How to Avoid Parking Fines — Smart Habits That Save Money

The Most Common Reasons for Parking Fines

Before we start — here’s what drivers most often get wrong:

• Wrong zone in the parking app
  
• Parking too close to a crossing or intersection
  
• Exceeding the maximum time limit or forgetting to extend
  
• Ignoring street-cleaning or event days
  
• Parking on private property without a permit
  
• Parking at an EV charging spot without charging
  

Knowing these six traps will save you from most fines.

Quick Checklist — 10 Things to Do Before Leaving the Car

1. Read the entire sign, from top to bottom.
   
2. Check the zone code on the sign — and match it in your app.
   
3. Make sure you’re at least 10 metres from a crossing or junction.
   
4. Start parking in the app — and confirm the correct vehicle is selected.
   
5. Check time limits and whether fees apply during your stay.
   
6. Set a reminder or notification in the app.
   
7. Look for street-cleaning days or temporary closures.
   
8. Don’t park at charging spots unless you’re actively charging.
   
9. Take a photo of the signs if they seem unclear (proof).
   
10. If unsure — move one street away, where rules are often more relaxed.
    

⏱ 30 seconds of caution can save you hundreds of kronor.

App Hacks — Let Your Phone Do the Work

• Save your vehicles in the app so you don’t have to select them manually.
  
• Use auto-stop or max-time features if available.
  
• Enable notifications and reminders.
  
• Check payment history to make sure your sessions are logged.
  

The app is your friend — use it smartly instead of relying on memory.

Reading Signs — Avoid the Classic Mistakes

• Parentheses ( ) around times usually mean Sundays or holidays.
  
• Supplementary signs always modify the main sign — read them all.
  
• Arrows show exactly where a rule starts and ends.
  
• “2 tim” means a maximum stay, not “free for 2 hours.”
  
• The sign decides — not what you think it means.
  

If You Still Get a Fine — Do This First

1. Take photos of the location (signs, your car, surroundings).
   
2. Read the ticket carefully — is it yellow (municipal) or white/pink (private)?
   
3. Pay on time, even if you plan to appeal — avoid reminder fees.
   
4. Collect proof (receipts, app logs, unclear signage photos).
   
5. File your appeal in writing to the correct authority:
   
   • Police or municipality for yellow tickets
     
   • Parking company or the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN) for private fines
     ‍
     

Best practice: pay on time, then appeal if you have valid evidence.

Yellow vs. White (or Pink) Ticket — Know the Difference

<div class="knowledge-table"><div class="knowledge-table_header"><div class="knowledge-table_header-cell">Ticket type</div><div class="knowledge-table_header-cell">Where it applies</div><div class="knowledge-table_header-cell">Who handles it</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Yellow (Parkeringsanmärkning)</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Municipal/public land</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Police or municipality</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">White/Pink (Kontrollavgift)</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Private property</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Parking company or ARN</div></div></div>

Knowing which one you’ve received makes all the difference.

Preventive Tech for Property Owners / Housing Associations

If you manage parking for others:

• Use ANPR cameras + digital permits to prevent human error.
  
• Integrate systems with apps for automatic payments.
  
• Ensure clear signage at every entry point.
  
• Offer an instruction page for residents and guests (“How to Park Here”).
  

The right system reduces conflicts — and fines — dramatically.

Typical Situations — and What to Do

<div class="knowledge-table"><div class="knowledge-table_header"><div class="knowledge-table_header-cell">Situation</div><div class="knowledge-table_header-cell">What to Do</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">“I stayed one minute too long.”</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Pay and learn — set better reminders next time.</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">“Wrong zone in app.”</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Take a photo of the sign and appeal if you can prove it.</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">“Sign was unclear or covered.”</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Photograph it and include in your appeal.</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">“Fine on private property.”</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Contact the company, request evidence, and appeal to ARN if rejected.</div></div></div>

Documentation is your best defence.

Fairness and Appeals — When It Feels Wrong

Sometimes the fine is fair — sometimes it’s not.
Stay calm and factual in your appeal:

• Describe what happened briefly and clearly.
  
• Attach evidence (photos, app logs, receipts).
  
• Respect all deadlines for payment or appeal.
  

Anger doesn’t win appeals — clarity and proof do.

Parkit’s Five Rules to Avoid Fines (Short Version)

1. Read the sign.
   
2. Match the zone code in your app.
   
3. Park legally (10 m from intersections).
   
4. Use reminders.
   
5. Document unclear situations.
   

Follow these five, and you’re already among Sweden’s safest parkers.

Parkit’s Perspective

Fines shouldn’t be a surprise — they should be a lesson. With a few good habits and the right tools, parking can be calm, predictable and fair. Because good parking behaviour isn’t luck — it’s structure.