Double parking fee for heavy cars in Budapest postponed until 2028

In Budapest, the introduction of double public parking fees for vehicles weighing more than 2 tonnes has been postponed until January 1, 2028. The Metropolitan Assembly also decided that vehicles with green license plates that are fully electric or hydrogen-powered will receive a 50 percent parking discount until July 1, 2030. The decisions affect different motorists: the double fee is linked to a vehicle’s own weight, while the discount is linked to having a green license plate.

Double fee for cars over 2 tonnes delayed until 2028

Under the city’s previously adopted parking proposal, cars with an unladen weight of more than 2 tonnes would have been subject to a uniform double parking fee from early 2027. The rule would apply to conventional cars—that is, petrol, diesel and hybrid cars—as well as electric cars. The Assembly has now changed the introduction date to January 1, 2028; according to the source, the weight-based fee remains unchanged in the plans.

In the news about the postponement, the key criterion is not a specific type of car but the vehicle’s own weight. Therefore, an electric powertrain alone does not mean that a car would be exempt from the double fee when it is introduced. Likewise, for conventionally powered vehicles, the rule described in the source also hinges on exceeding the 2-tonne unladen-weight threshold.

Mayor Gergely Karácsony also discussed a technical prerequisite for introducing the fee at the Assembly meeting. According to him, applying the fee would require access to the motor vehicle register, which contains the weight of each vehicle. Access falls under the remit of Parliament, so Budapest cannot resolve this issue on its own. Alongside the postponement, the source highlights this prerequisite in connection with the double fee.

Discount approved for vehicles with green license plates

As part of the parking package, the free parking previously available to environmentally friendly cars with green license plates would have ended in early 2027. At its Friday meeting, however, the Assembly voted to grant a 50 percent discount until July 1, 2030, to vehicles with green license plates that are fully electric or hydrogen-powered. The decision therefore concerns discounted parking fees, not the continuation of the previous exemption from fees.

The proposal for the discount was put forward by representative Balázs Balogh. He said it would provide a gradual transition toward the complete abolition of free parking for electric vehicles. The source gives the end date of the discount but does not specify its exact start date. As a result, for vehicles with green license plates, the decision as reported confirms the discount rate and end date, but not when the discount begins.

What should you check before parking?

If you park in Budapest, it is worth treating the two decisions separately. The introduction of the double fee for vehicles with an unladen weight exceeding 2 tonnes has been postponed until January 1, 2028. In contrast, a 50 percent discount has been approved until July 1, 2030, for vehicles with green license plates that are fully electric or hydrogen-powered. The source does not provide specific hourly parking rates, so the amount payable cannot be determined from the decisions.

According to the city’s earlier explanation, the public space used by different modes of transport is limited, while space must be provided for several types of transport. City leaders also explained the double fee for heavier cars by pointing to their increasing size and space requirements. They expect that after the higher fee is introduced, more owners of the affected cars will use public transport.

Before starting a parking session, you can check the zone code for the relevant paid parking area in the parking zone finder. This news concerns changes to two elements of Budapest’s parking fees: the later introduction of the double fee for heavy vehicles and the approved discount for vehicles with green license plates.

Source: Telex