New government data has revealed that private parking companies issued a record 16.9 million parking tickets in 2025/26, up 17% compared with the previous year.
In response to concerns about unfair parking charges, the Government has announced plans for new protections for motorists using private car parks.
The proposed changes include mandatory grace periods, greater protection for drivers who make genuine mistakes and stronger rights to challenge some charges.
Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has explained what motorists need to know about the proposed rules.
What are the new private parking grace periods?
Under the proposals, motorists would receive a guaranteed five-minute consideration period after entering a private car park.
This would give drivers time to find a space, read the terms and conditions and decide whether they want to stay without risking a penalty.
Drivers would also receive a 10-minute grace period at the end of their parking session, giving them additional time to return to their vehicle and leave before a charge can be issued.
The measures are intended to prevent motorists being penalised for minor delays.
Can I appeal a parking fine for circumstances beyond my control?
The proposed changes would give drivers greater protection when an unexpected event prevents them from complying with parking rules.
Charges could be cancelled when circumstances outside a driver's control affected their stay, including a vehicle breakdown, medical emergency or faulty ticket machine.
The aim is to recognise that not every breach of parking rules is deliberate and motorists should not be penalised for situations they could not reasonably avoid.
What happens if I enter the wrong registration number?
Drivers would also receive greater protection when a parking charge results from a genuine mistake.
This could include entering the wrong vehicle registration number or forgetting to display a valid permit.
Rather than automatically facing a larger charge, motorists would have the opportunity to appeal and have the penalty reviewed.
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How much will private parking fines be?
Under the proposed reforms, drivers who successfully appeal charges relating to minor errors, such as entering incorrect details or forgetting to validate their vehicle registration, would see the charge capped at £20.
The maximum private parking charge would remain capped at £100.
The changes are intended to make enforcement more proportionate while still allowing parking operators to penalise motorists who break the rules.
What are your thoughts on the parking changes? Let us know in the comments.
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