Parisian model?

German city wields parking fee hammer

(Bild: Stadt Koblenz/Andreas Egenolf)

The outrage and applause over the tripling of parking fees for heavy cars in Paris are far from over and the first city is already reporting a similar parking fee hammer. In Koblenz, however, the new regulation seems to make much more sense: it is based on the length of the cars.

And, unlike in Paris, it only affects residents. The prices for the "resident parking permit" will be raised there. And this will already be the case from March 1. As in Paris, however, not everyone will pay the same amount: the rates will be staggered depending on the size of the vehicle. In the French capital, however, the amount to be paid is based on the weight of the vehicle.

Until now, the parking fee has only cost 30.70 euros - per year! The city council considers this to be disproportionately low and says it wants to ensure fairness. In future, the amount of the charge will therefore be based on the actual road space used. The majority of parking spaces in the managed areas in Koblenz are not marked, which means that the actual size of the vehicles is relevant.

In future, the fee for the respective resident parking permit will be calculated from a basic annual amount of EUR 23.40 (EUR 0.45 per 52 weeks) multiplied by the respective length and width of the vehicle in meters. The values entered in the vehicle registration document (equivalent to the registration certificate in Austria) are decisive for this. Attachments to vehicles such as spoilers, bicycle racks, exterior mirrors are not taken into account.

100 Euro plus x
For example, residents' parking for a Smart fortwo will cost 104.87 euros for one year in future, the city council calculates. Owners of a VW Golf 7 will have to pay 179.12 euros in future. A VW Tiguan will cost 196.23 euros per year. In principle, a minimum fee of 100 euros applies.

Resident parking permits that expire on February 29, 2024 can still be extended at the current conditions.

The city of Tübingen already has differentiated resident parking fees: The normal annual rate there is 120 euros. For combustion vehicles with an unladen weight of 1800 kg or more and electric cars with an unladen weight of 2000 kg or more, parking permits cost 180 euros.