In addition to launching a probe into Euro Car Parks, the CMA has also published an open letter to the Government calling for a review into car park consideration (grace) periods, early payment discounts for fines and appeal processes.
The RAC’s head of policy, Simon Williams, said: “The CMA’s findings and recommendations are a major step forwards in ensuring drivers are treated fairly by private parking operators. The points made by the watchdog in open letters to the Minister and private parking operators highlight many of the issues we’ve been trying to get action on for years and confirm that drivers aren’t consistently getting fair outcomes when they challenge tickets.”
This comes as private car park operators are handing out more tickets than ever; research by the RAC found that parking firms issued just shy of 14.5 million penalty charge notices (PCNs) in 2024/25 – more than double those issued six years prior.
Last year, the Government announced a consultation into the Private Parking Code of Practice which advises car park operators in the UK. The consultation ended in September 2025 and has yet to produce a revised code. However, the AA accused No 10 of “bending the knee” to parking firms after proposals included raising the maximum fine from £50 to £100 and maintaining debt collection fees.
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