Overview
- New DVLA-based figures published Thursday show private firms issued 13.1 million tickets between April and December 2025, up 19% to an average of 47,749 a day.
- Each charge can reach £100, which puts the daily bill for drivers near £4.8 million at the current rate of tickets.
- Enforcement relies on keeper data that companies buy from the DVLA for £2.50 per record, with 195 firms requesting details in the last quarter and ParkingEye purchasing 619,000; the agency says the fee only covers its costs.
- The government says it will bring a statutory code of practice to Parliament this autumn to raise standards and protect motorists in privately run car parks.
- The RAC Foundation says the surge points to problems like confusing signs, tricky payment machines and aggressive debt collection, while the British Parking Association argues firm management is needed so people can access shops, hospitals and other services.