New Regulations to Tackle 'Rip-Off' Private Parking Charges in UK

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has unveiled new regulations aimed at curbing "rip-off" private parking charges. Drivers will gain the right to challenge unfair penalties and receive more leniency when dealing with private parking providers. These changes come after persistent concerns from motorists about the harshness of fines issued by private operators and the perception of unfair punishment.

Highlights

• Drivers will have the right to appeal parking charges and be granted more grace time for payments.
• Fines can be cancelled for issues beyond a driver's control, such as vehicle breakdowns or faulty ticket machines, as well as for honest mistakes like incorrect license plate entry.
• A maximum charge of £20 on appeal will apply for minor slip-ups, including forgetting a parking permit or entering a wrong vehicle registration.
• The maximum parking charge will be frozen at £100.
• Operators failing to comply risk losing access to DVLA data, making it significantly harder to pursue vehicle owners for charges.

Details

Private car parks in the UK operate differently from council-owned ones. According to an analysis by the RAC motoring group based on government data, a record 17 million private parking tickets were issued in 2025-26, marking a 17% increase from the previous year. With each charge potentially reaching £100, this data suggests drivers could collectively face over £4.6 million in private parking charges daily.

Under the new code, charges can be cancelled for circumstances beyond a driver's control, such as vehicle breakdowns, medical emergencies, or broken ticket machines. For "honest mistakes" like forgetting a parking permit or inputting an incorrect registration, the maximum appeal charge will be £20. Prime Minister Burnham stated, "Being a few minutes late back to your car or typing one digit of your number plate wrong shouldn't end with a hefty fine landing on your doormat."

Why it matters

This new regulation is the culmination of a seven-year process. The previous code was withdrawn due to industry resistance, but this new framework aims to protect drivers from the poor practices of some private parking companies. While motoring groups like the AA and RAC suggest that issues such as debt recovery fees still need to be addressed, this move is expected to provide significant relief to drivers and increase trust in the fairness of the private parking system.