28 April 2025
The AA’s head of roads policy has today called the delay in implementing the private parking code of practice act as ‘scandalous’, as drivers have told The AA that they would ‘pay early and appeal’ a parking charge notice (PCN) from private parking operators even if they were in the right.
In a poll of more than 11,500 drivers, one in 20 (5%1) said they would pay up immediately if they received a PCN even if they knew they did not break the rules.
Of those that would pay, more than half (53%) said they would do so because “it gets rid of the hassle”. More than one in 10 (13%) said they would pay the PCN because they felt they wouldn’t get a fair hearing at appeal, while shockingly 11% said they’d pay due to fearing legal action.
In contrast, 53% of drivers said they would appeal a PCN letter from a private parking company, but only a third said they felt ‘confident’ they would be successful.
AA members provided a range of commentary when being asked to imagine receiving a PCN for a contravention they did not commit, with one saying they would; ‘Tell them to REDACTED off!’.
Another member said that they would ‘pay as no one seems to win in a contest with parking companies.’.
One in 50 respondents said they would ignore the PCN letter, with one explaining ‘Ignore it as it's an invoice not a fine!’.
While explaining their reason for paying and appealing one person said ‘I'd rather pay it so that it doesn't escalate then contest it to get refunded’.
Meanwhile, one in 12 (8%) said they would approach Citizens Advice for help which itself shows a growing trend in people contacting their service for support. In 2021-22 Citizens Advice helped 7,412 people with concerns regarding private parking operators, but that has now grown by 34% to 9,926 requests for help in 2024-252.
"Six years on, yet no part of the legislation has been introduced to protect and safeguard drivers from an aggressive industry."
Act passed in 2019, yet still no official code
The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, was enacted in March 20193, yet no aspects of the Bill have been implemented since Royal Assent. Within the Act included a Government backed Code of Practice, an independent single appeals panel and an independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board to ensure private parking operators were following the government mandated rules.
However, following a legal challenge from the private parking industry, the incoming rules were withdrawn in June 20224 with no government action since. In the meantime, the private parking sector have implemented their own code of practice, which The AA does not endorse. In fact, 5% of drivers have been hoodwinked into believing that this self-authored code is the official government backed document5.
The AA is calling on the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to act urgently and introduce the government backed scheme by the end of 2025.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for The AA, said; “The delay in implementing the official government code is scandalous. Six years on, yet no part of the legislation has been introduced to protect and safeguard drivers from an aggressive industry.
“The fact that drivers are willing to pay up when they have done nothing wrong, nor have any confidence in the current appeals process, shows why urgent action is needed.
“We are hugely concerned that the government is standing idly by while drivers continue to receive threatening letters from a sector that works on the basis of guilty until proven innocent. Urgent action is needed, and introducing the rules by the end of the year will help wrestle back some of the balance in favour of the motorist.
“Until the measures within the Act are in place, drivers will continue to be attacked by these shark-like businesses.”
1. Yonder received 11,551 responses from AA members to its online poll between the 7th to the 15th April 2025. Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
2. 2021-22 data below taken from; [Advice Trends Mar 2022 | Tableau Public], 2024-25 data below taken from; [Advice issues (Trends) March 2025 | Tableau Public],
3. Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament
4. [Withdrawn] Private Parking Code of Practice - GOV.UK
5. Yonder received 13,775 responses from AA members to its online poll between the 11th to the 19th February 2025. Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.