Drivers Slammed with 76 Million Parking Tickets Since Regulatory Law Passed
Private parking companies have issued a staggering 76 million tickets in the seven years since a parliamentary Bill intended to regulate their practices became law, according to new analysis by the RAC Foundation. The motoring research charity described the figure as evidence that "something fundamental is wrong with the system" governing private car parks across Britain.
Long-Awaited Code of Practice Remains in Limbo
The Parking (Code of Practice) Bill received royal assent on March 15, 2019, with the aim of creating a mandatory code of conduct for the private parking sector. This legislation was introduced following years of complaints about misleading signage, aggressive debt collection tactics, and unreasonable fees imposed on motorists.
A proposed code that would have halved the maximum charge for most parking offences to £50 was scheduled to be implemented across Britain by the end of 2023. However, this plan was withdrawn by the Conservative government in June 2022 after parking companies mounted a legal challenge against the proposed regulations.
The Labour Government conducted a new consultation on introducing a revised code last year, but no concrete implementation timeline has been announced since then, leaving motorists in regulatory limbo.
Analysis Reveals Scale of Parking Enforcement
The RAC Foundation's analysis examined records obtained from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) by companies pursuing vehicle owners for alleged parking infringements on private property. Between April 2019 and September 2025, private parking firms made 68.4 million requests for keeper details from the DVLA.
Based on a daily rate of approximately 48,000 tickets being issued, the charity calculated there have been about eight million additional requests since September 2025, bringing the total to an estimated 76.4 million tickets over the seven-year period.
Calls for Urgent Government Action
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, expressed concern about the current system: "No one denies there are some drivers who will always try it on, but the idea that the vast majority of the estimated 48,000 people who get ticketed daily set out to flout the rules is absurd. In this financial climate who knowingly risks getting charged a 'penalty' of typically £100?"
Gooding continued: "This suggests something fundamental is wrong with the system and we urge ministers to finally act to curb some of the power of the parking industry whose aim – which is understandable in a way – is to make as much money as possible. Clearly, there are big issues facing the Government but finally resetting the private parking landscape would bring a cheer from millions of motorists whilst still ensuring real offending is curtailed."
Government and Industry Responses
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stated: "Motorists must be protected when using private car parks and we are determined to drive up standards in the industry. We have run a consultation on this issue and will set out further details on the private parking code of practice as soon as possible."
Isaac Occhipinti, head of external affairs at the British Parking Association, offered the industry perspective: "The BPA recognises the need for a code of practice that reflects today's motoring environment. With record numbers of vehicles on the road, the new framework is an important step to address current concerns, protect decent drivers and deter behaviour that harms communities."
Occhipinti added: "Parking charges act as a deterrent. When they are reduced, evidence shows that compliance falls, disruption rises and more people ultimately receive charges."
The ongoing delay in implementing the parking code of practice means millions of British motorists continue to navigate a private parking system that critics argue prioritises revenue generation over fair regulation, with no clear resolution in sight despite legislation passed seven years ago specifically designed to address these concerns.
