How Long Can You Stay at a Highway Service Area?
3 Answers
When a vehicle is driving on the highway, if it travels on the same highway for more than 12 hours or within the highway network for more than 24 hours, the owner will need to pay a certain overtime fee. Therefore, it's important to manage time wisely while driving. You can take free breaks at service areas, but you must ensure that the total time spent on the highway, including rest time, does not exceed 12 hours. Otherwise, you will be charged an overtime fee when exiting the highway station. How to avoid being fined for highway overtime: ① Keep receipts for purchases—buy something and get an invoice when entering the service area, and do the same before leaving, as this serves as proof of your stay duration; ② Obtain a certificate from the service area—service areas have relevant authorities, and you can request a certificate from them; ③ Retain maintenance records—if your vehicle suddenly breaks down during the trip, keep the relevant maintenance records; ④ Provide dashcam footage as proof.
On my driving days, I noticed that there are no strict rules for parking duration at highway service areas, but most people stop for 1 to 2 hours at most. It's mainly for refueling, using the restroom, grabbing a bite to eat, or taking a short break. If you park for too long, say over 3 hours, the service area might monitor your vehicle because parking spaces are limited, and prolonged occupation affects others. I once experienced staying too long and was reminded by a staff member to move my car—it was quite embarrassing. This is all for road safety considerations: frequent breaks help avoid fatigue driving, and experts recommend stopping for 15 to 30 minutes every 2 hours of driving. Plan your trip well; service areas are just pit stops, not overnight spots.
With more experience in long-distance driving, it's generally best to keep parking time at highway service areas within 2 hours. Service areas are designed for short breaks, such as drinking water or stretching. Parking for too long can easily block passages or cause management issues. I've seen cases where cars parked overnight were towed, which is quite troublesome. Considering fatigue prevention, a 20-minute stop is usually enough to regain energy—don't linger too long. Parking duration also depends on traffic peaks; during busy times, it's even more important to leave promptly. Overall, safety comes first, and brief stops are more efficient.
