Major blow for millions of drivers as parking fines could rocket by a whopping 75% – exceeding penalty for shoplifting

MILLIONS of drivers could face paying 75 per cent more on parking fines – exceeding penalty charges for shoplifters.

Local governments have called on Westminster to increase the levies amid concerns they are “no longer fit for purpose”.

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Penalties for drivers could increase from £70 to £120 outside of London, whilst low-level shoplifting will remain at just £90.

Council parking tickets are currently limited to £60 or £70 outside the capital, with opportunities for lower fines if they are paid immediately.

But, this could all change after Lilian Greenwood, a transport minister, announced the parking levies outside of London were under review.

The British Parking Association (BPA) has called on ministers to review these penalty charges, which it said have remained “unchanged for over 15 years”.

Kevin Hollinrake, the shadow transport secretary, called the latest plan a “war on motorists” and a “slap in the face” for working people.

He told the Daily Mail: “Labour’s war on motorists continues. This Labour Government has been caught red-handed trying to whack up parking charges for millions of motorists, with fines larger than those for some shoplifters.

“It’s the latest slap in the face of our working people, who are already feeling the pinch thanks to Rachel Reeves’s jobs tax.

“We have exposed Labour’s attempts to sneak this in via the back door and will fight the Government to protect drivers at every step.”

Edmund King, the president of the AA, said: “Drivers have become the go-to for local authorities to source more funding – environmental charges, workplace parking levies, congestion charges, hikes in residents’ parking permit costs and fines.

“Now we have the crazy situation where a parking fine may exceed the fine for shoplifting, criminal damage or being drunk and disorderly.

“The punishment needs to fit the crime, not the financial needs of councils.”

The Department for Transport said no decisions have been made.

A spokesperson said: “This is untrue – we have no plans to introduce higher caps for parking fines.

“We are a government firmly on the side of drivers and we fully expect councils only to use penalty charge notices as a deterrent for law-breaking – not as a way to raise funds.”

Earlier this year, The Sun revealed the UK cities with the most parking fines issued.

Data from the experts at National Scrap Car revealed the councils that issued the highest number of fines last year as a warning to drivers to pay extra attention to where they leave their vehicles. 

Manchester City Council topped the rankings as the authority that issued the most parking fines throughout 2024, handing out over 460,000 tickets.

Although Manchester is a tourist hotspot, with two Premier League football teams, it may be surprising to many that the city issued more fines than every council in London.

The capital has strict Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ), public transport lanes and limited public parking offering. 

Dorry Potter, vehicle expert at National Scrap Car, said: “While we would expect to see high levels of fines in a large city like Manchester, it is interesting to see that it outperforms the capital in penalties. 

“The complexities of driving in London alongside its expansive public transport infrastructure could be a reason behind Manchester topping the list as motorists are less likely to attempt driving around areas they are unfamiliar with in the capital and thus not make risky parking decisions.”

The Arndale shopping centre car park, one of Manchester’s top shopping locations, was the spot where drivers picked up the most tickets, with 17,356 PCNs handed out.

All those fines accounted for over £14.6 million of revenue for the Manchester City Council over double what the second-highest fining council made.