The Competition and Markets Authority opened an investigation into Euro Car Parks on 16 July 2026 and wrote to the wider private parking sector over unfair appeals and extra charges. Private operators issued around 14.4 million parking tickets in 2024/25, more than double the number issued six years earlier.
TL;DR · LAST REVIEWED 16 July 2026
- CMA opened an investigation into Euro Car Parks on 16 July 2026 over appeals handling and forecourt charges.
- Private operators issued around 14.4 million parking tickets in 2024/25, more than double six years ago.
- The CMA wrote to other private parking operators and trade associations over appeals and extra fees.
- Recommendations sent to government on strengthening the private parking Code of Practice.
- Drivers have the right to appeal within 14 days to keep the Early Payment Discount.
KEY FACTS
- The CMA opened a formal investigation into Euro Car Parks on 16 July 2026, examining forecourt parking charges and its wider appeals process; no conclusions have been reached.
- Private parking operators issued around 14.4 million parking tickets in 2024/25, more than double the number issued six years earlier, based on RAC-cited research.
- The CMA wrote to other private parking operators and trade associations setting out concerns about appeals handling and additional fees charged on top of parking charges.
- The CMA sent recommendations to government on the sector's new Code of Practice, including clearer driver rights information and fairer, more consistent appeals processes.
- Under the new consumer protection regime, the CMA can fine a company up to 10% of its global turnover, or £300,000 if higher.
- Euro Car Parks was previously issued a £473,000 administrative penalty for failing to comply with a CMA information notice; that penalty is under appeal and is separate from this investigation.
The CMA has reached no conclusions about whether Euro Car Parks has broken consumer protection law. The investigation is at an early stage.
What the CMA announced
The Competition and Markets Authority announced a package of measures on 16 July 2026 aimed at improving how private parking operators treat drivers, particularly when charges are issued and appealed. The regulator said it has particular concerns about the way some operators handle appeals and about additional fees added on top of the original parking charge when operators try to recover unpaid amounts.
The package includes opening a formal investigation into Euro Car Parks, writing to other private parking operators and their trade associations, and sending recommendations to government on strengthening the sector's Code of Practice. The CMA also published a video and a set of tips to help drivers avoid common pitfalls.
Private parking operators issued around 14.4 million parking tickets in 2024/25 at locations including gyms, supermarkets, restaurants and retail parks, more than double the number issued six years earlier, based on research the CMA cited from the RAC.
The Euro Car Parks investigation
The CMA has opened an investigation into Euro Car Parks to examine whether its practices at petrol station forecourts, and its wider handling of appeals, may breach consumer protection law. The investigation will look specifically at 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, alongside a broader look at the company's appeals processes across both petrol stations and car parks.
The CMA said it is at the beginning of its investigation and has reached no conclusions about whether Euro Car Parks has broken the law. Euro Car Parks was previously issued an administrative penalty of £473,000 for failing to comply with a CMA information notice; that penalty is under appeal and relates only to the company's initial failure to respond to the notice, not to any alleged breach of consumer protection law.
What the CMA is asking of the wider sector
Beyond the Euro Car Parks investigation, the CMA has written to other private parking operators setting out concerns about their appeals processes and about additional charges applied when operators attempt to recover unpaid parking charges. It has also written to trade associations covering the sector, setting out steps that can be taken now to improve appeals handling and communication with motorists.
The CMA has sent recommendations to government on the private parking sector's proposed new Code of Practice. These include requiring parking firms to make drivers aware of their rights, improving appeals processes so they are fair and consistent, and reviewing the rules around consideration periods before charges are pursued. Under the current consumer protection regime, the CMA can fine a company up to 10% of its global turnover, or £300,000 where that figure is higher, if it finds a breach of the law.
Your rights if you get a parking charge notice
The CMA's published tips set out several practical points for drivers. Car parks can have different rules even within the same chain, so it is worth checking the signage at each location rather than assuming the rules are the same everywhere. Free parking for customers is not automatic at many supermarkets, gyms and restaurants; some require drivers to register a vehicle or scan a receipt to qualify.
If something goes wrong, such as a broken payment machine or a car breaking down, keeping photographic evidence, receipts and payment confirmations can support an appeal later. Drivers who want to dispute a parking charge should act within 14 days to remain eligible for the Early Payment Discount, whether they are appealing or simply paying early. Every driver has the right to appeal a parking charge notice, and a charge should be cancelled where there is evidence of an exempting circumstance, or reduced to £20 in some cases, such as where the correct fee was paid but a vehicle registration was mistyped.
What happens next
The CMA's investigation into Euro Car Parks is ongoing, and the regulator has set no public timeline for its conclusion. The recommendations sent to government on the Code of Practice will feed into wider reform of how the private parking sector is regulated, though any changes to the Code itself are a matter for government and industry rather than the CMA directly. Drivers with an existing or upcoming parking charge can use the CMA's published tips and existing appeal routes such as POPLA in the meantime.
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Frequently asked questions
Has private parking law changed?
No. The CMA has opened an investigation and issued recommendations, but no new law or Code of Practice has been introduced. Existing appeal rights and rules continue to apply.
What is the CMA investigating at Euro Car Parks?
Whether its practices at petrol station forecourts and its wider handling of appeals may breach consumer protection law. The investigation covers both petrol station and car park sites. The CMA has reached no conclusions.
How many days do I have to appeal a parking charge?
You should act within 14 days to appeal or to pay early and keep the Early Payment Discount, according to the CMA's published tips.
Can a parking charge be reduced or cancelled?
Yes. A charge should be cancelled where you have evidence of an exempting circumstance, such as an emergency outside your control, or reduced to £20 in some cases, for example if you paid but mistyped your vehicle registration.
What can the CMA do if a parking operator breaks the law?
Under the new consumer protection regime, the CMA can fine a company up to 10% of its global turnover, or £300,000 where that is higher.
SOURCES
- GOV.UK: CMA press release on private parking action – accessed 16 July 2026
- GOV.UK: CMA open letter to the private parking sector – accessed 16 July 2026
- GOV.UK: CMA letter to government on private parking – accessed 16 July 2026
