Drivers living in a major UK city have been urged not to get caught out as the cost of penalty charge notices (PCNs) is set to rise.
As many car park companies prepare to adapt to features added to the parking code of practice, fines issued across London are due to increase by £30 from April 2025.
Rhydian Jones, car insurance expert at Confused.com, noted the increase is enough of a reason to encourage drivers to be more considerate when parking their vehicle.
He explained: “Just like many of our motoring bills, the cost of penalty charge notices (PCNs) is an extra strain on the pockets of drivers. And with the cost of parking tickets set to increase in parts of London, drivers should be even more vigilant when picking a parking.
“For many, confusing parking signs are the reason drivers get stung. That’s as our research found that nearly 1 in 3 (30%) who have appealed a parking ticket said it was because they felt the sign was unclear. And 3 in 5 (63%) drivers think parking signs should be made clearer to avoid confusion.”
Under the new changes, the maximum penalty a private parking company will be able to issue in Band A parts of London is £160 – the same amount a driver can be fined for using an active bus lane.
Band B areas will also see an increase, with the highest penalties rising from £110 to £140, and lower level offences incurring a PCN of £90.
The Transport and Environment Committee have argued the changes are required in order to deter drivers from breaking rules when parking their car.
In a bid to avoid fines in the first place, Rhydian recommended that drivers take note of any parking signs they encounter when leaving their car.
He advised: “Check parking restrictions carefully: pay close attention to parking signs and road markings, especially in town centres where rules may vary depending on the time or day.”
Confused.com highlighted that one of the easiest ways to make sure that drivers are not breaking any parking rules is by planning ahead and researching the best places to leave their vehicle.
Nevertheless, if drivers are unsure about the meaning of a parking sign, Rhydian advised them to use Confused.com’s translator service on their website.
He continued: “Before you next park at a confusing sign, consider using our parking signs translator if you’re unsure of the rules.
“All you need to do is upload an image of the parking sign and our generator will tell you the simple rules for that space. It’s a simple yet effective way to have a clearer understanding of the rules to avoid confusion.”
