Regime change in parking in Budapest: Parking ticket machines may be removed in 2026
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Dávid Vitézy, the former mayoral candidate of the Hungarian Green Party, LMP, and also supported by PM Orbán’s Fidesz at the 9 June elections, would like to introduce an entirely new system for parking in Budapest in 2026. He believes such a system would be clear of potential corruption, and also cheaper and easier to use.
Parking in Budapest could change fundamentally
According to Népszava, Vitézy would remove all parking ticket machines from the Hungarian capital by 2026. According to his calculations, half of the revenue is spent on their operation. He would like to introduce an entirely online and universal parking system which he believes would be cheaper and clear of possible corruption.
This is not the first time Vitézy slammed the current mixed system of parking ticket machines and mobile payment services because he believes operators of the ticket machines make a lot of money disappear. Vitézy would like to submit his proposal at the Municipal Council’s session next week.
He added that more than 80% of the drivers no longer used parking ticket machines. Instead, they buy their ticket on their phone. He would like to attach the new online parking system to the license plates of the cars.
BudapestGO app must be developed, expanded
Népszava wrote that this plan requires the expansion of the BudapestGo app. However, the costs would reach HUF hundreds of millions (EUR millions), and the project would take months. The proposal would dismiss hundreds of traffic wardens in Budapest. Vitézy would monitor parking with cars equipped with proper surveillance cameras.
Vitézy would also like to abolish the so-called “comfort fee” drivers pay for the Nemzeti Mobilfizetési Ltd. to enable them to pay for parking via mobile. He would like the Municipality of Budapest to take the initiative to the government to abolish it. Moreover, he would not like to introduce it in the BudapestGO app. The deadline for developing the new online system would be next December.
