UK Government introduces new rules to curb unfair private parking charges

The UK Government has introduced a new Private Parking Code of Practice aimed at protecting motorists from unfair private parking charges. The rules, which apply to England, Wales, and Scotland, include a guaranteed five-minute grace period for drivers to decide whether to park and a ten-minute window to leave once a session expires.

Under the new regulations, charges must be cancelled on appeal for uncontrollable circumstances such as medical emergencies, vehicle breakdowns, or broken ticket machines. For minor errors, such as entering an incorrect vehicle registration or forgetting a permit, the maximum charge on appeal will be capped at £20. Additionally, the maximum parking charge is frozen at £100. Operators found in violation of these rules risk losing access to DVLA data, making it difficult to identify vehicle owners.

The announcement also includes measures to combat “car clocking,” the fraudulent practice of winding back odometers to hide a vehicle’s true mileage. By adding this to the official list of banned practices, authorities aim to provide better protection for second-hand car buyers.