Visitors renting a car to travel around Gibraltar can now take advantage of a convenient online system to pay for parking. Introduced in March, the new Pay & Display function is part of the Gibraltar government’s Sustainable, Traffic, Transport and Parking Plan (STTPP).
The government has also announced a reduction in fuel duties from today (14 April) to help consumers facing increased costs.
Members of the public – both Gibraltar residents and visitors – wanting to pay online for parking at Pay & Display Zones can do so via the website Parking.gibcarparks.com, or by scanning a QR Code.
According to the government, this web-based payment portal currently captures all existing Pay & Display zones throughout Gibraltar, and there are plans in the future to launch a Gibraltar parking mobile application. New users such as car hire clients can log in as a guest to pay for single-use parking.
By paying online, there is no requirement to place a Pay & Display receipt inside the vehicle’s dashboard, as parking management officers (PMOs) have access to real-time data of all parking payments.
New signs are being strategically placed at all Pay & Display car parks, to provide drivers with information such as the location of the car park and website/ QR code details.
Announcing the initiative, minister for transport Paul Balban said, “This user-friendly technology now allows for a smarter parking solution, which moves us towards a cashless future which is where all parking management systems worldwide are heading. This will help solve historic issues associated with card and cash systems, especially in a city that tries to accommodate different currencies. The app will be developed further over time to include extra functions which will no doubt make it even easier for the user.”
Discounted Fuel Costs
According to the Gibraltar government, the duty on diesel is being reduced by 15 pence, meaning that 40 pence of duty per litre is now 25 pence. Other octanes are all reduced to 25 pence of duty per litre: 95, which until now has been 38 pence; and 98 and diesel premium (both previously 37 pence).
These reductions apply for the period to 1 July, when the duties will revert automatically to their original level, “unless the Government otherwise makes separate provision for alternate rates to apply”.
Announcing the discounts, chief minister Fabian Picardo said, “We are taking steps to reduce duties and to help consumers with this reduction of duties in fuels, and we expect petrol stations to pass this on to their customers. We want to help where we can and this measure is one where we consider the help we provide may also drive up revenue for government from this source of duties. We are conscious of the steps being taken in neighbouring Spain on fuel duties and subsidies, and we are responding to that also through these measures.”
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