A car park, also known as a parking lot, is a dedicated space for vehicle parking, located outdoors, or in the basement of a building. It is an essential facility for all road users.
In France and in most EU countries, a car park is indicated by the capital letter P, in white, on a blue background. This sign is located at each car park entrance, as well as in some on-street parking areas. It also appears on road maps and city street maps.
A car park is therefore a space allocated specifically for vehicle parking away from the public road itself. There are several different types of car park, each laid out differently. One type involves covered car parks in the basement or on the top of a building, while another type includes ground-level car parks on public or private land. The vast majority of car parks and parking areas require payment, but the rate depends on the location of the car park and the services it offers. The rate will vary depending on whether the car park is covered, is a multi-storey car park, or a park-and-ride.