Is the end in sight for rip-off parking charges? Plus, how you can keep parking costs down

There could be good news on the horizon if you’re a driver. New rules are being introduced to give you greater protection against unfair private parking charges.

The new code will apply to private car parks in England, Scotland and Wales, rather than council-owned car parks or on-street parking.

What’s changing?

The prime minister, Andy Burnham, has set out new rules giving drivers the right to challenge unfair private parking charges.

The measures include:

• A guaranteed five-minute grace period to decide whether to park.
• 10 minutes to leave a car park without facing a penalty.
• Cancellation of charges for circumstances beyond your control, such as your vehicle breaking down in a car park.
• Protection against penalties for genuine mistakes or emergencies, including stopping to check directions, medical emergencies and broken ticket machines.
• A maximum £20 charge following an appeal for certain minor errors, such as forgetting to display a parking permit, entering the wrong vehicle registration or failing to confirm your registration at a payment machine.
• A freeze on the maximum parking charge at £100, maintaining the existing limit under the private parking Code of Practice.

The changes follow concerns that penalties imposed by private parking operators have been too harsh, leaving motorists facing charges that can feel disproportionate to the mistake they’ve made.

According to RAC analysis of government data, around 17m private parking tickets were issued in 2025–26, a 17% increase on the previous year.

With each charge potentially reaching £100, drivers could collectively face more than £4.6m in private parking penalties every day.

Do the new rules go far enough?

The RAC and the AA have welcomed the proposed changes but argue that more needs to be done to protect drivers.

The RAC’s head of policy, Simon Williams, has called for debt recovery fees to be banned and for the current industry-run appeals system to be replaced with a single independent body.

The government has said it will consult on debt recovery fees, alongside other recommendations from the Competition and Markets Authority.

The AA has also highlighted how some motorists pay charges even when they believe they’ve done nothing wrong, simply to avoid the hassle of appealing or the worry of potential legal action.

So, while the new rules could offer you greater protection, it’s still worth knowing how to avoid unnecessary parking costs in the first place.

How you can keep your parking costs down

Whether you’re heading into town, visiting the shops or travelling somewhere new, parking can quickly add to the cost of your day out.

And while you can’t always avoid paying, a little planning could help you save money and avoid unexpected charges.

Here are five ways to keep your parking costs under control.

Compare parking prices before you set off

Rather than automatically choosing the nearest car park, take a few minutes to compare your options.

Check council websites, parking apps and local parking directories before you leave. You might find a cheaper car park a short walk away, saving you money without adding too much time to your journey.

Look for free or time-limited parking

If you’re only popping into the shops, you might not need to pay for parking at all. Some supermarkets and retail parks offer free parking for a limited period.

Just make sure you check the conditions first. You may need to be a customer, register your vehicle or leave within a set time to avoid a penalty.

Check for extra app fees before paying

Parking apps can make paying for a space more convenient, but some charge an additional service fee.

Before confirming your payment, check the total cost. If there’s an extra charge, compare it with the price of using a pay-and-display machine or another payment method, where available.

Choose the right parking period for your plans

Think about how long you’re likely to need a space before you pay.

If you’re only going to be out for an hour, paying for a full day could be a waste of money. But, if you’re planning a longer visit, a day rate might work out cheaper than paying by the hour.

Checking the tariffs in advance can help you choose the best option for your plans.

Build parking into your budget

When you’re juggling expenses such as fuel, insurance and car tax, parking charges can be easy to overlook.

Take a look at your bank statements to see how much you typically spend on parking each month. You can then factor this into your household budget, helping you plan ahead rather than being caught out by unexpected costs.

If parking is taking up a bigger chunk of your budget than you’d like, consider whether you could walk, cycle or use public transport for some journeys instead.

A little planning could save you money

The new rules could give you more protection if something goes wrong in a private car park, but they won’t remove every parking charge or guarantee that every dispute will be resolved in your favour.

By comparing prices, checking restrictions and choosing the right payment option, you can give yourself a better chance of avoiding unnecessary costs, and keeping more money in your pocket.