PM puts the brakes on rip-off parking charges and car scams
The UK government announced new protections for drivers against unfair private parking charges and odometer fraud, including extended grace periods and capped appeal fees.
The government introduced a Private Parking Code of Practice granting drivers five minutes to decide whether to park and ten minutes to leave after payment, alongside the right to appeal and cancel charges for unavoidable issues such as medical emergencies or broken ticket machines. Operators failing to comply risk losing access to DVLA data, making it harder to pursue charges, while charges for minor errors like incorrect registration details are capped at £20 on appeal and the maximum penalty is frozen at £100.
Unscrupulous second-hand car dealers who fraudulently reduce odometer readings to inflate a vehicle’s value, known as car clocking, will face stricter enforcement after being added to the official list of banned practices, strengthening protections for buyers and supporting honest businesses. The changes follow a public consultation that received 4,526 responses and aim to address widespread frustration over unfair charges and deceptive practices affecting motorists.
The government also announced plans to consult in 2024 on private parking debt recovery fees, including whether to reduce or eliminate the existing £70 cap, as part of broader efforts to ease cost-of-living pressures and improve standards in the private parking industry. The new code applies across England, Scotland and Wales and introduces an independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board to monitor operator compliance and ensure fair handling of appeals.
These measures are part of the Prime Minister’s ongoing campaign to tackle everyday financial frustrations, following previous actions such as freezing fuel duty, cutting VAT on electricity bills and reviewing airport drop-off charges. The government stated that minor mistakes like being a few minutes late or entering a wrong registration number should not result in disproportionate fines, emphasising fairness and transparency in private parking practices.