Lyon charges higher parking fees for heavy and polluting cars

As of 11 June 2024, the City of Lyon has put a new progressive pricing model into practice for parking. The scheme defines parking charges depending on the weight of the vehicle, the type of engine and socio-economic situation for Lyon residents. 

The scheme affects both residents and visitors alike.

For Lyon residents, the previous standard parking rate was €20 per month. Going forward, the new scheme sets 3 levels of pricing: a reduced price of €15 per month, a standard price of €30 per month and an increased price of €45 per month. 

• The reduced price covers most electric vehicles and all cars that weigh less than 1 tonne. It also applies to low-income households and households with 3 or more children. 
• The standard price covers vehicles that weigh between 1 - 1.525 tonnes for combustion engine driven cars and 1 - 1.9 tonnes for plug-in hybrids. 
• The increased price applies to combustion engine vehicles of more than 1.525 tonnes and plug-in hybrids of more than 1.9 tonnes, in addition to electric vehicles that weigh more than 2.1 tonnes. 
• Lyon estimates that at least 50% of all households will pay the reduced price of €15 per month.

Visitors to Lyon are charged following the same eligibility criteria above:

• 1 hour parking is €1 for the reduced price, €2 for the standard price and €3 for the increased price. 
• Price levels increase with the duration of parking - for example, 2 hours is €3, €6 and €9, respectively. 
• Estimations are that approximately two out of three visitors will meet the criteria for the standard price.

The parking pricing model defines different solutions for specific user groups. For example, vehicles belonging to workers in urgent repair professions and constructions can apply for an annual subscription, and shopkeepers and healthcare professionals get a specific price offer as well. 

Putting higher price labels on purchasing or parking heavier cars is a recent development in France. The French government introduced an additional purchase tax on heavy and more polluting cars of €10 per kilogramme above 1.8 tonnes. Early this year, the residents of Paris also voted to introduce a similar parking charging scheme as Lyon, with prices of up to €18 for 1 hour of parking for cars of 1.6 tonnes or more.

Author: Claus Köllinger

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.