New data shows that a whopping 15.9 million parking tickets were handed out by private businesses in the year to September 2025. Figures show that the number of penalties is up 17% with 13.6 million handed out to road users over the previous 12 months.
Each parking ticket is likely to be around £100, meaning that motorists across the UK may have been charged around £4.8million per day. RAC head of policy Simon Williams explained the data suggested that something had gone “badly awry”.
He said: “The rate of tickets being issued by the private parking industry has hit yet another record. While part of the rise may be due to more car parks being privately managed, the figures show that 48,000 tickets per day were issued between June and September, which seems ominously high, considering most people try very hard to avoid receiving a private parking notice.
"This is why we fear something must be going badly awry and why the outcome of the latest Private Parking Code of Practice consultation can't come soon enough. Drivers need to know they're being treated fairly whenever they use a private car park."
The data on the number of parking tickets issued was based on records obtained by companies chasing UK vehicle owners. Parking firms have to get in touch with the DVLA to release vehicle owner information to forward on Parking Charge Notices (PCNs)
These covered alleged infringements in private car parks such as those stopping at shopping centres, leisure facilities and motorway service stations. Figures show that some 188 parking management businesses requested vehicle owner records in the three months to the end of September.
Motorists can appeal privately awarded PCNs if they believe the penalty has been issued incorrectly. An appeal is likely to be considered if there were mitigating circumstances, such as a medical emergency or if the parking machines were faulty.
Unclear or misleading parking signs could also be argued as a reason why motorists failed to pay the charge or broke the rules.
GOV.UK explains: Check the ticket to find out who the issuer is. Contact them to find out how to challenge the private parking ticket.
“If your challenge is rejected, you can appeal to an independent appeals service. Find out if the ticket operator is a member of an accredited trade association by looking at the ticket or their website.”