Burnham Outlines New Rules to End ‘Rip-Off’ Parking Charges

Source reports published 19 Oct 2026, 10:00 am – 20 Oct 2026, 7:30 am AEST

New rules announced by Andy Burnham will give drivers a five-minute period to decide if they want to park and a 10-minute window to leave without penalty. The changes aim to protect drivers from unfair fines issued by private parking companies, with a maximum appeal charge of £20.

What happened

• The government, led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, has introduced new rules to address concerns about ‘rip-off’ private parking charges.
• Drivers will now be granted a guaranteed five-minute period to decide whether to park and a 10-minute window to leave after their parking session ends, without facing a penalty.
• The rules apply in England, Scotland and Wales.
• The government has frozen the maximum parking charge at £100, and a maximum appeal charge of £20 for ‘slip-ups’ such as forgetting a parking permit.
• Private car parks are different to council-owned car parks and streets.
• The RAC motoring group welcomed the changes, stating they would protect drivers from ‘poor practices’ of some private parking companies.
• However, critics, including the AA, argue that the new code is insufficient, particularly regarding debt recovery fees and the need for an independent appeals body.
• The government has acknowledged these concerns and plans to consult on debt recovery fees and the possibility of replacing the industry-run appeals bodies with a single, independent one.
• The number of private parking tickets issued has risen significantly, reaching 16.9 million in 2025-26, according to the RAC.
• The government’s aim is to reduce this number and provide greater protection for motorists.

Original reporting

• BBC: Burnham vows end to 'rip-off parking charges' under new rules
  2026-10-19T21:30:06.515000+00:00
• Guardian: Andy Burnham outlines new rules to outlaw ‘rip-off’ private parking fines
  2026-10-19T00:00:00+00:00