New rules protect drivers from harsh private parking charges

Drivers will now have the right to challenge private parking penalties and gain more grace periods under new rules announced by Andy Burnham. The prime minister introduced the changes after motorists repeatedly raised concerns that fines from private providers were too harsh and left them unfairly punished.

New Rules

The changes include a guaranteed five-minute period to decide whether to park, a 10-minute window to leave without facing a penalty, and the cancellation of charges for issues drivers cannot control like vehicle breakdowns. Charges will also be cancelled for honest mistakes such as stopping to check directions, medical emergencies, or broken ticket machines. For slip-ups like forgetting a parking permit or entering the wrong vehicle registration, maximum charges on appeal will be capped at £20. The maximum parking charge itself is frozen at £100, matching the limit in the current code.

Reactions

The RAC motoring group said the government changes would protect drivers from poor practices by some private parking companies. Angela Rayner, communities and housing secretary, stated that parking should not be a way of making money. Derek Millard-Smith from the British Parking Association said the group welcomed the changes as a way to increase trust, while noting that deterrents work to change behaviors.

Context

Private car parks operate differently from council-owned streets, and RAC analysis of government data showed a record 17 million private parking tickets were issued in 2025-26. Operators who fail to comply with the new rules risk losing access to DVLA data, which makes it much harder to pursue vehicle owners for unpaid charges.