Drivers braced for record year as parking penalties soar to new heights

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Private parking companies in Britain are poised to issue an unprecedented 14.5 million parking tickets within a single year, marking a record high that underscores growing tensions between motorists and parking operators. This surge, revealed by a recent RAC analysis, shows that just five companies are responsible for nearly half of all tickets issued, highlighting the concentration of power within the private parking sector123.

Data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) indicates that requests from parking management firms for vehicle owner information reached 7.2 million in the six months ending September 2024—a 12% increase compared to the previous year.

This equates to an average of 41,000 requests daily, or roughly one every two seconds, a trend that if sustained, will result in 14.5 million tickets issued over 12 months135. The financial impact on drivers is staggering, with fines up to £100 each, potentially costing motorists around £4.1 million per day at the current rate2.

Private parking firms typically issue tickets for alleged infringements in locations such as shopping centres, leisure facilities, and motorway service areas. However, these companies have faced criticism for employing misleading signage, confusing rules, aggressive debt collection tactics, and imposing excessive fees.

An investigation by the PA news agency uncovered widespread reports from drivers across England who claim they have been unfairly targeted due to faulty parking machines, which campaigners argue are “set up to trap people”2.
Efforts to regulate the industry have faced setbacks.

A Government-backed code of practice for private parking companies, which received royal assent in March 2019, was withdrawn in June 2022 following a legal challenge by parking companies. This has left the sector largely unregulated, much to the frustration of drivers.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams expressed deep concern about the growth of private parking firms and the record number of parking charge notices, stating, “As drivers don’t generally set out to break the rules, we fear many are being treated unfairly by private parking companies that are still operating without Government scrutiny.” He emphasized the urgency of implementing the official code, noting that four out of five drivers surveyed last year were frustrated that the code is not yet in force123.

The five companies issuing the most tickets between April and September 2024 were ParkingEye (1,129,000 tickets), Euro Car Parks (892,000), Horizon Parking (440,000), Smart Parking (424,000), and APCOA Parking (367,000), collectively responsible for 45% of all tickets issued during that period123. The DVLA charges these companies £2.50 per vehicle record request, a fee designed only to cover administrative costs, with no profit made by the agency23.
From the perspective of the industry, Alison Tooze, chief policy and engagement officer at the British Parking Association, urged context in interpreting the figures. She pointed out that only 0.3% of drivers entering private car parks receive a parking charge, a statistic consistent over many years, indicating that the rise in ticket numbers is due to more car parks coming under management rather than an increased likelihood of receiving a ticket.

Tooze argued that the demand for private parking operators stems from landowners’ need to manage parking effectively because a problematic minority of drivers do not park considerately or adhere to parking terms2.
The government has reiterated its commitment to protecting motorists and improving standards within the private parking industry.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stated, “Motorists must be protected when using private car parks, and we are determined to drive up standards in the industry. We know how much of an issue this is for drivers, which is why we will set out further details on the private parking code of practice as soon as possible”2.

The rapid escalation in private parking enforcement reflects broader challenges in balancing landowners’ rights, business interests, and consumer protection. With the number of companies requesting DVLA data rising by 45% over five years and requests surging 85% in the same period, the landscape of private parking in the UK is expanding swiftly, underscoring the pressing need for clear regulation and fair practices to protect drivers from unfair penalties5.