New Private Parking Code 2026: what changes

Where things stand

The government laid its Private Parking Code of Practice before Parliament on 20 October 2026. It has a 40-day period of scrutiny before it can be issued, and it comes into force 21 days after it's issued. LexisNexis reports it's due to be issued on 30 November 2026 if there are no objections, which would mean it applies from 21 December 2026. GOV.UK hasn't confirmed the date yet.

Until then, the industry's own Single Code of Practice (in place since October 2024) still applies. The new Code replaces it.

The Code applies in England, Wales and Scotland. It isn't law you can sue under directly: operators that don't follow it can lose access to DVLA keeper details, which they need to send postal charges.

Charges and discounts

• The maximum charge stays at £100.
• Operators must still offer at least 40% off if you pay within 14 days.
• If you appeal within 28 days and are rejected, you can still pay the reduced rate for 14 days after the rejection.
• Debt recovery costs stay capped at £70 for now, and the Code says a fee isn't automatically fair just because it's under the cap. The government has said it will consult again on cutting or scrapping these fees.

Time to read the signs, and time to leave

Most car parks must give at least 5 minutes to read the terms and decide not to stay, and at least 10 minutes after your time ends before a charge can be issued. Larger free car parks (over 500 spaces) must give 10 minutes to decide. Short-stay car parks don't have to give the 10 minutes at the end, and pre-booked parking doesn't have to give the 5 minutes at the start.

The Appeals Charter: charges that must be cancelled

With reliable evidence, the charge must be cancelled on appeal if:

• you made a small typing error in your registration, like 0 for O or 1 for I;
• you stopped briefly on a private road to check directions;
• the police, emergency services, the landowner or the operator told you to drive onto the land;
• there was an emergency you couldn't control;
• you or a passenger were ill, or a medical appointment ran over;
• you were held up by childcare, or your car broke down;
• the payment machines weren't working and there was no reasonable alternative;
• the operator broke the Code in a way that relates to your charge.

Charges reduced to £20

• You had a valid permit but it wasn't on display, and you show it later.
• You paid, but entered the wrong registration, such as a previous car's.
• You were allowed to park, but didn't enter your registration on the machine.
• Your Blue Badge wasn't on display but you show a valid one later (first time only).

Appeals handling

• You have 28 days from receiving the notice to appeal.
• The operator must reply within 28 days, or acknowledge it and say when it will reply.
• Late appeals must be considered if there were exceptional circumstances, such as being in hospital, a bereavement, being on holiday, moving house, or the notice going to the wrong address.
• While an independent appeal (POPLA or IAS) is open, the operator can't start or continue enforcement.
• An independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board will review how the Code is working.