One mistake can cost you 200 lei a day, applied automatically, with no warning. Parking in Bucharest is not complicated, but it runs on rules many people still do not know — enforcement is electronic, by number plate, and if you have not paid, the fine arrives on its own.
The good news is that once you understand the system it is genuinely simple. There is no ticket on the windscreen any more and you pay from your phone in seconds. Here is what you need to know to drive and park in the city without worry.
How payment works
Since 2023 the city has run an electronic system: enforcement is by number plate, through cameras. There is no ticket to display. In practice you pay for the session in an app or by SMS, and the system checks automatically whether your car is "paid up".
The two quick routes:
- The app — "Parking București" (the official one, for municipal car parks), plus district-level options such as AmParcat or eSector6. You save your card and plate once, then pay in two taps.
- SMS to 7576 — send the number of hours and your plate (e.g. `2 B123ABC` for two hours). Some districts require a prefix such as `S6`, shown on the sign.
Rates and hours
Here it matters to read the sign in the zone, because rates differ by operator and by how central you are. As an order of magnitude, an hour of on-street parking costs somewhere between ~1 and ~10 lei, the central zones being the priciest.
Paid hours are usually 08:00–20:00, including Saturday and Sunday — plenty of visitors get caught here, assuming the weekend is free. It is not. Always check the interval on the sign, because it varies from one zone to another.
The no-worry option: underground car parks
If you have a rental car and want peace of mind — especially overnight — the safest option is an underground or shopping-centre car park. It costs between 5 and 10 lei an hour, runs around the clock and is a step safer than the street.
A few central options: Unirii car park (under Piața Unirii), AFI Cotroceni and Băneasa Shopping City. For a car that is not yours, a few lei more than the street buys the peace of mind.
How to avoid the fine
Three simple rules spare you the trouble:
- Pay before you walk away from the car, not "when I get a minute". Enforcement is instant.
- Check the plate you type in — one wrong character means an invalid payment and a fine, even though you paid.
- Read the sign. The rate, the zone and the hours are on the panel; if it is not clear, move the car somewhere with explicit signage.
The fine for non-payment is ~200 lei a day, it accumulates, and in cases of arrears the car can be clamped or towed. It is not worth the risk for a few lei saved.
In short
- Enforcement is electronic, by number plate — no ticket on the windscreen.
- You pay through an app (Parking București, AmParcat) or SMS to 7576.
- On-street rate: ~1–10 lei/hour, usually 08:00–20:00, weekends included.
- The safest option: an underground or mall car park, 5–10 lei/hour, around the clock.
- Fine for non-payment: ~200 lei/day, automatic.
- Always check the sign — rates differ by zone and operator.
If you have just landed and want to set off without hassle, you can pick the car up straight from Otopeni and drive into the city relaxed. And if you are staying longer, a long-term rental gives you predictability — including the time to sort out a parking subscription, if it comes to that.
