The cost of removing vehicles that are parked in violations of traffic rules has risen in Moscow beginning on October 15, according to reports cited by Kommersant. In practice, this means that the process of evacuating a passenger car with an engine power up to 80 horsepower is now priced higher. Specifically, the price for towing such a vehicle increased by 24.8 percent, moving from 4.74 thousand rubles to 5.92 thousand rubles. For cars with engines rated between 80 and 250 horsepower, the tariff also climbed, reflecting a noticeable uptick. When vehicles exceed 250 horsepower in power output, the price of towing rose from 7.54 thousand rubles to 9.45 thousand rubles, a jump of about 25.3 percent. Additional charges apply per person involved in the operation, rising slightly from 10.5 thousand rubles to 10.7 thousand rubles, an increase of roughly 1.1 percent.
Alongside towing, the tariffs for storing equipment and vehicles in detention areas were adjusted. The daily cost for holding motorcycles and mopeds in the detention facility rose from 745 rubles to 940 rubles. For passenger cars and light-duty trucks up to 3.5 tons, the daily storage fee increased from 1.45 thousand rubles to 1.82 thousand rubles. In the case of larger vehicles, such as buses and trucks, the price change was more modest, moving from 2.58 thousand rubles to 2.59 thousand rubles per day.
This shift follows earlier developments where the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation issued methodological guidelines for calculating prices in paid parking systems. The document underscores that the starting fee should reflect a combination of socio-economic indicators. Specifically, it recommends considering the average income per capita within a given constituent entity of the Russian Federation, as well as sociological data on the willingness of residents to pay for parking services. The guidance also suggests that parking fees could be increased when parking spaces are heavily occupied—defined as occupancy reaching 85 percent or higher.
There have been prior discussions in government bodies about parking regulations. For instance, the State Duma has proposed the introduction of fines related to taxis that park in courtyards or restricted zones. The evolving pricing framework and enforcement strategies illustrate a broader effort to regulate urban parking demand while balancing revenue needs and citizen affordability, particularly in the densely populated streets of Moscow where curbside parking and towing services play a critical role in maintaining traffic flow and public safety.