Being issued a parking fine is usually an unwelcome surprise accompanied by unexpected costs.

It’s easy to be caught off-guard by parking restrictions, especially when you consider that 45% of new drivers are not even aware of parking charges prior to owning a car.

Uswitch car insurance has identified the areas of the UK where the most parking fines are issued.

Going loco

Local UK councils have the authority to issue Penalty Charge Notices (PNC) for a variety of offences, both on-street and off-street.

A PCN rated ‘higher’, for offences such as parking in a restricted street during prescribed hours, costs £130 (reduced to £65 if paid within 14 days).

Meanwhile, a PCN rated ‘lower’, for offences such as parking after the expiry of paid-for time, costs £80 (reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days).

Across all UK councils, the average of 46,662 PCNs were issued in 2023.

However, in the top ticketing council it was close to 260,00!

Top 5 ticketing councils in 2023

Council

Population Size

Authority Type

No. of PCNs issued

London Borough of Newham

358,645

London Borough

257,788

London Borough of Lewisham

298,653

London Borough

216,673

London Borough of Islington

220,373

London Borough

190,918

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

146,154

London Borough

184,684

Brighton and Hove City

277,965

Unitary Authority

160,162

Capital punishment

The top four UK councils that issued the most parking fines last year all operate in London boroughs, making London a prime spot for getting caught out.

Newham Council in North London issued the most parking fines at nearly 258,000. This is particularly significant given the population size is only 358,645. This equates to 72% of Neham’s population receiving a fine, if one was issued to each person.

The most common conviction in Newham  was parking in a residents’ space without having or clearly displaying a valid permit (78,419). This was also the top conviction in Islington (73,204).

Urban warfare

Parking penalties tend to be more common in cities than suburban or rural areas because there’s less access and availability of private or free off road parking.

Only 29% of households in city/urban areas have access to off road parking, compared to 39% in suburbs and 55% in rural areas, according to government stats.

It’s also a criminal offence to park on the pavement in London, while no other area in England enforces this rule.

Top 5 tempered ticketing councils in 2023

Council

Population Size

Authority Type

No. of PCNs issued

Hart District Council (Hampshire)

100,910

Non-metropolitan District

3,070

Torfaen County Borough Council (Wales)

92,860

Unitary Authority

3,844

Eastleigh Borough Council

(Hampshire)

138,935

Non-metropolitan District

4,026

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council (Merseyside)

184,728

Metropolitan District

5,004

Flintshire County Council (Wales)

155,319

Unitary Authority

5,431

Having some heart

Hart District Council issued the fewest parking fines annually at only 3,070, almost 44,000 below the average.

All five councils that issued the fewest parking fines operate in more suburban areas. The top conviction types issued by these councils were specifically related to off-street pay and display parking rather than permits or road restrictions, highlighting the contrast between cities and suburbs.

The majority of PCNs issued by Hart Council were for parking without payment of the parking charge[5] (1,180) and the top conviction for both Eastleigh Council (1,970) and St Helens Council (1,818) was parking without a clear pay and display ticket.