- Drivers in Plymouth Sutton and Devonport to get new rights to challenge unfair private parking charges, alongside crack down on car dealers winding back mileages
- Guaranteed 5 minutes to decide whether to park and 10 minutes to leave without facing a penalty, and cancellation of charges for issues drivers can’t control – like vehicle breakdowns in car parks
- Marks latest step forward in the PM’s series of everyday fixes, tackling the daily frustrations that make life harder and giving people room to breathe.
Luke Pollard MP has welcomed news that drivers in Plymouth Sutton and Devonport will get new rights to challenge unfair private parking charges under new rules announced today, 20th October 2026.
Under the new Private Parking Code of Practice laid in Parliament, motorists will benefit from fairer grace periods, capped fines for minor errors, and robust protections against aggressive parking enforcement.
What the New Parking Rules Mean for Plymouth Drivers:
- 15-Minute Grace Periods: Guaranteed 5 minutes to decide whether to park and 10 minutes to leave at the end of a session without facing a penalty.
- Fair Appeals: Parking charges will be cancelled on appeal for issues outside a driver’s control—such as medical emergencies, vehicle breakdowns, or broken ticket machines.
- Capped Fines for Minor Mistakes: Small slip-ups (like typing a registration number wrong or forgetting a permit) will face a maximum charge of just £20 on appeal.
- Capped Maximum Charges: Maximum parking charges across operators are frozen at £100. Operators who fail to follow the rules risk losing access to DVLA data, preventing them from identifying vehicle owners to pursue payments.
Cracking Down on “Car Clocking”
In addition to parking reform, the government is taking direct action against unscrupulous second-hand car dealers who wind back odometers to disguise a vehicle’s true mileage. Adding “car clocking” to the official list of banned commercial practices will make it easier for consumer enforcement bodies to crack down on bad actors, protecting local buyers and supporting honest local garages.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:
“Being a few minutes late back to your car or typing one digit of your numberplate wrong shouldn’t end with a hefty fine landing on your doormat.
“These charges leave people feeling ripped off and out of pocket, so I’m putting a stop to them.
“We are introducing clearer rules, longer grace periods and lower charges for genuine mistakes, while going after the deliberate scams that rip drivers off.”
Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said:
“Hardworking people across Plymouth are sick and tired of getting slapped with heavy fines for minor slip-ups or broken payment machines. I hear from local residents all too often who have been caught out by aggressive private parking firms when simply trying to park in town or pop to the shops.
“These common-sense rules bring much-needed fairness and relief for Plymouth motorists, ensuring an honest mistake doesn’t result in an unfair financial penalty.”
The government has also promised today to go further still, by consulting as soon as possible next year on private parking debt recovery fees, including on whether to cut an existing £70 cap or scrap the fees altogether.
Data shows just under 17 million private parking charges were issued in the UK last year. In 2025, the government set out proposals to improve standards by consulting on a new Private Parking Code of Practice.
Today’s response sets out the measures being brought in to protect motorists. Parliament will now have time to scrutinise the new Code, before ministers press ahead to bring it into force as soon as possible.
This Code brings in, for the first time, a fully independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board, and requires operators to share more information with government, giving drivers stronger protections than ever before.
If you live in Plymouth Sutton and Devonport and need assistance with an unfair parking charge or consumer rights issue, please get in touch with Luke’s office by emailing luke.pollard.mp@parliament.uk or calling 01752 717255.