Andy Burnham has outlined new rules that would give drivers five minutes to decide whether to park in a private car park and 10 minutes to leave after their session ends before facing a charge.
The proposed official code would apply in England, Scotland and Wales. It is due to be laid in parliament on Tuesday, but when it will take effect remains unclear. The government plans to keep the current industry maximum parking charge of £100.
Consumer group Which? said the rules appeared to fall short of what drivers need and had sought a £50 cap. The RAC reported that the number of tickets issued by private firms rose 17% to a record 16.9 million in 2025-26.
An earlier official code was withdrawn in 2022 after legal challenges by parking firms. Ministers say they want the new code in force as soon as possible.
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