Parking Fines Set to Soar to 14.5 Million This Year
Private parking firms are on track to slap a record-breaking 14.5 million parking charge notices (PCNs) on UK drivers in 2024/25. New RAC analysis reveals a sharp rise in DVLA keeper detail requests — 7.2 million in the first half of the year alone, a 12% jump from last year’s 6.5 million. That’s 41,000 daily requests from private operators eager to chase drivers for fines.
At £100 a pop, that’s a staggering £1.4 billion worth of fines, more than doubling the numbers recorded back in 2018/19 before the Government introduced the Parking (Code of Practice) Act.
Code of Practice Stalled Amid Legal Drama
Despite the Government’s attempt to crack down on rogue parking firms with a Private Parking Code of Practice, implementation was scrapped in 2022 following legal battles from within the industry. Many firms continue to operate without proper oversight, leaving drivers vulnerable to unfair fines and aggressive tactics.
“As drivers don’t generally set out to break the rules, we fear more may be being treated unfairly by private parking companies that are still operating without government scrutiny,” warned RAC head of policy Simon Williams.
Big Five Parking Firms Account for Nearly Half of Fines
RAC’s deep dive into DVLA data reveals that just five companies account for almost 45% of all keeper detail requests from April to September 2024:
- ParkingEye – 1.1 million
- Euro Car Parks – 891,600
- Horizon Parking – 439,896
- Smart Parking – 423,809
- APCOA Parking – 367,465
Overall, ten companies account for nearly two-thirds (64%) of all requests, with each DVLA request costing firms £2.50 — a lucrative system that shows how profitable parking fines have become.
Chaos and Controversy Plague Parking Firms
The lack of regulation is causing outrage. Drivers at a Leicestershire car park hit with £100 fines by Euro Car Parks blamed a broken number plate reader. Over 130 aggrieved motorists formed a Facebook protest group. Meanwhile, in Derby, Excel Parking dropped a whopping £1,900 legal threat against a driver after public backlash and politician involvement.
The RAC has stepped in with an online guide to help drivers appeal both private and council-issued fines, urging motorists to fight back before debt collectors and legal threats kick in after 28 days.
“We believe urgent Government action is needed, especially since parking charge notices have more than doubled since 2019,” added Williams.
Calls Mount to Reinstate Tougher Parking Laws
With eight out of ten drivers telling the RAC they are fed up with the chaotic parking fine mess, pressure is mounting on the Government to bring back a legally enforceable parking code. Critics say the sector has spiralled out of control, leaving innocent drivers caught in the crossfire of profit-hungry firms.
