Parking in Budapest - Wheel locks and clamps

The parking problems in Budapest. Lots of them.

PARKING IN BUDAPEST - WHEEL LOCKS

A much worse problem is parking in an illegal zone. Around my building there are these guys in a hatchback sitting in ambush waiting for you to leave your car. They know the places where people are bound to park illegally. Naturally, there are no "No parking" signs, you have to know the Hungarian traffic code to know that you cannot park there. So you are happy to find an empty parking spot at the bend, which is an absolute no-no in Hungary. To be sure, the spot is empty because the last person who got fined just left in rage. You leave, the guys jump out their car and put a wheel lock on your car. They stick around and wait for you. You come back, ready to run your next errant but your car is locked. You have a red notice on your windshield with instructions. You call the number, the guys appear and tell you that you need to pay a lot of money and it is going to be time consuming, etc. Basically, you need to pay them HUF 5,000 to avoid paying HUF 15,000. A good deal, discounting the fact that you have been set up to begin with. If you do not pay, you will have to pay the full fine and it will take more time to get the lock off your car.

I see this every single day when under my windows. Dozens of cars getting ripped off on the same spot. If I am passing by and I see people parking there, I tell them. Sometimes they listen and thank me, sometimes they are just suspicious and think that I want their parking spot. Then they get fined. If you stay in Budapest for long, you should consider getting somehow a parking permit... Budapest airport transfer Budapest Statue Park Budapest taxis Traffic in Budapest Parking in Budapest Parking permit in Budapest Parking in Budapest - Parking fines Budapest synagogues reading list Caves in Hungary Szentendre Hungarian embroidery An American prisoner in Hungary Budapest - The three cities