Drivers are set to receive stronger protections against steep private parking fines following a government overhaul of the parking industry code. The changes come after millions of motorists raised concerns about charges they felt were unreasonably harsh.

What Happened

The prime minister announced a formalised code that gives drivers a five-minute window to decide whether to park and a ten-minute window to leave without facing a penalty. The rules also require cancellation of charges in cases beyond the driver's control, such as vehicle breakdowns, medical emergencies, or broken ticket machines. For honest mistakes like stopping to check directions or entering the wrong registration number, the maximum appeal fee is capped at £20.

Why This Matters

Private parking firms issued a record 17 million tickets in 2025/2026, a 17% rise from the previous year, with each charge worth up to £100. That means drivers could collectively face more than £4.6 million in daily charges. The AA warns many motorists pay up even when they've done nothing wrong, fearing a lack of fair appeal routes. The new code aims to change that by introducing independent oversight and stricter limits on operators.

Key Takeaways

  • Drivers receive a guaranteed five-minute grace period to decide whether to park.
  • A ten-minute window to exit the car park without penalty.
  • Charges are cancelled for breakdowns, medical emergencies, and broken ticket machines.
  • Honest errors such as checking directions or mis-typing a registration face a maximum £20 appeal fee.
  • The overall maximum charge is frozen at £100, aligned with the existing industry code.
  • Operators who fail to comply risk losing access to DVLA data, making it harder to pursue owners.

Conclusion

The government says the new framework will give drivers better protection against the worst private parking operators while maintaining fairness for legitimate enforcement. However, the RAC argues the changes don't go far enough, calling for debt recovery fees to be banned and for appeals to be handled by a truly independent body. As the new code moves through Parliament, motorists are watching closely to see whether it delivers real relief from unfair parking fines.