Parking is a special nightmare. Expect to pay a lot in an underground garage, or try jamming your car into whatever small spot might present itself. For kerb-side pay spots, first park, then look for the green parking ticket distributor box. These automatic distributors no longer accept change or notes. A special parking card, une carte de stationnement, can be bought at any tabac throughout the city, and works in the same way that a pre-paid calling card does. Insert the card into the meter, punch in how much time you’ll need, and place the ticket on the front dash. Maximum time limit permitted in a parking space outside one’s arrondissement is two hours. Within your arrondissement, with a resident card (carte de resident) obtained at your local town hall (mairie) you can stay put for one week.