Private parking firms in Britain have faced increasing criticism for employing misleading signage, aggressive debt collection tactics, and unreasonable fees, which have led to many drivers receiving unfair tickets, often due to issues with payment machines and automatic number plate recognition systems.

In the 2024/25 period, private parking companies issued a record 14.4 million tickets in Britain, marking a 13% rise from the previous year and more than doubling the number issued in 2018/19, highlighting a significant increase in private enforcement.

Although industry bodies like the BPA and the International Parking Community published a self-regulatory code of practice in June 2024, critics argue it lacks essential protections such as charge caps and the removal of debt recovery fees, and previous government-backed codes faced legal challenges and delays.

On average, private parking companies issue approximately 39,374 tickets daily, which could cost drivers nearly £3.9 million each day, underscoring the scale of the issue.

Analysis of DVLA data reveals that 184 parking management companies, including ParkingEye, requested vehicle owner records to issue penalties, with ParkingEye requesting 2.3 million records, and the DVLA charging £2.50 per record to cover costs.

Motoring organizations are calling on the government to reintroduce and enforce a binding code of conduct and an independent appeals system, arguing that the rise in tickets is driven not only by more parking spaces but also by unfair practices.