**Record Number of Private Parking Fines Handed to UK Drivers, Prompting Calls for Reform**
Newly-published figures have revealed that private parking operators in the UK are issuing penalty tickets to motorists at unprecedented rates, sparking concern among consumer groups and calls for urgent government action.
According to recent data, in the 12 months leading up to March 2025, private parking companies handed out approximately 14.4 million parking charge notices (PCNs) to drivers. This equates to around 1.2 million tickets each month, a figure that is more than double the annual total recorded just six years ago. The surge in tickets highlights the mounting friction between motorists and private parking operators, as well as the increasing importance of regulatory intervention in the sector.
The motoring group RAC, which analysed the official statistics, estimates that these fines could collectively cost drivers as much as £1.4 billion. This projection is based on the standard £100 fee levied per PCN, although drivers may pay less if they settle promptly or succeed with appeals.
Simon Williams, the RAC’s head of policy, voiced his alarm over the escalating figures. “It’s deeply concerning that our prediction about private parking companies reaching 14.5 million ticket issuances has materialised,” he commented. Williams pointed out this dramatic rise has occurred despite previous legislative efforts to tackle unfair practices in the industry. “The number of tickets is now over double what it was six years ago, even though Parliament has tried to crack down on questionable methods applied by some private parking operators.”
Williams also lamented the lack of progress in enforcing a promised government code of practice intended to regulate private parking companies more stringently. “As it stands, the absence of the code means that drivers are not being protected as Parliament intended. Too many questionable tickets continue to be handed out, and operators are not yet compelled to follow stricter rules.”
Further compounding the difficulty for motorists is the ongoing involvement of debt collection agencies, with many drivers reporting being hounded over disputed debts. Williams added, “There remains no single, entirely independent appeals service for affected drivers, leaving many feeling powerless if their initial protest to the operator is rejected.”
The RAC has challenged claims from within the parking industry that the sheer rise in PCNs is purely the result of managing more car parks. Instead, they have called for swift implementation of the long-delayed regulatory code. “We urge the government to introduce the official code without delay and with all the comprehensive protections intended, to halt the relentless increase in fines,” Williams stated.
The anticipated code of practice, designed to clamp down on excessive charges and provide clearer guidance for both operators and drivers, was withdrawn in 2022 following legal threats from parking firms and debt recovery agencies. Its absence has meant little additional scrutiny on private parking companies’ behaviour, potentially contributing to the sharp rise in PCNs.
As things stand, many motorists have been left frustrated by a system they believe lacks proper checks and recourse. Consumer advocates have repeatedly drawn attention to cases in which tickets were issued under questionable circumstances, calling into question the fairness and transparency of the current process.
The government’s next steps on regulatory guidance are being closely watched by both motorists and industry insiders alike. Meanwhile, campaigners have made it clear that without greater oversight and the introduction of a single independent appeals body, millions of drivers remain exposed to arbitrary fines and aggressive collection tactics.
The issue has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over the rights of motorists versus the prerogatives of private car park operators. With ticket numbers at an all-time high, the need for policy intervention appears more urgent than ever, as stakeholders on all sides await decisive action.