The government has announced new rules to end "rip off parking", giving drivers new rights to challenge unfair private parking charges. This includes a guaranteed five minutes to decide whether to park and 10 minutes to leave once their session ends, as well as the right to have charges cancelled on appeal for issues drivers cannot control.
New Rights for Drivers
Under the Private Parking Code of Practice laid in Parliament this week, charges will be scrapped on appeal for honest mistakes. This includes stopping briefly to check directions and for situations like a medical emergency, breakdown or broken ticket machine.
For smaller slip-ups, like forgetting a parking permit, entering the wrong vehicle's registration or forgetting to confirm it in the machine when parking, drivers will face a maximum charge of £20 on appeal.
Charge Cap and DVLA Sanctions
The Code also freezes the maximum parking charge at £100. Operators who do not comply risk losing access to DVLA data, meaning that even if they issue a charge, it will be far more difficult to identify the registered owner to pursue payment.
Data showed just under 17 million private parking charges were issued in the UK last year.
Prime Minister's Statement
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "Being a few minutes late back to your car or typing one digit of your numberplate wrong shouldn't end with a hefty fine landing on your doormat."
He added: "These charges leave people feeling ripped off and out of pocket, so I'm putting a stop to them. We are introducing clearer rules, longer grace periods and lower charges for genuine mistakes, while going after the deliberate scams that rip drivers off."
