Starting Monday, drivers using private car parks with ANPR cameras won’t be fined for taking too long to pay.
Previously, if you didn’t pay within five minutes of arriving, you could be hit with a fine of up to £100—even if you left without parking due to lack of space. Now, you’ll have until you exit the car park to make a payment.
The change comes after a review by the Private Parking Scrutiny and Advice Panel (PPSAP), aiming to protect drivers who struggle to pay quickly. The panel said the update ensures "motorists who face genuine difficulties in paying in a short timeframe are treated fairly".
However, this rule only applies to ANPR-controlled car parks, not all private parking sites.
Will Hurley, CEO of the International Parking Community, welcomed the move but urged drivers to read parking signs carefully. British Parking Association chief Andrew Pester called it “another important step” in making parking fairer.
The reform follows cases like Rosey Hudson’s, who was taken to court for refusing to pay £1,906 in fines after struggling to pay within five minutes due to poor phone signal. Excel Parking later dropped its case.
