UK Government Imposes Cap on Private Parking Fines, Enhances Driver Rights

Drivers in England, Scotland, and Wales will soon benefit from new protections against unfair private parking charges, as the government announced a cap on penalties and expanded rights to appeal. The updated private parking code of practice, expected to take effect by the end of the year, will limit maximum fines to £100 and introduce a grace period for motorists.

Under the new rules, drivers will be granted a guaranteed five minutes to decide whether to park and an additional 10 minutes to leave a car park after their paid session ends without incurring a penalty. The code also allows for charges to be canceled on appeal for genuine mistakes, such as incorrect registration entry or forgotten permits, or for circumstances beyond the driver's control, like vehicle breakdown or a malfunctioning ticket machine.

For honest errors like forgetting a permit or mistyping a registration number, the maximum charge will be capped at £20 on appeal. The government also stated it will consult on private parking debt recovery fees, considering a reduction or complete removal of the existing £70 cap.

Currently, private parking companies utilize DVLA data to pursue charges. A record 16.9 million parking tickets were issued by private businesses in the year ending March, an increase from 14.4 million the previous year and 6.8 million in 2018/19. This surge has been attributed by the industry to an increase in the number of managed car parks.

The new code will also establish a fully independent scrutiny and oversight board for the first time. Private operators will be required to report data on issued charges and appeal outcomes to this board. Companies that fail to comply risk losing access to DVLA data, which is essential for issuing penalties.

Industry groups offered mixed reactions. RAC head of policy, Simon Williams, called the code a "step in the right direction" but expressed disappointment that debt recovery fees were not banned and a single independent appeals body was not established. He noted that the requirement for operators to adhere to the new rules or risk losing DVLA access is a significant development.

Nicholas Lyes, director of policy for IAM RoadSmart, welcomed the new protections but also advocated for a unified appeals system and action against debt recovery organizations. Alison Tooze, chief policy officer at the British Parking Association, stated that the organization "welcomes" the code, viewing it as an "important step forward" that builds on existing voluntary principles and strikes a balance between motorist protection and effective parking management.

In a related measure, the government also announced a crackdown on second-hand car dealers who tamper with vehicle mileage clocks. While fraudulent odometer rollback is already illegal, it will now be added to an official list of banned practices to simplify enforcement.