Private parking firms issued 16.9 million tickets to UK drivers in the year to the end of March 2026, a 17 per cent increase on the previous year, according to an analysis of Labour Party government data by the Press Association and the RAC Foundation. This marks a sharp rise from 14.4 million tickets in the prior year and 6.8 million in 2018/19.
Code of Practice Delayed Despite Royal Assent
A Bill to introduce a code of practice for the private parking industry received royal assent in March 2019. The code, originally due to come into force across Britain by the end of 2023, included halving the cap on tickets for most parking offences to £50, creating a fairer appeals system, and banning the use of aggressive language on tickets. However, the Conservative Party government withdrew the code in June 2022 after a legal challenge by parking companies.
A new consultation on the code by the current Labour Party government closed in September 2025. The analysis of parking tickets was based on the number of records obtained from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) by companies chasing vehicle owners for alleged infringements in private car parks, such as at shopping centres, leisure facilities and motorway service areas.
76 Million Tickets Issued Since Reform Recognised
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said in a statement: “In the period since parliament unequivocally recognised the need for reform of the private parking industry, some 76 million tickets have been issued in total – an average of well over two for every car in the country.”
Mr Gooding added: “Andy Burnham has plenty of big things to worry about, but if his government could get round to fixing this problem, millions of drivers would have one less thing on their minds.”
Impact on Drivers and Next Steps
The data underscores the growing burden on motorists, with the number of tickets nearly tripling since 2018/19. The RAC Foundation’s call for action highlights the urgency of implementing the long-delayed code of practice, which remains under consultation. The government has yet to announce a timeline for introducing the new rules.
