New parking rules have come into effect starting October 1, bringing with them a significant change – free parking for all drivers. These new regulations require all new private parking sites to comply with a single Code of Practice developed by the British Parking Association and the International Parking Community. The purpose of this code is to increase transparency for motorists. While new sites must adhere to the code immediately, existing sites have until 2026 to become compliant.
According to Chris Adams, Group Operations Director at Brindley Group, the primary objective of these changes is to ensure fair treatment of motorists, enhancing standards and transparency for the benefit of drivers. One notable addition is a 10-minute grace period that allows drivers an extra 10 minutes after their parking session ends before receiving a fine from Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems or parking attendants.
Moreover, a new Appeals Charter has been introduced to provide clear guidelines for drivers seeking to appeal parking fines. By enforcing consistent rules for private parking operators, motorists can now contest unfair charges with more effectiveness. If appealing to the car park operator proves unsuccessful, drivers have the option to escalate their appeal to the relevant trade association – either the BPA or IPC.
In addition to these changes, the new rules mandate that signage on private land must be clear to assist drivers while parking. The Code of Practice maintains a maximum charge of £100 for a parking fine, which reduces to £60 if paid within 14 days, a measure initially implemented by the Conservative Government in 2023.
Furthermore, the Code of Practice aims to safeguard the use of blue badges, cracking down on their misuse and illegal parking in spaces essential for the most vulnerable individuals in society. These developments come following a study by the RAC Foundation, revealing that nearly 9.7 million tickets were issued to drivers by private parking companies in Britain between April and December last year, averaging about 35,300 tickets daily.
Private parking businesses faced accusations of employing misleading signage, aggressive debt collection practices, and unreasonable fees. Legislation for a code of conduct received Royal Assent in March 2019 but was withdrawn by the Government in June 2022 due to legal challenges from parking companies.