Don’t Get Towed in Toledo or Grua’d in Granada – A Guide to Spain’s Stripey Street Signs

Spain is one of the few European countries that alternate-day parking signs with visual stripes instead of text. These signs (nominated as R308a and R308b) are commonly found in residential areas and some older town centres of Spain, where narrow streets make parking scarce and difficult. The Provinces of Madrid, Granada, Valencia, and Girona (and their respective capital cities and towns) use them regularly to help manage traffic and keep the streets clean.

So, what’s the point of these alternate-day parking signs? Simply explained, they help maintain order, cleanliness, and fairness.

  • Street cleaning vehicles are able to access both sides of the road without hindrance.

  • Traffic flow improves, especially for emergency and delivery vehicles.

  • Residents share space more fairly. This system helps prevent long-term monopolisation of one side of the street.

  • It improves visibility and access, particularly in historic districts with narrow streets and blind corners.

Morbi vitae purus dictum, ultrices tellus in, gravida lectus.

R308a (A red stripe through one vertical white stripe) signifies no parking on odd-numbered days on the side of the street where the sign is placed.

Morbi vitae purus dictum, ultrices tellus in, gravida lectus.

R308b (A red stripe through two vertical white stripes) signifies no parking on even-numbered days on that side of the street.

NOTE: For both signs, the parking restriction starts at the sign and continues all the way to the next intersection.
NOTE: You are allowed to stop briefly to load or unload cargo, or to let someone in or out, as long as you do not leave the vehicle unattended, as this may be classified as parking. Use your hazard lights, and make it obvious the stop is active and brief.

IMPORTANT: If you fail to obey these signs, this can lead to a fine (typically €80–€200) and, sometimes, your car towed to the municipal lot. Towing fees are around €150–€200 in Spain, plus there may be daily storage charges!

Planning a holiday? Remember, you will still be responsible for obeying alternate-day rules. Think about:

  • Park your car in a garage or long-term car park
  • Ask a neighbour to move your car
  • Look for “free zones” with no alternate-day signs

Spain’s R308a and R308b alternate day parking signs can seem confusing at first, but now that you know how to spot them, they’re easy to follow, and also essential for keeping our streets safe, clean, and accessible.