From October 1, 2026, Spanish city councils have been able to set higher street parking fees for larger vehicles under Real Decreto 518/2026. The decree is in force, but prices will not change automatically: each council must decide whether to account for vehicle size and environmental class, with actual rates set through local ordinances.
The decree changes Spain’s Reglamento General de Circulación, reflecting a shift toward healthier, more liveable cities. There is no national definition of a “large vehicle”: the law creates no special SUV category or size threshold, and does not require any city to add a surcharge based on vehicle dimensions or the amount of street space it occupies. Each city will set its own rules and prices.
Article 156 sets out the pricing mechanism: “Parking of vehicles may be subject to fees set by municipal councils based on their dimensions and environmental classification.” City councils can so charge more to park a large car than a small one, while also factoring in its environmental class. Size and environmental label form the basis for any future changes to parking fees. In Bilbao, vehicles with 0 and ECO environmental labels receive a 50% discount on OTA parking for the first two hours, while vehicles in classes C and B, as well as those without an environmental label, pay the standard rate.
The decree takes effect as large SUVs account for 25.9% of all car sales in Spain from January to August, information from ANFAC data. These vehicles are taller and heavier, and pose a greater risk to pedestrians in a crash. Supporters say higher parking costs could encourage drivers to choose smaller cars that pose less risk to pedestrians and take up less space. The Spanish Federation of Municipalities (Fedma) notes that families with several children often need larger vehicles for daily life and wants cities to take this into account.
No city is required to act. The law gives councils the option to introduce size-based parking fees, while many cities already set prices information from emissions labels or vehicle age. Size is now a legal factor for the first time, but it is not yet clear whether any city will adopt the new pricing model. The reform also allows municipalities to introduce full or partial restrictions on certain categories of vehicles on locally controlled roads, including low-emission zones and residential priority areas. Official regulatory sources say Barcelona’s city government does not plan to calculate blue- and green-zone parking fees by vehicle size during the current mandate, so the new powers will not be applied uniformly across Spain.
Spain’s move adds vehicle size to a wider European debate about large cars in cities. As previously reported, a car’s environmental impact is not determined by its age alone.
For drivers, owning a large car in the city could mean higher parking costs. The decree also gives city planners and residents a way to reclaim public space and prioritize safety. Oversized vehicles are on the rise in Spain, but whether local governments use this power remains an open question.
