Drivers in Britain are receiving nearly 48,000 parking tickets every day from private companies, new government data reveals. Between April and December last year, 13.1 million tickets were issued by parking management firms – a 19% increase on the 11.0 million during the same period a year earlier, according to an analysis by the Press Association.
With each ticket costing up to £100, the daily cost to drivers could reach almost £4.8 million. Motoring research charity the RAC Foundation said the figures suggest “something is awry with the system”. Director Steve Gooding noted that while some drivers deliberately flout rules, such vast numbers of tickets indicate systemic problems.
Private parking firms have faced criticism for using misleading signs, aggressive debt collection, and unreasonable fees. Many drivers claim tickets are unfair due to faulty payment machines. A code of practice for the industry was passed into law in 2019 but was withdrawn in June 2022 after a legal challenge by parking companies.
The current Labour government launched a new consultation on the code, which closed in September 2025. A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said they plan to introduce a code of practice to Parliament this autumn to address drivers’ concerns. Steve Gooding urged faster progress, especially given rising fuel prices adding to cost-of-living pressures.
The analysis is based on records from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) requested by 195 parking management businesses in the final quarter of last year. The DVLA says it only recovers costs and does not profit from providing data.
