Best Spots for Cheap Parking in Melbourne (Without Getting Towed)

Commercial parking lots can often cost as much as forty dollars for parking for a couple of hours. If you're looking to save with no intention of spending money, be sure to take advantage of these options that are extremely budget-friendly.

• Queen Victoria Market (Outside Market Hours): Queen Victoria Market has oversized open and covered car park facilities to the northern side of the CBD. The market prices are standard, but the really big savings are when the market is closed. The multi-story car park and the surface parking also have a lower flat fee on non-market days and on specific evening periods; it is a great base if you happen to be visiting the northern end of town.
• The District Docklands: Docklands is located on the fringe of the CBD and is within the Free Tram Zone, ideal park and ride. The District Docklands is one of the most affordable multi-hour parking areas in the city. With a modest investment at the local cinema, or at certain retailers, several hours of free parking can be found, and the tram ride can take you right into the city centre.
• Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens Car Park: this huge underground car park is only a few minutes north of the city grid in Carlton and is very good value for early bird and weekend parking. Located close to CBD, Fitzroy and Brunswick Street. From an overall cost side, parking here means that you do not have to contend with the varied costs of parking in the city, and you avoid the hassle of being in the middle of the city's traffic.
• Council Street Parking After Hours: the City of Melbourne has thousands of street parking meters. Daytime parking is time-limited and strictly priced, but many zones allow flat-fee night-parking (after 6:30 PM) and/or Sunday parking (after 6:30 PM) for free or at reduced rates. Always use a physical meter or park local parking app to check the paid hours' end time.

Melbourne parking signs are complicated and often have more than one condition packed onto a single sign. The quickest way to get your car towed is to misinterpret these signs.

• Understanding the "P" Symbol: the number before the "P" symbol means how long you can park. For instance, "1P" is for one hour and "1/4P" is for 15 minutes. If the sign reads "Mete" you must pay for the time you will be in the car at the nearby pay station or with the city's official pay parking app.
• The Danger of Clearways: the Danger of Clearways is a bright red clearway sign with a white "C" on it. The purpose of a clearway is to make the roads less congested during rush hours. When it is operating (usually 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM or 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM on weekdays), you can be sure that your vehicle will be towed almost immediately if you park in a clearway.
• Tow-Away Zones: during large scale events or during busy transit times, a number of streets in the CBD, South Yarra and Richmond are closed to all traffic except tow-away vehicles. The signs specifically include a tow truck graphic or a tow away zone sign. In these areas, parking inspectors and tow crews operate hand-in-hand, clearing cars in a matter of minutes after they are caught.

There are some essential tips that you should remember to avoid getting towed, and this does not include finding a cheap spot. You are responsible for keeping your car in the same place that you left it. Here are the golden rules to avoid being towed by the city's tow fleets.

• Always Check for Temporary Signs: construction and road filming, and emergency tree loping, often produce temporary "No Parking" or "Tow-Away" signs placed by Local Councils. These are temporary signs which supersede the permanent signage on the street. Check up and down the adjacent trail before leaving your car.
• Never Block a Driveway or Laneway: Melbourne has well known narrow laneways built of bluestone. Parking over any part of the driveway, garage entrance or active laneway is always prohibited, even if there are no lines painted on the ground. If this is not possible with a delivery truck or a resident calls the council, your car will be towed.
• Watch the Clock Closely: if you're parked in a zone that becomes a clearway at 4:30 PM, don't try to return to your car at 4:29 PM. Tow trucks get set up down the street waiting for the clock to ring. Come back to your car at least 15 minutes before a restriction moves in order to avoid being caught out.

Melbourne is well known for its iconic tram network; but, stationing your car too close to the rails is a surefire way to ensure that your vehicle gets towed away. Many motorists believe that if they are within the markings of the white painted line they have no reason to worry. But Melbourne trams are wide, and need to have a lot of clearance and space to pass through safely.

When your car, side mirrors or even bumper bar blocks the way of a passing tram, you cause a huge traffic jam for public transport. Yarra Trams drivers are strictly advised to not squeeze by a poorly parked vehicle as there is a high risk of a collision. Rather, they will immediately halt the tram and report to their central control room. VicRoads and council tow trucks then go out on high priority emergency status from there.

If you block a tram line you are disrupting thousands of commuters, so they will be disconnected and towed to a holding yard in minutes. The worst of all, you don't just get a parking ticket, but could also be fined some serious money by the Department of Transport for delaying the public transport system, which is one of the costliest parking slip mistakes you can make in Victoria. If you know when law enforcement can tow your car, you won't end up paying empty parking fees or with unexpected fines.

• Vehicles left parked in a clearway that is open for parking: in Victoria, vehicles are legally able to be taken away without owner consent in specific circumstances, such as if they are parked on a major arterial road during peak transport time to avoid major congestion. If part of your vehicle or side mirror extends into a tram clearance zone, Yarra Trams will immediately call for an emergency tow.
• Parking across a public or private driveway, garage entrance or narrow bluestone laneway: council will be able to remove your vehicle for the blocked person.
• Unattended vehicles: unattended vehicles parked on public suburban streets for long periods will be stickered by the council and will be impounded as abandoned vehicles.
• Parking in an official Tow-Away zone: MCG, Marvel Stadium or temporary construction zones. This means that there are clear signs within the major event precincts indicating that vehicles will be removed instantly.
• Parking hazard: vehicles parked near intersections, crests of hills, or blocks emergency vehicle access points, to create a serious safety hazard, will be removed by police.
• Anti-hooning legislation: Victoria has tough anti-hooning legislation in place and police can confiscate and tow your car immediately if you are involved in dangerous driving offences.