The UK government has announced new measures aimed at strengthening motorists’ rights when using private car parks, introducing extended grace periods and capped penalties to address widespread concerns about unfair charges. The updated code of practice is expected to be implemented by the end of the year and will apply across England, Scotland, and Wales.
Under the proposed rules, drivers will have a guaranteed five minutes to decide whether to park and will be allowed a 10-minute window to exit the car park after their paid session ends without incurring a penalty. The government also plans to cap standard private parking charges at £100, maintaining the existing limit despite calls from consumer groups to reduce the maximum fine to £50.
The new code aims to provide motorists with greater protection against excessive fees and aggressive enforcement tactics. Charges may be cancelled on appeal for honest mistakes—such as briefly stopping to check directions—or unavoidable circumstances, including medical emergencies, vehicle breakdowns, or faulty ticket machines. For minor infractions like failing to display a permit or entering the wrong vehicle registration, the maximum charge on appeal would be limited to £20.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham emphasized the intent to create clearer rules that offer longer grace periods and lower penalties for genuine errors while targeting exploitative operators. Parking firms that fail to comply with the updated standards risk losing access to driver data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), which is used to identify vehicle owners for enforcement purposes.
Despite these changes, some consumer advocates have expressed reservations. The consumer organization Which? described the measures as “long overdue” but criticized the government for not establishing an independent appeals body and for preserving the £100 maximum charge, arguing that a lower cap would better protect drivers. They also noted that the appeals process under the new code appeared less generous compared to previously proposed rules, which had been withdrawn after legal challenges from private parking firms.
Complaints about private parking operators have risen in recent years, with industry figures indicating a significant increase in the number of parking tickets issued nationwide. In 2025-26, around 16.9 million tickets were issued, marking a 17% rise over the prior year. Campaigners have long advocated for stricter regulation, and although legislation was passed in 2019 and an initial code introduced in 2022, attempts to enforce those rules were delayed following legal disputes.
The government plans to lay the new private parking code of practice before parliament soon and aims to introduce the measures as swiftly as possible, though a precise effective date has yet to be confirmed.