Burnham vows end to 'rip-off parking charges' under new rules
Drivers will get longer grace periods, lower penalties for minor mistakes and independent appeals as the government tightens oversight of private parking firms.
- On Tuesday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham unveiled the Private Parking Code of Practice, establishing national standards for car parks across England, Scotland, and Wales to protect motorists from unreasonable charges.
- A record 17 million private parking tickets were issued in 2025/2026, a 17% increase from the previous year, as drivers reported fearing legal action from parking firms.
- Under the new rules, drivers gain a five-minute decision period upon arrival, a 10-minute grace window to depart, and a £20 appeal cap for minor errors like registration mistakes.
- RAC head of policy Simon Williams called the code a 'step in the right direction,' though not 'the leap' needed to ban debt recovery fees and unify appeals systems.
- Non-Compliant operators risk losing DVLA data access, while the Government announced measures against second-hand car dealers altering mileage clocks, with full implementation expected by year-end.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Private Parking Firms Could Lose DVLA Access for Breaking New Rules on Driver Charges
New statutory rules could restrict private parking firms' access to DVLA data if they breach standards, while introducing grace periods and protections for motorists facing exceptional circumstances.
New private parking rules to allow charges to be cancelled for genuine mistakes
Drivers would gain new rights to challenge private parking charges under a code laid before Parliament today, Tuesday 20 October. The new Private Parking Code of Practice includes a guaranteed five minutes to decide whether to park and ten minutes to leave after a parking session ends. It would also require charges to be cancelled […]
A groundbreaking decision regarding fines for private parking violations, which frequently end up in court in Türkiye, has come from England. The decision addresses exorbitant fees and minute-by-minute flexibility that trap drivers in a situation akin to a "penalty trap." Drivers who are victims of wasted time and single-letter errors will no longer face such exorbitant charges.
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