CMA Warns Private Parking Firms to Treat Motorists Fairly

Private Parking Warning as CMA Investigates Euro Car Parks

CMA Warns Private Parking Firms to Treat Motorists Fairly Private parking companies have been warned by the Competition and Markets Authority to treat motorists fairly as the regulator raises concerns about parking tickets, appeals, signage and additional charges. The CMA has written to the private parking industry and the Government, highlighting what it describes as potentially unfair practices and calling on operators to review how they deal with motorists. The warning comes as the regulator says it has seen record numbers of complaints from drivers, including concerns about unclear signs and faulty ticket machines. CMA sets out new expectations for private parking firms The CMA says motorists should have enough time to read and understand the terms of a private car park before they enter into an agreement by parking. In most circumstances, the regulator says this should mean a consideration period of at least five minutes, although it stressed that the appropriate period can depend on the circumstances. Parking operators have also been told to provide clear information about how motorists can pay and how they can challenge a parking charge. The CMA says drivers should be clearly informed that appeals, whether made directly to the parking company or through the relevant appeals service, are free. The regulator has also raised concerns about how some appeals are handled, calling for operators to avoid inappropriate or premature rejections. Where further evidence is required, parking firms should explain what information they need rather than simply rejecting an appeal without giving motorists a meaningful opportunity to provide it. The CMA has separately warned operators about additional charges, including late-payment and debt-collection fees, where these are unclear or not sufficiently prominent. It says such fees should not be hidden in small print or presented in a way that could be inconsistent with consumer law. The warning comes ahead of a new legislation-backed private parking code of practice, which is being developed to improve standards across the industry. The CMA has recommended that several of its concerns should form part of the statutory code, including clearer information for drivers and stronger protections around parking appeals. It has also suggested that early-payment discounts should remain available when motorists take an unsuccessful internal appeal to the relevant independent appeals service. CMA launches Euro Car Parks investigation Separately, the CMA has opened an investigation into Euro Car Parks to examine whether aspects of the company's practices and internal appeals processes comply with consumer protection law. One area being considered is whether it is fair for some motorists to receive parking charges while queuing for or using petrol pumps and car washes. The investigation began on 15 July 2026, but the CMA has made clear that it has reached no conclusion that Euro Car Parks has broken the law. For motorists, the wider CMA warning is significant because it covers some of the most common areas of disagreement in private parking, including unclear terms, payment problems and challenges against parking charges. Drivers who receive a private parking charge should therefore pay close attention to the signs, payment instructions and appeal information provided at the car park. With the CMA now calling on operators to review their practices before the new statutory code is introduced, private parking standards and the way motorists challenge charges remain under close scrutiny.