Ministers reject lower private parking cap despite potential £1.6bn driver savings

Ministers have been accused of favouring private parking firms after rejecting proposals that could have cut parking penalties and saved drivers up to £1.6 billion. The Government announced new rules intended to curb rogue operators, but critics say the headline £100 maximum charge leaves the existing cap unchanged.

An impact assessment said an £80 cap combined with a 50 per cent discount for paying within 14 days could reduce operators’ revenue by about £1.579 billion over ten years and benefit motorists. Ministers rejected the option, citing the risk that firms would raise parking charges; they also declined to introduce independent appeals or ban debt collectors from pursuing unpaid tickets. The new code will require firms to allow at least ten minutes to leave after a parking session ends and ban automatic charges for entering without paying.