Millions of motorists 'encouraged' to appeal faulty parking tickets to avoid huge penalties

The response comes after reports found that private parking companies are estimated to be on track to issue a record-breaking 14.5 million tickets to drivers this year.

Data revealed that car park management companies' requests for driver information to the DVLA reached 7.2 million in the six months to the end of September 2024, representing a 12 per cent increase from the same period a year earlier.

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With each ticket costing as much as £100, this could potentially cost drivers nearly £4.1million per day at the current rate, according to the RAC.

The RAC also pointed out that just five businesses were responsible for nearly half of all tickets issued between April and September last year.

These companies include ParkingEye (1,129,000), Euro Car Parks (892,000), Horizon Parking (440,000), Smart Parking (424,000) and APCOA Parking (367,000).

But in response to the report, the IPC has defended the rise in tickets, stating it directly correlates with a 475 per cent increase in professionally managed land since 2012. The organisation also pointed to a 20.8 per cent increase in registered vehicles during the same period, from 34.5 million in 2012 to 41.7 million in 2024.

"More land under management combined with more vehicles on the roads naturally leads to more enforcement, an essential tool in ensuring access, fairness, and proper usage for all," the IPC said.

The organisation also said that over 35 per cent of all parking charges were issued to repeat offenders who "disregard signposted" terms and conditions.

Will Hurley, CEO of the International Parking Community, said: "One in four who appeal to the operator are successful. We strongly encourage motorists who feel they have been issued a parking charge in error to follow the appeals process and provide supporting evidence.

"These figures show that the system is working and that drivers are being listened to. This is the process that exists to protect them, and it works."

The IPC also highlighted that one in five appeals escalated to the independent adjudicator "are successful" with the organisation pointing to the sector's publication of a single Code of Practice in October 2024, based on the Government's Code.

The sector also backed the creation of the Private Parking Scrutiny and Advice Panel, an independent panel that oversees the Code of Practice, which was created earlier this year to help stop drivers from being fined unjustly.

Hurley added: "I would like to once again extend an open invitation to the RAC to engage in constructive dialogue with the private parking sector.

"By choosing headlines over collaboration, the RAC overlooks the wider impact of non-compliance on everyday motorists who follow the rules."

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In the UK, there are over 68.5 million parking events in a car each day, with over 99.7 per cent of parking events on private land being compliant and without incident, according to the IPC. But the RAC stated that the current rate of requests represents an average of 41,000 requests per day to the DVLA.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: "It's very concerning that private parking firms are growing and on track to issue a record 14.5 million parking charge notices to drivers in the space of just 12 months."

"As drivers don't generally set out to break the rules, we fear many are being treated unfairly by private parking companies."