CMA Investigates Private Parking Sector as 14.4 Million Tickets Issued Annually

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened a formal investigation into Euro Car Parks, one of the UK's largest private parking providers, over concerns about parking tickets issued to drivers queuing at petrol forecourts and the company's broader appeals process.^[1]

The investigation, announced on 16 July 2026, forms part of a wider regulatory crackdown on potentially unfair practices by private parking operators across the UK.^[1] The CMA is examining whether Euro Car Parks' practices breach consumer protection law, specifically focusing on whether it is fair for drivers to receive parking charges while queuing for or using petrol pumps and other forecourt services such as car washes.^[1]

The regulator said it wanted to ensure drivers are being treated fairly following complaints from motorists who feel they have been unjustly issued with parking tickets. The investigation is in the evidence gathering stage and is set to run until Spring 2027.^[1]

Scale of Private Parking Enforcement

Research by the RAC^[1] has suggested the number of parking tickets issued in locations including gyms, supermarkets, restaurants and retail parks more than doubled in six years, reaching 14.4 million.^[1]

Euro Car Parks operates more than 3,000 facilities across the UK.^[1] Motorists on social media have expressed frustration at receiving parking tickets for activities including charging electric vehicles, putting air in tyres while refuelling, and in cases where they claim no signage was visible with the facility's rules.^[1]

The CMA has identified several recurring complaints from motorists, highlighting problems including unclear signage, faulty mobile apps and broken ticket machines.^[1] The regulator also has its own concerns about the way some operators are handling appeals or attempting to make motorists pay additional fees on top of parking charges.^[1]

Sector-Wide Compliance Warning

In addition to the formal investigation into Euro Car Parks, the CMA has written to the private parking sector as a whole and issued warnings to some individual operators about their practices.^[1]

Emma Cochrane, the CMA's executive director of consumer protection, said receiving a parking ticket could be a stressful experience. "Costs are high and often unexpected which is difficult when people are budgeting carefully," she said.^[1]

"Parking companies must treat motorists fairly at all stages – and a clear and consistent appeals process must be at the heart of this. It's time for all private parking operators to comply with consumer law or risk action from the CMA," Cochrane added.^[1]

In its open letter to private parking operators, the CMA warned companies should review their terms and conditions and make changes if necessary to ensure they are complying with consumer law.^[1]

UK Company Register Context

While the CMA has not disclosed how many private parking operators are active in the UK market, the investigation highlights compliance risks for companies operating in the parking enforcement sector.

The UK company register^[2] shows 5,572,812 active companies across all sectors as of July 2026, with London accounting for 1,038,834 registered companies across all industries – the highest concentration of any UK city.^[2] Manchester follows with 100,628 companies, while Birmingham has 90,867.^[2]

Across the entire UK register, 109,891 companies are currently in liquidation status, while 4,814 are in administration, 862 in receivership, and 2,918 in voluntary arrangement.^[2] These figures represent economy-wide totals and are not specific to the parking enforcement industry.

Business support service activities, which include some parking-related operations under SIC code 82990, account for 221,567 active companies across the UK register – the fourth most common classification after real estate letting (440,258), buying and selling of real estate (271,419), and management consultancy (269,093).^[2]

Enforcement Implications

The CMA's investigation represents a significant regulatory moment for the private parking industry. The regulator has the power to take enforcement action against companies found to be breaching consumer protection law, including seeking court orders and financial penalties.

The timing of the investigation coincides with broader regulatory scrutiny across multiple sectors. On the same day the parking investigation was announced, media regulator Ofcom launched an investigation into whether TikTok is doing enough to keep children off its platform, examining the video-sharing app's age verification systems.^[3]

The CMA's focus on appeals processes suggests particular concern about whether motorists have adequate recourse when they believe a parking charge has been issued unfairly. The regulator's Spring 2027 timeline for the Euro Car Parks investigation indicates a thorough examination of the company's practices is underway.

For the thousands of private parking operators across the UK, the CMA's open letter serves as a clear warning that compliance with consumer law will face increased scrutiny. Companies operating parking enforcement at petrol stations, retail sites, and other commercial locations should review their terms and conditions, signage clarity, and appeals procedures to ensure they meet regulatory requirements.