Prime Minister Andy Burnham has unveiled a new set of rules designed to curb what he described as “rip-off” parking charges imposed by private companies. The policy shift comes in response to persistent complaints from motorists who claim that penalties are often disproportionately harsh and unfairly applied. Addressing the issue, the Prime Minister stated that minor errors, such as typing a single digit incorrectly on a number plate or returning to a vehicle just minutes late, should not result in significant financial penalties. Burnham, the prime minister, said: “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. So I’m putting a stop to them, these charges leave people feeling ripped off and out of pocket. According to it, People felt they would not get a fair hearing if they appealed fines, with many saying they feared legal action.
Data analysis by the RAC, using government figures and findings from the Press Association and RAC Foundation, highlights the scale of the issue. In the 2025/2026 period, a record 17 million private parking tickets were issued—an increase of 17% over the previous year. With individual fines reaching up to £100, the cumulative impact on drivers could exceed £4.6 million daily. These private operations differ significantly from council-run facilities, having previously operated under an industry-led code of practice introduced in 2024. Private car parks are different to council-owned car parks and streets. The data, analysed by the Press Association and the RAC Foundation, suggests drivers could collectively face private parking charges worth more than £4.6m each day, with each charge worth up to £100.
The government’s new framework, which applies across England, Scotland, and Wales, introduces several specific protections for drivers. Motorists will now be granted a guaranteed five-minute period to decide whether to park, as well as a 10-minute grace window to leave a car park before a penalty is issued. Furthermore, the new rules mandate the cancellation of charges for incidents beyond a driver’s control, such as vehicle breakdowns, medical emergencies, or faulty ticket machines. Honest errors, like failing to register a vehicle correctly, will be capped at a maximum appeal charge of £20. A guaranteed 5 minute period to decide whether to park. Entering the wrong vehicle registration, or forgetting to confirm the registration in the machine when parking, maximum charges of £20 on appeal for slip-ups like forgetting a parking permit. Or PCN, is a dreaded sight for motorists returning to their car, the yellow and black envelope of a Penalty Charge Notice.
The maximum penalty for a standard parking violation remains frozen at £100. Operators who fail to comply with these regulations face the loss of access to DVLA data, which would severely restrict their ability to identify and pursue vehicle owners for unpaid fines. While the British Parking Association noted that many of these principles mirror existing voluntary codes, the government is moving to formalize these standards through Parliament to ensure consistent enforcement.
Motoring organizations have offered mixed reactions to the news.
The AA welcomed the intervention, with head of roads policy Jack Cousens noting that drivers finally have a mechanism to guard against the most aggressive industry operators who often pressured motorists into paying fines despite valid defenses.
Conversely, Simon Williams of the RAC argued that while the changes are a step forward, they do not go far enough.
He specifically called for a total ban on the addition of debt recovery fees to existing penalties and urged the replacement of industry-run appeals bodies with a single, truly independent oversight authority.
The government has confirmed it will initiate consultations regarding the regulation of debt recovery fees and other recommendations put forward by the Competition and Markets Authority. The move follows high-profile cases of enforcement, such as an instance in Derby where a woman faced a court claim of £1,906 for taking slightly over five minutes to complete her payment; that specific case was eventually dropped. By establishing these new mandates, the government intends to end a culture where drivers often settle fines to avoid the stress of legal proceedings. According to he, In the past they have “aggressively attacked drivers to the point where many simply pay up”.
