Less than one-in-10 councils have plans to increase the size of parking bays despite data showing that vehicles are getting bigger than individual spaces.
New research has found that just 8.2 per cent of UK councils plan to make parking spaces bigger even though seven of the 10 most popular brands now selling cars that are too long than the standard length of bays.
Since 2018, cars have grown in length by an average of 97.6mm, while others have grown by a staggering 58cm - or 22 inches.
The Peugeot 208 has grown the most over the last six years, while the BMW 7 Series has grown by almost a foot, making it too long for most standard parking spaces.
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Drivers could be fined if their cars are too long for standard spaces
GETTYOnly five UK councils already impose maximum length restrictions on vehicles, potentially causing issues for them receiving fines when using council-run facilities.
Standard parking spaces on the street measure 2.4 metres wide and 4.8 metres long, with only a handful of councils considering making them bigger to fit growing cars.
Mark Tisshaw, editor of Autocar Business, commented on the data and how drivers can expect to see their vehicles get bigger in the coming years.
He said: “We know that cars are getting longer and wider, typically due to ever-stricter crash and safety legislation they must meet, and these figures show too few councils are adapting to this new reality.
"Fewer than one in 10 of them plan to increase the size of their parking bays and, in some regions, you run the risk of receiving a fine for parking a car the size of a BMW 7 Series."
Of the 287 councils consulted, 1.7 per cent said they expressly ban cars exceeding a specific length, ranging from as little as five metres and up to 5.35 metres.
This means that popular vehicle models like the Tesla Model X, Mercedes S Class and Range Rover would be "unparkable" in council-run areas in Thurrock, Wokingham, South Hams and West Devon.
Tisshaw added: “Space sizes should reflect the UK vehicle parc, so motorists can park without fear of damaging other vehicles or being fined for overstepping a bay.
"The fact it’s almost impossible to find the parking restrictions online – with drivers often forced to read the small print on physical signage at the location to understand the precise rules – only adds to the difficulties faced by motorists."
Since 2018, Autocar found that councils issued more than 357,000 penalty charge notices (PCNs) for cars parked outside marked bays.
Collectively, this has resulted in drivers being hit with fines of more than £8million in the last six years alone.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The Peugeot 208 has seen the largest increase in vehicle length
PEUGEOT
Vehicles with the biggest length increase between 2018 and 2024
1. Peugeot 208 - 58cm
2.Toyota Yaris - 44.5
3. Mazda 3 - 40cm
4. BMW 7 Series - 29.3cm
5. Mercedes A-Class - 12cm
6. BMW 2 Series - 10.5cm
7. Peugeot 3008 - 9.5cm
8. Mercedes C-Class - 6.5cm
9. Toyota Prius - 5.9cm
10. Range Rover - 5.3cm
10. Volkswagen Tiguan - 5.3cm
