To facilitate parking for residents and tourists, blue zones can be found throughout France (in both urban and rural areas). Offering free parking for a set period, they are strictly regulated by law.
Parking meterThe sign indicating a blue zone and a paid parking area
are very different. The latter always has a parking meter. In addition, the signage also includes a notice indicating the hours during which parking is permitted. In contrast, parking in a
blue zone is completely free
How does parking in a blue zone work? Blue Zone signBlue Zone sign
To be able to
park in a blue zone, you must have a parking disc that conforms to European standards. Generally, this device can be obtained from the town hall free of charge or for a small fee. It can also be purchased at a supermarket or gas station for around 5 euros.
Once the car is parked, before leaving, the driver must place the parking disc on the windshield so that the authorities can easily check it. Regarding the parking duration, it is on average 1 hour and 30 minutes. However, each municipality may impose its own regulations. In addition, before parking, it is also very important to read the information inside the sign (E9a, E9b, E9c, E9d, E9e, E9f, E9g). On an E9a sign, parking is permitted for any vehicle. And on an E9b sign, the space is exclusively reserved for one car. What are the penalties for not complying with the regulations? When parking in a blue zone, these three situations can result in a driver being in violation: Parking in the space without a parking disc
Non-compliant parking disc or incorrectly configured arrival time And
exceeding the parking time limit set by the municipality. If a competent authority confirms the violation, the offender
- must pay a fixed fine of €35 (Class 2 offense).
- Besides drivers who already hold a license, remember that this regulation is often questioned during
- license checks.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that you memorize it.
