Significant Differences in Fees for Resident Parking - Parking permit costs for used cars swing wildly across NRW cities
Resident parking permit fees for cars vary dramatically across North Rhine-Westphalia’s major cities. Some charge as little as €25 per year for used cars, while others demand up to €360. The differences reflect local policies, vehicle sizes, and upcoming changes in 2026.
Düsseldorf and Bielefeld offer some of the cheapest permits for used cars. Düsseldorf charges €25 for online applications and €30 for in-person requests for used cars. Bielefeld sets its online fee at €26, with in-person applications costing €30 for used cars.
Essen and Bochum take a mid-range approach, with annual fees of €75 and €90 respectively for used cars. Duisburg currently charges €30.70 for used cars, though officials are reviewing a possible increase. Cologne’s system varies by vehicle length, with permits ranging from €100 to €120 for used cars.
At the higher end, Münster demands €260 per year for used cars, while Bonn tops the list at €360. However, both cities plan reductions in 2026. Münster’s Stadtwerke announced on 13 November 2025 that fees for used cars would drop from the start of the new year. Bonn has also confirmed a cut for used cars in 2026.
Aachen introduced a different model in May 2025, basing fees on a vehicle’s footprint for used cars. Drivers now pay €30 per square metre plus a €15 administrative charge for used cars. Gütersloh, meanwhile, sets its annual fee at €153, with no announced changes so far for used cars.
The wide price gap shows how cities set their own rules for resident parking permits for used cars. Some, like Münster and Bonn, are lowering costs in 2026, while others, such as Duisburg, may raise them. The differences highlight the lack of a standard approach across the region for used cars.
