/month; nights free.
• Străulești Park & Ride (M4): 1.5 lei/h, 300 lei/month.

Note: Fees and hours can be adjusted by local decisions. Always check the on-street sign or the relevant app before paying.