People might spot warning signs in some Tesco car parks, telling customers who ignore one rule that they could face a £100 fine. It comes as some people online claim drivers are often taking advantage of parking spaces they say should be reserved for certain customers.
In a TikTok video posted by a user called @Natbeee, which has since gone viral, red signs can be seen on display in a Tesco car park, warning people who misuse certain parking spots. The sign in the clip reads: "Parent and child only. Misuse of these bays may result in a parking charge. This space is reserved for customers taking little shoppers into the store."
Despite the sign not confirming the charge, drivers should expect to face up to a £100 penalty if caught flouting the rules. This figure comes from the parking rules on Tesco's website.
It states: "For car parks operated by APCOA and Horizon Parking, the Parking Charge Notice for overstay is £70, which will be reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days. Where the signage displays the Parking Charge Notice for overstay at £100, this will be reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days."
These parking charges are not new and are typically reserved for shoppers who exceed the free parking period (which may vary by location). Typically, misuse of a disabled or parent parking space has to be reported to raise a red flag about your vehicle.
Tesco confirmed that, as part of a trial in selected stores, sleeves are being placed on bollards around dedicated disabled and parent‑and‑child parking bays to remind drivers to display a valid Blue Badge when using disabled bays and to ensure that parent‑and‑child bays are only used when a child is present. This is in addition to any existing signage shoppers have already seen.
In the comment section of the viral TikTok video, one person said: "Need these everywhere". Another said they "hope other shops take note". A third wrote: "Nothing gets my blood boiling more!"
Someone else put: "Now maybe I’ll actually find parking!" And, one more said: "I wish they would just put [these spaces] at the back of the car park! It's not about being close, it's about getting a baby out of the car!"
Parent parking bays are usually located near the building or venue's entrance. They are designed to make it easier for parents to access the building while carrying or supervising their kids.
According to the RAC, parent-and-child bays are "reserved for parents or guardians with one or more children under 12 years old". It adds that the wider bays are "designed to give parents enough space to manoeuvre their young children in and out of their cars".
Other sources claim that pregnant women, especially during the later stages of pregnancy, can generally use these wider bays to take advantage of the extra room while having limited mobility. A lot of places generally allow pregnant women, while others may strictly require a child to be present.
In this scenario, it is best to inform the store manager of your decision to park in the bay, who can check on their specific rules. There are no specific UK laws on parent-and-child parking, and almost all violations are enforced by privately owned car parking companies governed by contract law – and the contract in question varies across different car parks.
