Overview
- Paul Belmondo said he was charged €12.50 per hour to park his electric Renault 5 in Paris, posting his complaint on Instagram.
- Under rules in force since October 1, 2024, electric vehicles under 2,000 kg park free, while those at or above the threshold pay zone tariffs of €18 per hour in arrondissements 1–11 and €12 per hour in arrondissements 12–20.
- The city uses license-plate recognition tied to the vehicle registration file to verify energy type and recorded weight, and owners must register their plates to receive any exemption.
- The weight on the carte grise includes a notional 75 kg driver, which can tip a vehicle over the 2-tonne limit and explain why a stated 1,950 kg might incur fees.
- Belmondo’s post prompted online exchanges between François de Rugy and Aurélien Véron over what qualifies for free parking, while reports flagged confusion about the Renault 5’s actual weight.