Burnham Sets New Limits on Private Parking Charges Across Britain

Motorists across England, Scotland and Wales are set to receive stronger protection against unfair private parking penalties under a new government code of practice introduced by Prime Minister Andy Burnham on October 20, 2026. The measures establish minimum grace periods, reduce penalties for minor errors and allow charges to be canceled in specified circumstances, while giving authorities greater oversight of private parking operators.

Under the code, drivers must receive five minutes to decide whether to park and 10 minutes to leave after their parking session expires. Charges must also be canceled on appeal in qualifying cases involving medical emergencies, vehicle breakdowns, faulty ticket machines or brief stops to check directions.

Motorists who make smaller mistakes, including forgetting to display a parking permit, entering an incorrect vehicle registration or failing to confirm their registration at a payment machine, will face a maximum charge of £20 on appeal. The maximum standard private parking charge will remain frozen at £100, despite calls from consumer advocates to reduce the limit to £50.

Operators that fail to comply with the rules risk losing access to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency data, which helps companies identify registered vehicle owners when pursuing unpaid charges. The code also introduces an independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board and requires operators to provide more information about penalties and appeal outcomes.

Burnham said the changes were intended to prevent disproportionate penalties for minor errors and circumstances beyond motorists' control.

"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. These charges leave people feeling ripped off and out of pocket, so I'm putting a stop to them. We are introducing clearer rules, longer grace periods and lower charges for genuine mistakes, while going after the deliberate scams that rip drivers off," said Burnham, the prime minister.

The government said the code follows a public consultation conducted between July and September 2025 that received 4,526 responses from members of the public and industry representatives. Parliament will scrutinize the new framework before ministers seek to bring it into force as soon as possible.

Private parking enforcement has expanded significantly in recent years. Government figures cited in the announcement show that just under 17 million private parking charges were issued across the UK in 2025-26, reflecting the scale of an industry that has faced mounting criticism over enforcement practices and appeals procedures.

The government also plans to consult on debt recovery fees as soon as possible in 2027. These additional charges, applied when parking penalties become overdue, are currently capped at £70, and ministers will consider whether to reduce or eliminate them.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, welcomed the prospect of stronger protections for motorists.

"After seven long years, drivers finally have something which could offer them better protections against the worst private parking operators. For too long, many private parking operators have aggressively attacked drivers to the point where many simply pay up if they receive a charge from one on the doorstep," said Cousens.

The AA has argued that some motorists pay disputed penalties to avoid the stress of appeals or the possibility of legal action. The new rules aim to establish clearer standards for handling genuine mistakes and circumstances outside drivers' control.

Simon Williams, the RAC's head of policy, said the measures did not address all the reforms his organization had sought.

"We've long called for the banning of debt recovery fees being added on top of parking charge notices and a single independent appeals body to replace the two industry-run ones, but neither have been included, which is disappointing," said Williams.

The RAC has called for a single independent appeals body to replace the existing industry-run arrangements. Consumer group Which? also criticized the decision to retain the £100 maximum charge rather than adopt a £50 cap, arguing that the proposed protections did not go far enough.

Alison Tooze, chief policy officer at the British Parking Association, welcomed the framework as a step toward improving standards across the sector.

"Overall, the code strikes the right balance between stronger protections for motorists and effective parking management, helping keep communities, businesses and local economies moving," said Tooze.

Alongside the parking reforms, the government announced tougher action against second-hand car dealers who manipulate odometers to conceal a vehicle's true mileage. Car clocking will be added to the list of banned practices under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, strengthening enforcement against businesses that sell vehicles with falsified mileage records.