Parking fees in Vác to increase from January 1

Parking fees in Vác will increase from January 1, following a decision by the city council on October 21. Surface parking for passenger cars and use of the underground garage will cost more, and permit prices will also change. Paid parking hours will be extended on Saturdays, and parking for cars with green license plates will become subject to fees. Residents of Vác can continue to use the discount available to them after registering.

How parking rates are changing

The shortest parking period, 15 minutes, will remain available, but its fee will increase from 50 to 100 forints. The hourly rate for surface parking for passenger cars will rise from 400 to 450 forints. In the underground garage, the hourly rate will change from 350 to 400 forints. To check the zone code required for payment, use the parking zone finder. The new hourly rates for both surface parking and the underground garage will therefore be higher than the current rates.

The approved proposal affects more than just hourly rates: permit prices will increase by an average of 12.5 percent. The source does not specify the new prices for individual permit types, so the change can only be reported as an average increase. The fee changes were debated at the council meeting: opposition and local-patriot representatives did not support them, while the majority voted in favor of the new prices. The decision was justified on the grounds of ensuring the parking system can operate sustainably.

Paid parking hours will be extended on Saturdays, and discounts will also change

Paid parking hours will be extended on Saturdays: fees will be payable until 6 p.m. instead of noon. Parking will remain free on Sundays and public holidays. If you park in Vác on a Saturday, the change affects not only the rate you pay but also how long you need to budget for parking fees. The announced change specifies when Saturday payment will end; the source does not report any changes to paid parking hours on other days.

After completing a simple registration, residents of Vác can continue to use designated parking zones at a 20 percent discount. Discounted parking will also be available to municipal employees. The residents’ discount will therefore remain in place despite the fee increase, but registration is required to use it. The source does not explain the registration process, so based on the decision announced, the discount applies to registered Vác residents in designated zones.

The situation will be different for cars with green license plates: their existing discount will be discontinued. From January 1, parking these vehicles will also be subject to fees. The change therefore affects drivers who have so far parked in Vác using the discount associated with green license plates. The source does not list any further conditions or exceptions for vehicles with green license plates.

Payment options and planned improvements

The municipality is also planning to modernize the parking system. It is preparing to introduce a license plate recognition system in the underground garage and expand the availability of card payments. According to the source, these are plans, not improvements that have already been implemented as part of the fee changes taking effect on January 1. The information provided does not indicate when license plate recognition might be introduced or when card payment options might be expanded.

Card payments for parking tickets are currently available at a limited number of surface parking locations: drivers can pay by card at nine of the city’s 29 parking meters. Anyone wishing to pay this way should therefore be aware that not every meter offers this option. The source provides no further details about the planned expansion, so the current availability and the intention to improve it should be treated separately.

The most important thing for drivers is to plan for the new rates from January 1 and for the longer paid parking period on Saturdays. The discount for registered Vác residents and free parking on Sundays and public holidays will remain in place, but the existing discount for vehicles with green license plates will be discontinued.

Source: Vác.hu