Most private parking fines to be capped at £50 in England and Wales
Motorists will receive greater protection from “aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees” through a 50% cut to the private parking fine cap, ministers have said.
Under a new parking code of practice introduced by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the maximum fine will be reduced from £100 to £50 for most cases in England and Wales, excluding London.
Private car parks will also have to display prices more clearly, use a fairer appeal system and give drivers a 10-minute grace period for lateness, according to the new rules.
The maximum charge will be reduced to £50 in most cases, or £70 for more serious breaches.
Private firms who breach the new code could also be banned from collecting fines in future, by having their access to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data cut off.
Levelling-up minister Neil O’Brien said the new measures aimed to protect motorists from “aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees”.
He said: “Private firms issue roughly 22,000 parking tickets every day, often adopting a system of misleading and confusing signage, aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees designed to extort money from motorists.
“The new code of practice will set out a clear vision with the interests of safe motorists at its heart, while cracking down on the worst offenders who put other people in danger and hinder our emergency services from carrying out their duties.”
Vehicle insurance and breakdown companies the AA and RAC have welcomed the new code.
The president of the AA, Edmund King, said: “These much-needed upgrades to private parking rules will give better protection to drivers.
“For too long, those caught by private parking firms simply pay the charge to get rid of it.
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