4.3 million private parking tickets issued as charges rise 24%

Private parking fines soar 24% as millions of UK drivers face charges

Private parking fines soar 24% as millions of UK drivers face charges More than 4.3 million private parking tickets were issued across the UK between April and June 2025, according to RAC Foundation analysis, with the latest figures showing a 24% rise compared with the same period a year earlier. The figures work out at around 48,000 tickets every day, with the charges potentially generating as much as £4.8 million over the three-month period. The analysis is based on Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) records and covers private parking tickets issued at places including shopping centres, leisure facilities and motorway services. Importantly, the figures do not include council-run car parks, meaning the number of parking penalties faced by motorists across the UK is higher than the total shown in the analysis. Private parking rules remain a concern The increase comes as long-promised reforms to the private parking industry remain delayed, leaving motorists facing the existing system while a new code of practice is still being developed. The proposed code is intended to cap parking charges, prevent aggressive wording on tickets and create a fairer appeals process for drivers who believe they have been charged incorrectly. Laws paving the way for the new code received Royal Assent in 2019, but successive governments have not yet brought the full reforms into force. The current Labour government has said it intends to revive the changes. The latest consultation has also been pushed back, with legal challenges from parking firms among the reasons given for delays to the reforms. Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said the number of tickets being issued highlighted the need for greater oversight of the private parking industry. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the planned private parking code of practice would aim to remove unfair charges and raise standards across the industry. For drivers, the latest figures are another reminder that parking on private land can come with strict conditions. Charges can reach £100 in some cases, depending on the terms that apply at the individual car park. Motorists should therefore check signs carefully before leaving their vehicle, particularly where restrictions, payment arrangements or maximum stays apply. Keeping a payment receipt and taking photographs of unclear or important signage can also give drivers useful evidence if they later need to challenge a parking charge. The sharp rise in private parking tickets comes at a time when the industry is still waiting for a clearer national framework, meaning drivers continue to have to navigate different rules and enforcement arrangements. For anyone using private car parks, understanding the conditions before parking remains one of the simplest ways to avoid an unexpected Parking Charge Notice while the promised reforms remain unresolved.