Parents planning trips during October half term can avoid parking tickets by following a few simple rules, according to advice from Chris Jeffery, director at Cofton Holidays. Government data shows private parking operators issued around 14.4 million parking tickets in 2024/25.
Know Your Parking Rules
Different parts of the same beach can be looked after by different parking authorities, Jeffery said. In places like Dawlish, it's easy to assume one tariff covers the whole seafront, but restrictions and prices can vary from one spot to the next. Even if you're familiar with the area, it's worth taking a quick glance at the sign when you pull up.
Council-run car parks issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), while private operators issue Parking Charge Notices. A council PCN is an official penalty, whereas a private charge is a claim for breaching the car park's terms. Both deserve to be taken seriously, but they are dealt with in entirely different ways.
Plan Ahead and Check the Signs
Choosing your parking spot — and a backup option — before you set off makes arriving far less stressful. The local council website will list seasonal prices and restrictions, as beach tariffs often switch between summer and winter rates on varying dates. Jeffery advised downloading the relevant parking app before you leave and taking some coins along too, as signal can be patchy along the coast.
If you're staying at a holiday park or cottage, find out what parking comes with your stay. Is it included? How many cars are covered? Do you need a permit? And if you drive an electric car, is there somewhere to charge it? Jeffery said knowing your car is sorted for the week takes a lot of the pressure off.
What to Do If You Get a Ticket
Maximum stays, "no return" periods and charging hours can all vary, so it's worth double-checking every time — particularly at beaches you visit regularly. At car parks fitted with number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, your time typically begins the moment you drive in, so be sure to factor in time spent queuing or hunting for a space. If you're settling your bill via an app, always double-check your registration number, as a single typo could mean your payment fails to match your vehicle.
Jeffery recommended screenshotting your parking confirmation and keeping it, as it's useful evidence if there's ever a query later. Council penalties typically come with a 50% discount if you pay up early. A new industry code governing private parking charges is in the pipeline, but it won't be fully implemented until the end of December 2026, meaning practice still differs between operators. Many do offer early payment discounts, and you can challenge a ticket if you think it's unfair. To dispute a private charge, start by appealing directly to the operator, then to the relevant independent service, such as POPLA or the IAS.
Jeffery advised keeping hold of your evidence, photographing the signs, saving your parking receipt or ticket, and screenshotting your app payment, as that can often be enough to get a ticket cancelled.
