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Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Motorists slapped with nearly 40,000 private parking charges a day as DVLA sold record 14.4m driver details last year
Drivers in Britain are being issued nearly 40,000 parking charges every day by private companies - and the DVLA is raking in almost £100,000 every 24 hours as a result, This is Money can exclusively reveal. Earlier this week the agency shared its full-year figures and it shows it received requests from private parking companies for a record 14,371,841 vehicle ownership details in 2024-25. This is an increase of 13 per cent on the year previous and 39,375 per day on average. Charges can be issued by private parking operators to drivers for overstaying time restrictions in car parks at supermarkets, shopping centres, business parks, motorway services and restaurant locations, with charges amounting to as much as £100. However, in order to issue parking charge notices by post, they must first request the vehicle owner's information - including their home addresses - from the DVLA at £2.50 a pop. Based on the record volume of requests received last year, the agency will have generated £35.9million from selling motorists' details to parking firms, we have calculated. The shocking volume of charges issued comes more than six years after the Government promised to introduce a Private Parking Code of Practice to help protect the nation's drivers from unscrupulous operators - but so far has failed to put stringent rules in place. Motoring charity the RAC Foundation said: 'Suggestions the Government should soft-pedal on the long-awaited regulation of this sector ring hollow in view of the skyrocketing numbers of keeper requests made to the DVLA so motorists can be pursued for alleged parking indiscretions.' Over the course of the fiscal year, a total of 184 parking firms requested vehicle keeper data from the DVLA, the data published this week shows. However, just five companies are responsible for nearly half of 14.4million total. The five parking companies which issued 46 per cent of charges between them last year were ParkingEye (2,300,360), Euro Car Parks (1,733,493), APCOA Parking (960,482), Horizon Parking (875,833) and Civil Enforcement Ltd (684,864). The data reflect the dramatic rise in companies taking over management of parking enforcement on privately owned land, especially at supermarkets, train stations, leisure facilities and business parks. These car parks are monitored by 24-hour automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. When an alleged infringement of the parking rules occurs, operators use the ANPR cameras to identify the vehicle. They are then able to chase the registered keeper by requesting the vehicle keeper's details from the DVLA's database. Each charge can be up to £100, meaning the daily total cost to drivers may be near £40million at the current rate. But private parking firms have been accused of using misleading and confusing signs, aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees. This is Money has previously campaigned for this practice to be made more transparent, as drivers cannot opt out of their details being sold this way. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak - when Local Government Minister - even wrote a piece for This is Money in March 2019, stating: The rogue operators are on their way out for good. A Bill to enable the introduction of a government-backed code for private parking companies received royal assent under the Conservative government in March 2019. The code was withdrawn in June 2022 after a legal challenge by parking companies. However, insiders tell us there will be a new consultation on the private parking code released shortly. We approached the British Parking Association (BPA) - which represents the parking and traffic management sector - regarding the ongoing rise in the number of parking charge notices being issued to motorists. A spokesman said: 'With over 45million vehicles on the road and more than 40million parking events occurring daily, the data consistently shows that only around 0.3 per cent of private land parking events result in a parking charge. 'In 2024, we introduced a new Single Code of Practice to bring greater clarity and consistency to private parking rules. Incidentally, this code of practice - introduced by the BPA and International Parking Community (IPC) - was dubbed 'watered down' by the AA, which accused it of falling short of the drastic overhaul requited. The BPA spokesman added that the 13 per cent increase is not attributed to a greater overall proportion of people getting parking charge notice at the same places, rather a 'year-on-year increase in sites where the possibility of getting a parking charge notice exists'. It said: 'We strongly encourage any motorist who believes they've received a charge in error to use the official appeals process.' This can be done via POPLA - an independent appeals process. Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, responded to the BPA's claim, saying 'business is clearly booming for private parking firms with an estimated 27 'tickets' being issued, on average, every minute of the day and night'. He told This is Money: 'Frankly it is now more urgent than ever that this government puts years and years of false starts behind it and gets on with implementing both a code of practice and an independent appeals service. 'Only then are we likely to see the number of PCNs starting to fall, which must be the success measure we'd all like to see.' RAC head of policy Simon Williams added: 'Sadly, our prediction earlier this year that private parking companies were on course to issue around 14.5million tickets to drivers for alleged contraventions has come true. 'This is more than double the number issued six years ago before the Government passed an Act of Parliament intended to clamp down on the dubious practices of too many private parking operators. 'Unfortunately, the government-backed code is still not in force which means drivers don't have the protection it was intended to provide. 'As it is, too many unfair tickets are still being handed out by operators who haven't been forced to adhere to stricter rules and too many drivers are still being hounded by debt collection companies. 'And, we still don't have a single, truly independent appeals service that drivers can go to if their initial appeal to the operator concerned is rejected.' Williams said the RAC 'does not believe' the BPA's argument that parking charge notices are only at record levels purely because they're managing more car parks. 'We urge the Government to ensure the official code is launched this year with all the protection it was intended to have so that we don't see these figures go even higher in the future.' Earlier this year, we revealed that drivers have been unfairly asked to pay hundreds of pounds in parking charges due to 'faulty' ticket machines. Euro Car Parks - the private parking firm that made the second highest volume of vehicle owner requests to the DVLA last year - has been accused of demanding drivers pay charges of £100 after its ticket machines incorrectly recorded vehicle registrations. Motorists using the machines enter their registration details when they purchase a ticket - a system used across the UK - but argue the machines are faulty and recording registrations wrong. This has left drivers being sent parking charge notices despite insisting they've followed the instructions, because there's no record of payment when their number plates are identified by cameras. Affected motorists told the PA news agency they are being 'bullied' by Euro Car Parks despite buying tickets to use Syston Town Square car park in Leicestershire. One said they would 'rather go to prison' than pay more money. A video posted online appears to show a woman typing her registration into the keypad on one of the car park's two machines, but different numbers and letters are displayed on the screen. The RAC described the situation as 'scandalous' and warned it has received reports of similar problems elsewhere. There is growing criticism of the private parking industry over claims of aggressive debt collection, misleading and confusing signage, and unreasonable fees. A spokesperson for the DVLA told us: 'We take our data protection responsibilities extremely seriously and have robust safeguards in place around the release of data to private parking companies. This includes the requirement for a parking firm to be a member of an Accredited Trade Association. 'Drivers choosing to park a vehicle on private land do so subject to the terms and conditions applying. Information about the registered keeper of a vehicle is provided by DVLA to enable landowners or their agents to pursue their legal rights and to address disputes. 'While a fee is charged for requesting vehicle keeper details, this is set to recover the cost of providing the information.' This is Money has also approached the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, which is responsible for off street parking issues.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Dartford Crossing charge to increase by 40 PER CENT in September - here's how much you'll have to pay
Drivers face an increase in pricing to use the Dartford Crossing from September in what motoring groups have dubbed a blatant 'revenue raiser'. With the charge first introduced in 2003, it was last upped a decade ago in 2014. However, from 1 September 2025, the cost will be going up again - and by 40 per cent. Lilian Greenwood, Parliamentary under-Secretary at the Department for Transport, confirmed this week that the existing one-off payment for cars, motorhomes and small minibuses of £2.50 will be increased to £3.50 from September to 'manage traffic'. All other road users will also see a 40 per cent hike, with coaches and vans levied £4.20 from September - up from £3 currently - and lorries facing an increase from £6 to £8.40. Motorcycles, moped and quad bikes will still be able to use the route free of charge. The crossing, which is made up of the Queen Elizabeth II bridge travelling southbound and the two Dartford Tunnels when heading north, connects Thurrock in Essex with Dartford in Kent and is used by more than 150,000 vehicles per day on average. The RAC Foundation said the suggestion that a 40 per cent increase is solely to manage traffic levels will 'raise more than a few eyebrows', while AA President Edmund King said the charge should have paid off construction costs for the bridge in 2003 but has been retained as a 'nice little earner which raised tens of millions of pounds every year'. In 2014, tollbooths were removed from the crossing and the online Dart Charge introduced to 'make journeys smoother'. A price hike was also implemented to 'help manage increased demand', though ministers claim that in the 11 years since, usage has grown by 7.5 per cent. With up to 180,000 vehicles using the crossing on the busiest days, Ms Greenwood attempted to defend the increase, saying traffic levels during peak times are 'well in excess of the crossing's design capacity'. She added that has been 'causing delays for drivers using the crossing, congestion and journey disruption to drivers on the M25 and a range of knock-on impacts for local communities'. Local residents who currently pay £20 a year to use the Dartford Crossing as many times as they want will have to pay £25 from when the charge increases on 1 September. Journeys made between the hours of 10pm and 6am will continue to be free. On average, 150,000 vehicles use the crossing daily. However, busier periods can see this figure rise to 180,000, which Greenwood said is 'well in excess of the crossing's design capacity' The crossing opened in three stages. The first west tunnel was completed in 1963 and - to cope with increasing traffic volumes - the second east tunnel arrived in 1980. The two tunnels are 1,430 metres long. The Queen Elizabeth Bridge was opened to traffic on 30 October 1991 to the tune of £120million. This included £30million for the approach roads. In 1999, the Government announced that tolling would end in 2003 - but it backtracked on this two years later, stating making it free would create more traffic. Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said Greenwood's claim that a 40 per cent increase in the charge is to manage traffic will 'raise more than a few eyebrows given that those making the crossing have little alternative but to do so'. He added: 'Most people will, understandably, and probably rightly, see this move as nothing else but a revenue raiser.' The AA's Edmund King commented: 'Long-distance travellers from the UK and Europe, freight, business and regional users have all been sold down the river by successive governments through the unnecessary perpetuation of tolls and lack of future capacity at Dartford. 'Tolling was supposed to pay for the Dartford Bridge and then end, which would have been in 2003. 'However, it became a nice little earner which raised tens of millions of pounds every year. 'Ramping up the tolls by an extra pound, when the majority of users have no alternative about the time and place they cross the Thames, is simply road charging and a bridge too far.' James Barwise, policy lead at the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said: 'Dartford remains the only practical Thames crossing for HGVs and coaches in the South East. 'It's therefore regrettable that the charge increase has been so significant. 'This adds to running costs at an already financially challenging time for many businesses in our sector (HGVs, coaches and vans) and ultimately pushes up prices for consumers.' The Government has given the go ahead for the Lower Thames Crossing, which it hopes will reducing congestion on the Dartford Crossing The new crossing will connect the A2 and M2 in Kent to the A13 and M25 in Essex via a 2.6-mile tunnel under the Thames, which would be the UK's longest road tunnel. Work on the project has been ongoing since 2009, and more than £800 million of taxpayers' money has been spent on planning. On Monday, Treasury minister Emma Reynolds suffered an embarrassing meltdown in a live interview when she struggled to answer basic questions about the new River Thames crossing. In a toe-curling moment during an interview with LBC, the economic secretary was unable to give the location or the total cost of the project. She also mistakenly referred to the existing crossing being the 'Dartmouth Tunnel', apparently confusing the Devon town with Dartford. 'I meant Dartford, excuse me, I had a very early morning,' the minister told LBC Radio. Asked by presenter Nick Ferrari about the proposed new crossing's location, Ms Reynolds frantically leafed through paperwork. 'You'll forgive me, I can't recall the landing zone,' she said.
The Independent
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Dartford Crossing fee rises are ‘revenue raiser', motoring groups claim
Motoring groups have criticised the decision to increase Dartford Crossing charges by 40%. Transport minister Lilian Greenwood announced fees for the crossing, which features a bridge and two tunnels connecting Thurrock in Essex with Dartford in Kent, will rise from September 1 to 'manage traffic'. Examples of increases for one-off payments in from £2.50 to £3.50 for cars, from £3 to £4.20 for coaches and vans, and from £6 to £8.40 for lorries. It is the first time prices have gone up since 2013. With up to 180,000 vehicles using the crossing on the busiest days, Ms Greenwood described the traffic levels as 'well in excess of the crossing's design capacity, causing delays for drivers using the crossing, congestion and journey disruption to drivers on the M25 and a range of knock-on impacts for local communities'. Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: 'The claim that this 40% increase in the charge is all about managing traffic will raise more than a few eyebrows given that those making the crossing have little alternative but to do so. 'Most people will, understandably, and probably rightly, see this move as nothing else but a revenue raiser.' Edmund King, AA president, said: 'Long-distance travellers from the UK and Europe, freight, business and regional users have all been sold down the river by successive governments through the unnecessary perpetuation of tolls and lack of future capacity at Dartford. 'Tolling was supposed to pay for the Dartford Bridge and then end, which would have been in 2003. 'However, it became a nice little earner which raised tens of millions of pounds every year. 'Ramping up the tolls by an extra pound, when the majority of users have no alternative about the time and place they cross the Thames, is simply road charging and a bridge too far.' James Barwise, Road Haulage Association (RHA) policy lead, said: 'Dartford remains the only practical Thames crossing for HGVs and coaches in the South East. 'It's therefore regrettable that the charge increase has been so significant. 'This adds to running costs at an already financially challenging time for many businesses in our sector (HGVs, coaches and vans) and ultimately pushes up prices for consumers.' The Government has given the go ahead for the Lower Thames Crossing, which it hopes will reducing congestion on the Dartford Crossing The new crossing will connect the A2 and M2 in Kent to the A13 and M25 in Essex via a 2.6-mile tunnel under the Thames, which would be the UK's longest road tunnel. Work on the project has been ongoing since 2009, and more than £800 million of taxpayers' money has been spent on planning.
Daily Mirror
15-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Brits overpaying for petrol and diesel urged to try hack and save '7p per litre'
UK motorists may be overpaying for petrol and diesel without even realising it. However, an expert has revealed the two-second check he swears by - which could save you hundreds of pounds a year Swathes of Brits may be getting ripped off when refuelling their vehicles - but a simple hack could save them more than £100 every year. An experienced full-time HGV driver has revealed a practical method for cutting down on fuel expenses, after realising just how much petrol and diesel prices can fluctuate. In a conversation with experts at Number 1 Plates, Malcolm Shaw explained how an easy-to-use app called PetrolPrices is key in saving him a small fortune when filling his tank. PetrolPrices is a fuel price comparison app that displays a live map showing petrol and diesel prices submitted by real drivers across the UK. The real-time data allows users to quickly compare prices at nearby forecourts and identify where the cheapest fuel is available on any given day. "It's the first thing I check before a long day," Malcom said. "The difference between the most expensive and cheapest petrol station can be 5, 6, even 7p a litre — and that's just in the same postcode." He says he regularly notices significant savings by simply choosing a petrol station just a short distance from his usual stop. "The other day I saw unleaded at 154.9 at one place, and 147.9 literally around the corner," the pro added. "For a full tank, that's over £4.50 saved, no effort." To put these savings into perspective, the RAC Foundation estimates that the average UK petrol car has a tank size of around 55 litres. Most drivers refuel approximately every 10 to 14 days, which means roughly 30 full refuels a year. So If you save £4.50 every time you fill up, the total annual savings could be in the region of £135. For households with multiple cars or those who commute longer distances, the amount saved could be considerably higher. Malcolm's message is straightforward — if you're not using a fuel price comparison app like PetrolPrices, you're probably paying more than you need to for fuel without even realising it. He advises: "It takes seconds to check and could save you hundreds. I think every driver should have it." Fuel remains one of the largest monthly expenses for many UK households. Apps like PetrolPrices prove that a small change in your routine can make a meaningful difference to your finances. By simply taking a moment to compare prices, drivers can avoid overpaying and keep more money in their pockets. In the current climate, where every penny counts, Malcolm's advice shows how technology can empower drivers to make smarter choices. Whether you're driving a heavy goods vehicle or a family car, using tools like PetrolPrices is a practical way to reduce fuel costs with little extra effort.
The Independent
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Fuel thefts up 49% in a year as repeat offenders are ‘pushing their luck'
Fuel thefts from UK filling stations have soared by 49% in a year, new figures suggest, leading an expert to claim repeat offenders are 'pushing their luck more than ever'. Forecourt owners attempted to trace offenders over 66,378 incidents between February and April, according to data obtained by motoring research charity the RAC Foundation and the PA news agency. That is up from 44,631 during the same period last year. The RAC Foundation said the rise could be caused by serial offenders increasing their theft rates as they believe police forces are under too much pressure elsewhere to focus on the issue. The figures relate to the number of requests made to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for vehicle keeper data in relation to fuel theft. Most of the incidents are likely to relate to drive-offs – also known as bilking – where someone fills up their vehicle with no intention of paying, and then leaves. A recent investigation by trade publication Forecourt Trader found £6.6 million of fuel was stolen in these incidents in the five years to the end of 2024. This is based on data provided by 33 UK police forces in response to freedom of information requests. RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said: 'It would be tempting to suspect that the cost-of-living crisis is pushing normally law-abiding people into committing this type of offence, but that would be an insult to the vast majority of people who continue to obey the law whatever their circumstances. 'Repeat criminals might well be pushing their luck more than ever because they believe other pressures on the police are such that they'll get away with it. 'Drive-offs might be seen as relatively low-level crimes in the grand scheme of things but they are corrosive to society, damaging to businesses and ultimately push up pump prices for law-abiding motorists and riders. ' More is being done to prevent these crimes through adoption of better surveillance systems and pay-at-pump options, but the numbers suggest the problem has been getting worse, with tens of thousands of drive-away fuel thefts each year. 'Those tempted to refuel without paying need to feel there is a real threat of being caught and punished.' Gordon Balmer, executive director of the Petrol Retailers Association, which represents independent fuel retailers as well as supermarket and motorway service station operators, said: 'It is deeply concerning to see this criminal activity on the rise and its impact on those effected. 'This is not a victimless crime and has a major impact on fuel retailers, many of which are family-run forecourts who are already struggling under current economic uncertainty.' The maximum penalty for drivers convicted of making off without payment, an offence under the Theft Act 1978, is two years in prison and/or an unlimited fine. The Crime and Policing Bill proposes removing legislation that means theft of goods from a shop valued at up to £200 are generally dealt with at a magistrates' court, rather than being an offence that can be heard in a magistrates' court or crown court. This would mean the maximum sentence would become seven years regardless of value. Existing legislation means offenders 'perceive they can get away with shop theft of goods to the value of £200 or less', according to the Ministry of Justice.
