Inam Sehgal
Drivers to get five-minute grace period, £20 cap for minor mistakes and greater protection against unfair fines
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced new rules aimed at protecting motorists from excessive private parking charges, giving drivers more time to park and leave car parks and stronger rights to challenge unfair penalties. The new Private Parking Code of Practice was laid before Parliament on 20 October.
Under the new rules, motorists will receive a five-minute grace period to decide whether to park and an additional 10 minutes to leave after their paid parking session ends.
Parking charges will also be cancelled on appeal in cases involving circumstances beyond a driver’s control, including medical emergencies, vehicle breakdowns and faulty ticket machines. Motorists who make minor mistakes, such as entering an incorrect registration number or forgetting to confirm payment, will face a maximum charge of £20 on appeal.
The maximum private parking charge will remain capped at £100, although motorists who appeal successfully over minor errors will pay no more than £20. Companies that fail to comply with the new code risk losing access to DVLA vehicle-owner data, making it harder for them to pursue motorists for payment.
The government said the reforms follow a sharp rise in private parking tickets, with 16.9 million issued in the year to the end of March. A new independent scrutiny and oversight board will monitor operators and examine information about parking charges and appeals.
Burnham said the changes were intended to prevent genuine mistakes from resulting in hefty penalties. However, motoring groups have argued that the reforms do not go far enough because debt-recovery fees remain unresolved and a single independent appeals system has not been introduced.
The new code will apply across England, Scotland and Wales. It must undergo parliamentary scrutiny before coming into force, with the government aiming to implement it as soon as possible.
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