UK Private Parking Tickets Hit 48,000 Daily in 2024

Private parking firms in the United Kingdom issued an average of nearly 48,000 tickets per day to motorists last year, according to an analysis of government data, marking a 19 percent increase from the previous year and raising concerns about the fairness of the system.

The figures, drawn from records of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, show that parking management companies handed out 13.1 million tickets between April and December 2024. This compares to 11 million during the same period in 2023, equating to a daily average of 47,749 charges. With individual penalties reaching up to 100 pounds, the total daily financial impact on drivers could approach 4.8 million pounds. The tickets primarily target alleged violations in private car parks at shopping centers, leisure facilities, and motorway service areas, excluding those operated by local councils. In the final quarter of 2024 alone, 195 firms requested vehicle owner details from the agency, which charges 2.50 pounds per record to cover administrative costs. ParkingEye led the activity, seeking information on 619,000 vehicles.

Motoring organizations have highlighted potential flaws in the enforcement process. The RAC...