Private parking firms give out average of 41,000 tickets a day - costing motorists £4.1m

Private companies in the UK are issuing drivers with an average of over 41,000 parking tickets daily, according to figures, leading to calls for significant changes in the sector's management.

Between July and September, some 3.8 million tickets were issued, as per Government data analysed by the PA news agency and motoring research charity the RAC Foundation.

This equates to a record daily average of 41,052. The total marks a 14% increase from 3.3 million during the same period in 2023 and is more than double the 1.7 million in 2018.

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Each ticket can cost up to £100, suggesting that drivers could be paying close to £4.1 million per day at the current rate. Private parking firms have been criticised for using misleading and confusing signs, aggressive debt collection tactics, and unreasonable charges.

A Bill allowing for the introduction of a legislation-backed code of conduct was given Royal assent in March 2019. This code, which was set to be implemented across Britain by the end of last year, proposed halving the cap on most parking offences to £50, establishing a fairer appeals system, and prohibiting the use of aggressive language on tickets.

However, following a legal challenge by parking companies, it was withdrawn by the Conservative government in June 2022. In June, industry bodies the British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community released their own code of practice.

The analysis of parking tickets, which was conducted by the RAC Foundation, found that private parking firms are thriving at the expense of millions of motorists yearly.

RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said: "Private parking is clearly one sector of the economy which appears to be booming but at the expense of millions of motorists each year.

"It is hard to believe that tens of thousands of drivers are setting out each day intent on flouting parking rules on private land and so risking stiff penalties. These numbers suggest that big questions remain about the way the current system is working – or failing.

"Drivers must be very wary of where they leave their vehicles as they head out to do their Christmas shopping because these numbers suggest that even the smallest indiscretion is likely to lead to a fine which will erase any sense of festive cheer.

"If ministers wanted to give motorists a Christmas present they should crack on with implementing the long-promised reforms to parking management which have now been on the statute book for more than five years."

The study looked into the number of records obtained from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) by companies in pursuit of vehicle owners for alleged infringements in non-council operated locations, such as shopping centres, leisure facilities, and motorway service areas.

It does not take into account parking tickets issued in council-run car parks.

In the three months leading up to the end of September, a staggering 172 parking management companies requested vehicle owner records. ParkingEye emerged as the company with the most voracious appetite for data, snapping up a colossal 594,000 records.

The DVLA sets its cost at £2.50 for each record released. This fee, it insists, only serves to offset the costs incurred in providing this data, affirming that no profit is made from these transactions.

Isaac Occhipinti, the head of external affairs at the British Parking Association, said: "99.7% of parking activities do not result in a parking charge.

"Private parking operators provide an essential service, ensuring motorists can park when and where they need.

"We strongly refute the speculative scare stories perpetuated by the RAC Foundation.

"In October we published a single code of practice which incorporated the standard-raising recommendations from the withdrawn Government code. This includes caps on charges.

"We are proud of the service our members provide and that thanks to them Christmas shoppers will be protected from selfish parkers and be able to park conveniently and safely."

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government was also contacted for comment

Number of parking tickets issued by private companies across Britain from July to September since 2018:

• 2024: 3.8 million

• 2023: 3.3 million

• 2022: 2.9 million

• 2021: 2.1 million

• 2020: 1.5 million

• 2019: 2.2 million

• 2018: 1.7 million