RAC predicts number of private parking tickets issued in a year is set to rise by 3m to a record 17m

The RAC expects the number of private parking tickets issued to drivers in the year to the end of March will hit a new record of 17m when government figures are published next month.

So far, car park management companies have sent out more than 13m parking charging notices in just three months, an average of 4.3m tickets a quarter. This would mean the 2024-25 record total of 14.4m is likely to be surpassed by as much as 3m this year.

Interestingly, new RAC research* has found half of drivers don’t realise there are major differences between public parking fines and private parking charge notices as they are named so similarly – and look virtually identical when stuck to a vehicle’s windscreen.

While 44% said they thought there were differences between a Penalty Charge Notice issued by a council for a parking violation and a Parking Charge Notice sent out by a private car park management company for an alleged infringement, 50% were confused as both are regularly referred to as PCNs. Of these, nearly four-in-10 (37%) were not sure of the differences and 13% didn’t think there were any differences. A further 5% hadn’t heard of either.

Of the 44% who stated they thought there were differences between the two types of PCNs, three-quarters (76%) correctly understood a Penalty Charge Notice is issued by councils and a Parking Charge Notice is issued by private car park operators. But 15% wrongly believed it was the other way round – that a Penalty Charge Notice is issued by private car park operators and a Parking Charge Notice is issued by councils. Eight per cent said they didn’t know what the difference was. 

Despite both often being referred to by the same ‘PCN’ acronym and looking almost identical when fixed to a driver’s windscreen, Penalty Charge Notices are very different to Parking Charge Notices. A Penalty Charge Notice is issued to drivers by local councils and Transport for London after committing an offence by parking on public land. It’s a fine drivers have to pay and is backed by law. Drivers can appeal to the independently run Traffic Penalty Tribunal (England and Wales) or London Tribunals for contraventions committed in London boroughs.

In stark contrast, a Parking Charge Notice is issued to drivers by private parking companies when they believe drivers have breached the terms and conditions of parking on private land. In reality, it’s not a fine, but an invoice for an alleged breach of contract. Drivers can appeal to either of the appeals bodies set up by the two private parking trade associations – Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA) or the Independent Appeals Service (IAS).

Nine-in-10 (91%) of drivers surveyed by the RAC felt the term 'Parking Charge Notice' is confusing as it shares the same 'PCN' acronym.

With a view to making the difference between ‘PCNs’ clearer, the RAC asked drivers confused by the acronym what a Parking Charge Notice issued by private parking operators should be renamed as. Three-in-10 (31%) felt it should be called a ‘Private Parking Charge’ (a PPC); 19% a Private Car Park Charge (a PCPC); 19% a Charge for Private Parking (a CPP); 14% an Invoice for Private Parking (an IPP); and 16% weren’t sure.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Drivers are clearly confused by the PCN acronym which is concerning as they are very different in terms of consequences. A PCN sent by the council is a fine and must be paid, whereas a Parking Charge Notice, issued by a private car park operator, is an invoice for alleged breach of contract. The fact both can be put on drivers’ windscreens in identical bright yellow colour doesn’t help, either. We suspect they’re deliberately designed to look very similar to a council penalty charge notice.

“While the two private parking trade associations have set their industry PCNs at £100, they are regularly discounted by at least 40% for payment within 14 days. Fines issued by councils vary but are generally lower outside London and are all discounted by 50% for early payment.

“Another very important difference occurs after the 28-day appeal window has closed, when an unpaid private Parking Charge Notice is often increased by £70 to £170 with a letter from a debt collection company.

“The RAC is firmly against this practice as it’s totally disproportionate to the alleged parking contravention. This is perhaps one reason why 36% of drivers surveyed for our annual Report on Motoring had concerns about the conduct of private parking companies when pursuing people for parking infringements.**

“As there’s so much confusion between the two PCN acronyms, drivers are very supportive of changing the name of private Parking Charge Notices to clear this up and help others understand the important legal difference.”

Recent RAC analysis of government data found that in the year to the end of September 2025 a record 15.9m parking tickets were handed out by private businesses, up 17% on the same period the year before.***

While the RAC accepts that part of the rise may be due to more car parks being privately managed, the figures show 48,000 tickets per day were issued between June and September last year, which it feels is ominously high considering most people don’t set out to get a private parking notice.

Simon Williams added: "This record figure says to us that something must be going badly awry, which is why the outcome of the Government’s latest Private Parking Code of Practice consultation can't come soon enough.

"Drivers need to know they're being treated fairly whenever they use a private car park."

^{* Research for the RAC Driver Opinion Panel carried out from 15-23 November 2025 with 1,693 respondents.}

^{** Research for the RAC Report on Motoring was carried out from 4-21 April 2025; 2,395 drivers. Results rim-weighted to be nationally representative of UK motorists}

^{*** Gov.uk – KADOE Enquiries Q2 2025-2026}