Motorists, families, and private parking operators are set to
benefit from improved standards, as a consultation on a new
Private Parking Code of Practice is launched today.
Over 35 million people across the UK rely on their cars for
everyday life – from commuting to caring responsibilities – but
the fear of being hit with unfair parking charges has eroded
trust between drivers and some operators.
The strengthened Code aims to create a fairer, more transparent
private parking system that supports local economies, high
streets, and businesses – delivering on commitments in the
government's Plan for Change.
To better support drivers in vulnerable or stressful situations,
such as attending hospital appointments, a new rule is being
considered that would uphold appeals where motorists had no
reasonable choice but to breach parking terms.
Proposals will ensure fair treatment for motorists and introduce
common-sense standards across the industry, including clear
signage and mandatory grace periods. These measures will help
prevent charges caused by issues like payment machine errors,
accidental typos, or poor mobile signal.
Local Growth Minister said:
From shopping on your local high street to visiting a loved one
in hospital, parking is part of everyday life. But too many
people are being unfairly penalised.
That's why our Code will tackle misleading tactics and confusing
processes, bringing vital oversight and transparency to raise
standards across the board. This is another example of how we are
fixing the things that really impact people's day-to-day lives,
as part of the Plan for Change.”
The number of parking charges issued is at a record high –12.8
million vehicle keeper requests were made last year, a 673%
increase since 2012. While this partly reflects more parking
spaces, the current system lacks independent oversight and
sufficient transparency.
At present, operators can avoid sanctions for poor practice,
leaving motorists vulnerable to unfair or incorrect charges. The
new compliance framework will ensure accountability. Under
proposals, operators who breach the Code may lose access to DVLA
data required to issue parking charges.
The Code will strike a balance—protecting motorists while
enabling compliant operators to run efficient, value-for-money
car parks.
It marks another step the government is taking to repair
Britain's transport and save people time and money, following the
allocation of £1.6 billion funding this year to help local
authorities resurface roads and fix the equivalent of up to seven
million extra potholes, with an additional £24 billion set aside
to build new roads and keep drivers moving over the next five
years.
The eight-week consultation also seeks views on:
-
Appropriate caps for parking charges and debt recovery
fees
-
Improvements to second-stage appeals
-
Requirements for operators to share data with government to
inform future updates to the Code
The consultation is open for eight weeks and
available here.
