Moscow drivers can significantly reduce parking costs by utilizing several strategies, including finding cheaper parking lanes, understanding resident permits, and taking advantage of free parking days. Paid parking in the city, especially in the center, can be expensive, but knowing alternative options can lead to considerable savings.

To save money, drivers should look for parking in neighboring lanes and streets where rates are lower. For example, instead of parking on Novy Arbat at 450 rubles per hour, Nashchokinsky Lane offers parking for 50 rubles for the first 30 minutes and then 150 rubles per hour with a parking permit. Similarly, alternatives to parking near Lubyanka or Kitai-Gorod metro stations, which cost 380-450 rubles per hour, include Podkolokolny Lane at 200 rubles per hour on weekdays and free on Sundays. Near Moscow City, drivers can consider Anatoly Zhivov Street, Ermakova Roshcha Street, and other streets where parking costs 50 rubles for the first 30 minutes, then 150 rubles per hour.

A resident parking permit allows Muscovites living in paid parking zones to park for free at night (from 20:00 to 8:00). For round-the-clock free parking, an additional 3,000 rubles per year is required. The permit can be issued for 1, 2, or 3 years to apartment owners or tenants, with a maximum of two permits per apartment. The car must be registered to the applicant or a person registered in their apartment, and the applicant must not have outstanding traffic police fines or parking fees.

In 2025, there are 72 free parking days in Moscow, including 50 Sundays (except on streets with rates of 380, 450, and 600 rubles/hour and dynamic rate zones) and 22 holidays. These holidays include January 1–8, February 23, March 8, May 1-3 and 8–10, June 12–14, November 3–4, and December 31. Note that parking lots with barriers still operate in paid mode on holidays.

Intercept parking lots near the metro offer free parking all day (from 5:30 to 2:00) if you make at least two trips by metro, MCC, or MCD, starting from the station closest to the parking lot. Night rates are 50 rubles per hour (from 22:00 to 6:00), with only the first two hours paid. A commercial rate of 50 rubles per hour (from 6:00 to 22:00) applies if the metro is not used.

For frequent trips, season tickets can be more economical. A resident season ticket costs 3000 rubles per year for round-the-clock parking in the resident’s area, while regular season tickets start from 5500 rubles per month. Drivers can also explore free spaces in the courtyards of residential buildings outside the Third Transport Ring, but they should be cautious due to potential barriers and resident dissatisfaction.

To optimize parking time, remember that the first 5 minutes at any parking lot are free, night rates (from 21:00 to 8:00) are cheaper, and some zones offer per-minute billing after the first hour. It is crucial to pay for parking correctly within 5 minutes of parking and leave within 5 minutes after the paid time ends, using official payment methods such as the Parking of Russia application, the parking.mos.ru website, or SMS/parking meters, to avoid fines.

Planning trips in advance and studying the parking map can lead to significant savings, especially with frequent trips to the city center.