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New Parking Rules to Protect Motorists From Unfair Private Parking Charges
Motorists across England, Scotland and Wales are set to benefit from new rules aimed at tackling unfair private parking charges, including a mandatory five minute period for drivers to decide whether to park and a 10 minute grace period before penalties can be issued after a parking session ends.
The new Code of Practice, announced by Andy Burnham’s administration, is designed to protect drivers from what campaigners describe as aggressive or unfair parking enforcement. The changes are expected to come into force by the end of 2026.
Under the proposed rules, motorists will have five minutes upon arriving at a private car park to decide whether to stay or leave. Drivers will also receive an additional 10 minutes to exit after their paid or permitted parking session ends before facing a penalty.
The rules would also allow parking charges to be cancelled on appeal where drivers have valid reasons, including stopping briefly to check directions, vehicle breakdowns within a car park, medical emergencies, or problems with broken or out of service ticket machines.
Drivers who make minor administrative errors could also benefit from reduced penalties. Mistakes such as entering a vehicle registration number incorrectly, forgetting a parking permit or failing to confirm details at a payment terminal would be subject to a maximum charge of £20 following a successful appeal.
Other measures include capping maximum parking charges at £100 and establishing an independent scrutiny and oversight board to monitor parking operators. Companies that fail to comply with the new standards could lose access to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) vehicle keeper information, limiting their ability to pursue parking fines.
The proposed changes are intended to provide motorists with clearer protections and a fairer process for challenging penalties. However, drivers should check the final rules and implementation date before assuming the new protections are already in force.
