DVLA driver data request rise suggests record year for parking fines

Requests to the DVLA from car park management companies for vehicle keeper details hit 7.2 million in the first half of the last financial year – the equivalent of 41,000 a day and a 12% increase on the same period 12 months before (6.5m).

The new figures, from the RAC, suggest that private parking firms are on course to issue a record 14.5m tickets to drivers in a year, with just five companies responsible for almost half.

The RAC blames the withdrawal of the Private Parking Code of Practice in 2022, following legal challenges from private parking and debt recovery companies. 

This, it says, has meant the behaviour of private parking companies has not been scrutinised as intended by the Act, which may be part of the reason why so many more parking charge notices have been issued. 

However, in response, the International Parking Community (IPC) argued that the number of parking charges issued is directly linked to the 475% increase in land being professionally managed since 2012. 

The trade body argues that, with DVLA data showing registered vehicles have increased 20.8% since 2012, more land under management combined with more vehicles on the roads naturally leads to more enforcement.

Furthermore, it says that more than a third (35%) of all parking charges are issued to repeat offenders, highlighting a persistent pattern of non-compliance among a minority of motorists.

The British Parking Association and the International Parking Community published their own code of practice in October 2024.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Unfortunately, despite legislation being passed more than five years ago to prevent poor industry conduct, the Private Parking Code of Practice has never come into force due to a legal challenge. 

“Eight-in-10 drivers we surveyed were frustrated by this, but we know the Government is committed to getting the official code across the line. 

“We believe this needs to happen as quickly as possible, particularly as the number of parking charge notices issued has more than doubled since the law was passed to introduce the code in 2019.”

Further analysis of the DVLA data shows that just five companies are responsible for making nearly half (45%) of the 7.2m requests to the DVLA for vehicle keeper details in the first two quarters of the 2024-25 financial year. 

These are ParkingEye (1.1m), Euro Car Parks (891,600), Horizon Parking (439,896), Smart Parking (423,809) and APCOA Parking (367,465). 

ParkingEye was responsible for 16% of the total, and just 10 companies made nearly two-thirds (64% – 4.6m) of all the requests to the DVLA. Each request costs £2.50 to make.

To help drivers, the RAC has published a guide on how to appeal both private parking charge notices and penalty charge notices issued by councils. 

Alternatively, the IPC recommends recommends its own parking fine advice website. 

“If anyone feels they’ve been wrongly told to pay £100 by a car park management company, they should challenge it,” continued Williams. 

“With firms prone to sending debt collection letters after 28 days and then threatening court action, we realise the process can be pretty daunting, which is why we’ve published a step-by-step guide on what to do at each stage. 

“We hope this will help drivers get unjustified parking charge notices cancelled.”