Private Parking Firms Hit Drivers with 36,000 Fines Daily
Brit drivers are being hammered with a staggering average of nearly 36,000 private parking tickets every single day. From July to September alone, more than 3.3 million fines were slapped on motorists — a 16% jump on last year’s figures. That’s a record-breaking daily average of 35,960 tickets, reveals a government data analysis by PA news agency and the RAC Foundation.
£100 Fines Mean £3.6 Million a Day in Penalties
Each ticket can cost up to £100, which means private parking firms are raking in around £3.6 million daily from penalty fees alone. Drivers face a costly battle against confusing signs, aggressive debt collection tactics, and what many call extortionate charges.
Law to Tame Parking Sharks Still Not Rolled Out 5 Years On
Back in March 2019, a law was passed to introduce a government-backed parking code of practice and an independent appeals service to clean up the chaotic private parking sector. But nearly five years later, those vital protections are nowhere to be seen.
“This glacial pace has been a source of immense frustration to the millions of drivers heavily penalised for supposed infringements,” said Steve Gooding, Director of the RAC Foundation. “MPs were queuing up to tell Parliament their constituents’ parking horror stories, yet we still don’t know when the new rules will come in.”
The proposed code would have slashed fines for some offences to £50, but it was scrapped by the government in June 2022 after parking firms legally challenged the move.
Parking Industry Defends Fines as Crucial for Order
The British Parking Association, representing car park operators, insists fines keep things fair. A spokesman said: “Motorists benefit from well-managed car parks. Enforcement stops careless drivers blocking spaces, misusing blue badge bays, and ruining it for those who park properly.”
The figures come from records requested by 178 parking companies from the DVLA for alleged breaches in private car parks – think shopping centres, leisure spots, and motorway services. Council-run car parks are not included.
ParkingEye led the charge, buying 573,000 vehicle records. The DVLA charges firms £2.50 per request, covering just the cost of providing info. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities has yet to comment on these findings.
