- In the video: 18 euros an hour: Paris drastically increases parking rates for SUVs
Anyone who owns a large sedan, SUV or small van will soon have to put more money in their pockets when parking in Koblenz than the owner of a small or medium-sized car. The city reacts to the numerous large limousines that are parked there.
Lawyers are already protesting and talking about unequal treatment. “Is the city of Koblenz unaware of the relevant case law of the higher courts?” protests Frankfurt traffic lawyer Uwe Lenhart in an interview with the newspaper “Bild”. He also refers to a ruling of the Federal Administrative Court. The Freiburg judges annulled a similar provision. Staggering based on the length of the vehicle and discounts for social reasons were criticized. However, municipalities continue to increase parking fees.
The Koblenz parking space model has similarities with the Freiburg model, but the city abandons the social aspect when implementing it and uses a new calculation of parking fees, i.e. based on parking spaces. It remains to be seen whether this model will also be challenged by the Federal Administrative Court.
This is how the Koblenz parking model is calculated
Parking fees that residents must pay to the city annually are calculated based on the square footage of required parking space.
At the request of FOCUS online, the form is then: Car length x car width x 0.45 euros x 52 weeks.
Residents must present an ID, driver's license and vehicle registration document when applying. Koblenz's parking model also creates chaos when it comes to pricing. Models from a car manufacturer may be wider and longer due to their equipment, which is why the city of Koblenz also requires the vehicle registration document when applying.
- A small Smart with a width of 1.56 meters requires around 4.2 square meters, which represents an annual cost of 98.20 euros.
- An Audi A5 with a width of 1.84 meters requires 8.6 square meters and has an annual cost of 201.90 euros.
- A Chevrolet Tahoe with a width of 2.07 meters requires 10.45 square meters and annual parking costs of 244.60 euros.
Parking rates are increasing nationwide
Four years ago, the Bundestag abolished the maximum limit of €30.70 per year that was in force until then and which was only intended to cover the administrative costs of issuing identity documents. Since the law was changed at the state level in 2022, municipalities themselves can set parking rates for residents. The first cities are now announcing price adjustments for 2024, after the state governments of Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony and Thuringia have already given the green light. Bavaria does not apply the new rules for municipalities. Therefore, there is no threat of price increases here.
These cities are planning adjustments in 2024:
Aachen
In Aachen, the costs of resident parking permits are expected to quadruple to initially reach 120 euros per year. However, the decision has not yet been implemented.
Bochum
Bochum is planning increases, but at the moment there is no concrete concept in this regard.
Demolding
The city of Detmold has increased parking fees for its residents eightfold! Instead of 30 euros, residents will have to pay an impressive 240 euros from January 2024.
Dusseldorf
In spring 2023, Düsseldorf presented a concept to increase the price of parking for residents. The city will be divided into three zones, for which fees of 240, 300 and 360 euros will be charged. According to a city spokesperson, a “fundamental component” of the concept is the so-called social tariff, according to which beneficiaries only have to pay 25 percent of the respective tariff. The parking concept has not yet been implemented.
Frankfurt
Frankfurt failed in court with its proposal to not reserve resident parking spaces for large SUVs and limousines. The city's argument: If you can afford a bigger car, you should also pay for a garage space. The judges saw this as an injustice.
Cologne
In Cologne, the city council has decided to increase the amount from 30 to 100 to 120 euros per year. It should come into force in July 2024 at the earliest and be based on the Koblenz model. The parking fee is tiered based on the length of the vehicle. More than 60,000 Cologne residents currently have a resident parking permit, but this does not mean that they are guaranteed to find a parking space at any time.
Ludwigshafen
To avoid lawsuits, parking rates are increasing for everyone. Regardless of whether it is a small car or an SUV. Parking for residents will cost 180 euros from October, instead of 30 euros previously.
muenster cheese
The city had decided to increase parking fees. They don't come for the series of demands.