Overview

• Private parking companies are projected to issue a record 14.5 million tickets over 12 months, averaging 41,000 daily requests to the DVLA.
• Five firms—ParkingEye, Euro Car Parks, Horizon Parking, Smart Parking, and APCOA—account for nearly half of all tickets issued.
• Each ticket can cost up to £100, with drivers collectively incurring up to £4.1 million in fines per day at the current rate.
• Motorists report issues such as misleading signage, faulty machines, and aggressive debt collection, fueling accusations of unfair practices.
• Government ministers have pledged to publish a binding code of practice soon, following years of delays and legal challenges to previous regulatory efforts.