Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury's drivers urged to learn 'little known' car park rule

Drivers have been urged to learn a little-known rule at their local supermarket car park. Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's drivers have been warned there is a hidden age limit to parent and child bays at retail stores up and down the country.

The used vehicle retailer Avalon Motor Company warned: "In almost all supermarket car parks, you’ll find designated spaces for parent and child parking. And they’re usually closer to the store doors to save parents having to cross more of the busy car park than is necessary."

In most supermarket car parks, these spaces have an age limit that requires at least one passenger inside the vehicle to be under the age of 12 years old. Avalon Motor Company said: "Whilst it can seem ambiguous as to who can park there, we’re here to clear things up: you can park in a parent and child parking space if you’re entering the shop with a child that is under 12 years old.

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"If you’re going into the shop on your own and leaving a child with another adult in the car, you must use an ordinary parking space." Andrew Jervis from automotive company ClickMechanic says that it’s well worth knowing the guidelines on who can use them – so you don’t deny a mum or dad in greater need and cop some flak.

He said: “The rules on parent and child spaces can be a little unclear and often depend on the individual operator. But a good rule of thumb is that you must be a parent or guardian with at least one child under the age of 12 on board to qualify to park in these bays.

“It’s not illegal to break these ‘rules’ but you could be hit with a parking charge notice (PCN), which can be issued for parking offences on private property.”