Burnham vows end to 'rip-off parking charges' under new rules
Drivers gain a five-minute grace period and a new independent appeals process as the government freezes private parking charges at £100.
- 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.
8 Articles
8 Articles
The Independent
The Independent (US)All the new parking rules being introduced to challenge 'rip-off' charges
Motorists will receive fresh protections to dispute unreasonable private parking charges, including a guaranteed five-minute decision period upon arrival, under new plans unveiled by the Government.
Scottish drivers can challenge unfair parking charges under new code of practice
The code will apply in Scotland - as well as England and Wales - and will give drivers the right to have charges cancelled on appeal for honest mistakes and for issues they cannot control.
Parking law changes confirmed by Labour in major victory for millions of UK drivers
Drivers have been given new rights to challenge "rip-off" private parking companies, as Labour unveils new rules for millions of motorists.New powers will see drivers guaranteed five minutes to decide whether they want to park in a car park without being issued a penalty charge notice.The fresh guidance will also give motorists 10 minutes to leave a car park without being fined under the new Private Parking Code of Practice.Drivers will be given…
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