Government proposes new protections for private car park drivers

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 25 Oct, 05:59 · Archive

The Government has announced plans for new protections for motorists using private car parks, including mandatory grace periods and stronger appeal rights.

Private parking companies issued a record 16.9 million parking tickets in 2025/26, an increase of 17 per cent compared with the previous year. In response to concerns about unfair parking charges, the Government has announced plans for new protections for motorists using private car parks.

Under the proposals, motorists would receive a guaranteed five-minute consideration period after entering a private car park. This would give drivers time to find a space, read the terms and conditions and decide whether they want to stay without risking a penalty. Drivers would also receive a 10-minute grace period at the end of their parking session, giving them additional time to return to their vehicle and leave before a charge can be issued.

The proposed changes would give drivers greater protection when an unexpected event prevents them from complying with parking rules. Charges could be cancelled when circumstances outside a driver's control affected their stay, including a vehicle breakdown, medical emergency or faulty ticket machine. This recognises that not every breach of parking rules is deliberate.

Drivers would also receive greater protection when a parking charge results from a genuine mistake, such as entering the wrong vehicle registration number or forgetting to display a valid permit. Rather than automatically facing a larger charge, motorists would have the opportunity to appeal and have the penalty reviewed.

The measures are intended to prevent motorists being penalised for minor delays and situations they could not reasonably avoid.

How it is being reported

• New parking rules explained: What drivers need to know about fines and appealsPrivate parking firms issued 16.9m tickets in 2025/26. Proposed UK reforms include five- and 10-minute grace periods, appeals and £20 caps for genuine errors.NW Evening Mail · 25 Oct, 05:00
• New parking rules explained: What drivers need to know about fines and appealsPrivate parking firms issued 16.9m tickets in 2025/26. Proposed UK reforms include five- and 10-minute grace periods, appeals and £20 caps for genuine errors.News & Star · 25 Oct, 05:00
• New parking rules explained: What drivers need to know about fines and appealsPrivate parking firms issued 16.9m tickets in 2025/26. Proposed UK reforms include five- and 10-minute grace periods, appeals and £20 caps for genuine errors.Whitehaven News · 25 Oct, 05:00
• New parking rules explained: What drivers need to know about fines and appealsPrivate parking firms issued 16.9m tickets in 2025/26. Proposed UK reforms include five- and 10-minute grace periods, appeals and £20 caps for genuine errors.Westmorland Gazette · 25 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Government · Nationwide Vehicle Contracts · UK

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem