Parking charges in the UK have surged to unprecedented levels, sparking outrage among motorists and motoring organisations. In the fiscal year ending March 2025, private parking firms issued a staggering 14.4 million tickets for parking charges, amounting to an estimated £1.4 million in daily charges levied against drivers. Critics argue that the government’s response has been tepid, with accusations that ministers are “bending the knee” to the private parking industry rather than protecting consumers.
A Record Year For Private Parking Charges
According to analysis by the PA news agency, the number of parking charges issued rose by 13% compared to the previous year and more than doubled since 2018. Each ticket can cost up to £100, meaning drivers are collectively paying millions each day. The top five firms—ParkingEye, Euro Car Parks, APCOA, Horizon Parking, and Civil Enforcement Ltd—were responsible for nearly half of all tickets issued, says This Is Money.
These firms operate across supermarkets, train stations, leisure centres, and business parks, often using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to monitor vehicles. Critics say the system is rife with misleading signage, aggressive debt collection, and unfair fees, leaving drivers vulnerable to punitive charges for minor infractions.
Government’s Consultation: Too Little, Too Late?
In July 2025, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) launched a long-awaited consultation aimed at raising standards in the private parking sector. The proposed Private Parking Code of Practice promises clearer signage, mandatory grace periods, and a fairer appeals process.
However, motoring groups like the AA and RAC have slammed the proposals as toothless. The AA’s head of roads policy, Jack Cousens, criticised the retention of a £100 cap, debt recovery fees, and a £20 mitigation charge, arguing these measures do little to protect drivers. “This long-awaited consultation will not please drivers and suggests that the Government is bending the knee to the private parking industry,” Cousens said.
RAC’s Simon Williams echoed these concerns, stating that the consultation only exists because the industry successfully blocked the original code passed by Parliament in 2019. “We must now ensure that whatever the Government introduces has sufficient teeth to make a real difference to drivers,” he said.
Legal Loopholes and Delays
The original Parking Code of Practice Act, passed in 2019, was designed to halve the cap on most parking offences to £50, ban aggressive language on tickets, and introduce a single independent appeals system. However, according to The Standard, it was withdrawn in 2022 following a legal challenge by parking firms.
Since then, the British Parking Association and the International Parking Community have introduced their own non-legally binding codes, which critics say lack meaningful enforcement. Without a statutory framework, rogue operators continue to exploit legal loopholes, leaving drivers with little recourse, says Fleet World.
Public Backlash and Calls For Reform
Consumer watchdogs and motoring charities are urging the public to participate in the consultation and share their experiences. The AA and RAC have called on drivers to submit feedback, hoping that widespread discontent will pressure the government into enacting stronger protections.
Rob Lilley-Jones of Which? highlighted the inconsistency in private parking rules, stating, “Drivers currently face a lottery of rules when using private car parks – with how and when they pay varying dramatically from car park to car park”.
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