A few extra minutes in a paid parking space in Baku can cost a driver another full hour because the system charges by the hour rather than by the minute. A switch to minute-based billing is not currently planned.
Drivers have complained that a stay of two hours and five minutes is billed as three hours, according to a report by Azerbaijan’s ITV broadcaster.
That means exceeding the two-hour mark by five minutes increases the cost of the stay by 50%. For motorists who make several stops during the day, the rounding can add significantly to total parking costs.
Paying for the Time Actually Used
The report examined minute-by-minute billing as an alternative. Under that model, motorists would pay only for the period during which their vehicle occupied a parking space.
Another option would be a short grace period after the end of a paid hour. An expert interviewed for the report said international practice varies, with some systems allowing an additional five to 10 minutes before charging for another full hour and others billing only for the minutes used.
The expert added that parking operators are applying the existing rules and that any change in the billing method would require a decision by the competent authorities.
AYNA Explains the Current Rules
Azerbaijan’s Land Transport Agency, known as AYNA, said the first 15 minutes of a parking stay are free. If a vehicle remains in the space longer, however, the parking fee is calculated in full under the applicable tariff.
The free 15-minute period therefore is not automatically deducted from a longer stay.
AYNA said parking is also free from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and on Sundays.
The agency said minute-by-minute billing is not currently planned. Under the existing system, drivers who exceed an hour by even a few minutes must account for the price of the next full hour.
Source: Vesti Baku; ITV report.