PM puts the brakes on rip-off parking charges and car scams
Drivers to get new rights to challenge unfair private parking charges, alongside crack down on car dealers winding back mileages
Drivers will get new rights to challenge unfair private parking charges under new rules announced today. This includes a guaranteed 5 minutes to decide whether to park and 10 minutes to leave once their session ends, and the right to have charges cancelled on appeal for issues they can’t control.
Under the new Private Parking Code of Practice laid in Parliament today (20 October), charges will be scrapped on appeal for honest mistakes, like stopping briefly to check directions, and for situations like a medical emergency, breakdown or broken ticket machine.
For smaller slip-ups, like forgetting a parking permit, entering the wrong vehicle’s registration or forgetting to confirm it in the machine when parking, drivers will face a maximum charge of £20 on appeal.
The Code also freezes the maximum parking charge at £100. Operators who don’t comply risk losing access to DVLA data, meaning that even if they issue a charge, it will be far more difficult to identify the registered owner to pursue payment.
In addition, unscrupulous second-hand car dealers who wind back odometers to disguise a vehicle’s true mileage will also face tougher action. Known as car clocking, fraudulently selling a clocked car is already illegal, but adding it to the official list of banned practices will make it easier for enforcers to crack down, protecting buyers and backing honest businesses.
These changes are the latest measures in the Prime Minister’s series of everyday fixes, tackling the frustrations that cost people time and money to give families more room to breathe.
Today’s action follows moves to stop unfair airline charges, tackle subscription traps, rogue traders, and rip-off school uniform costs.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:
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.
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner said:
Parking should be straightforward, not another everyday hassle. These changes mean drivers get a fairer deal, protected time to park and leave without fear of being unfairly charged, and confidence that private parking providers are held to a higher standard.
It’s yet another step forward in this government’s plan to take the stress out of everyday life and ease the pressure on people’s pockets.
Minister for Consumer Action, Kate Dearden, said:
Nobody works hard for their money just to be deceived by a dodgy trader, and this is exactly the kind of everyday rip-off this government is going after.
By making it easier to take action against car clocking, we are protecting consumers’ hard-earned money and supporting businesses that play by the rules.
The government has also promised today to go further still, by consulting as soon as possible next year on private parking debt recovery fees, including on whether to cut an existing £70 cap or scrap the fees altogether.
Data shows just under 17 million private parking charges were issued in the UK last year. In 2025, the government set out proposals to improve standards by consulting on a new Private Parking Code of Practice.
Today’s response sets out the measures being brought in to protect motorists. Parliament will now have time to scrutinise the new Code, before ministers press ahead to bring it into force as soon as possible.
This Code brings in, for the first time, a fully independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board, and requires operators to share more information with government, giving drivers stronger protections than ever before.
Since taking office, the government has also launched a review of airport drop-off charges, cut VAT on electricity bills this winter, frozen fuel duty and rail fares, and raised the Minimum Wage, as it continues to take action to ease the cost of living.
For more information:
Private Parking Code of Practice
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The code will apply in England, Scotland and Wales.
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Motorists will have their parking charge cancelled where they can provide evidence that one of the scenarios set out in the Appeals Charter applies to them.
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Operators will have to report data on the charges they issue and how appeals are handled, to help raise standards across the industry. This will be scrutinised by a new independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board, giving drivers confidence that the Code is working as intended. The process to set the board up will commence once the code comes into force.
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The changes follow a public consultation that ran from July to September 2025 and received 4,526 responses from the public and industry. Motorists were clear that they wanted fairer appeals, and independent oversight of the private parking industry.
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The government intends to consult further on the remaining CMA recommendations post-publication of the Code.
Car clocking
- The change applies to businesses selling cars to consumers. Car clocking will be added to the banned practices list (Schedule 20) under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.