UK drivers are about to obtain fresh opportunities to dispute unfair private parking fees, following the introduction of new regulations by the government. Prime Minister Andy Burnham revealed the Private Parking Code of Practice, designed to target exploitative private parking operators. These new regulations will apply solely to private parking facilities where ‘Parking Charge Notices’ are issued, distinct from ‘Penalty Charge Notices’ imposed by local authorities.
Central to the Private Parking Code of Practice is the provision allowing motorists to appeal Parking Charge Notices when their circumstances justify it. Errors made in good faith, such as stopping for directions, experiencing a medical emergency, or encountering a broken payment terminal, should result in the charge being dismissed upon appeal. Additionally, drivers will receive a fixed five-minute window to choose whether to enter a car park and an additional ten minutes to leave once payment is made.
For minor violations like submitting an incorrect vehicle registration or neglecting to display a parking permit, Parking Charge Notices will be capped at £20 after an appeal. The Code will also impose a maximum limit of £100 on Parking Charge Notices. To enforce the new Private Parking Code of Practice, operators found non-compliant may lose access to DVLA data, complicating their ability to issue charges.
Announcing the new Code of Practice, Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated: “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. 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.”
Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, commented: “This is a step in the right direction to protect drivers from the poor practices of some private parking companies but not the leap we’ve been campaigning for for so long. We’ve long called for the banning of debt recovery fees being added on top of parking charge notices (PCNs) and a single independent appeals body to replace the two industry-run ones, but neither have been included which is disappointing.”
