Key facts
- Drivers are paying up to 40% more for parking as councils switch to app-only payments.
- Many car park signs fail to mention additional app service fees.
- Fees typically range from 10p to 30p and are often not strongly flagged within apps.
- In Harrogate, a 30p service charge increased an 80p tariff by 38%.
- In Chester, a 20p convenience fee added 40% to a 50p tariff for two hours of parking.
- Extra fees of 10p to 30p per text can be added for booking confirmation and expiry alerts.
Drivers are facing significantly higher parking costs as more local authorities in England replace traditional pay-and-display machines with app-only payment systems. Many councils are encouraging app use to reduce costs associated with maintaining ticket machines, but the convenience often comes with additional service or convenience fees that are not always clearly advertised on parking signs. These surcharges, typically ranging from 10p to 30p, can increase the overall cost of parking by up to 40%.
Investigations by The Guardian revealed that many parking apps do not clearly display these extra fees until the final payment stage, and sometimes require users to click on information icons to find the details. For example, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, a 30p service charge on an 80p tariff represented a 38% increase. Similarly, in Chester, a 20p convenience fee added 40% to the cost of two hours of parking.
Some apps also add further fees for text alerts regarding booking confirmations and expiry. According to advertising standards, quoted prices should include all mandatory fees. While drivers enter a contract with the council, they may also enter a separate contract with the app provider, meaning these fees might not legally need to be displayed on council signs. The fees vary by location and app provider, making it difficult for drivers to predict the total cost.
App providers like RingGo and PayByPhone stated that their fees are displayed within the app before payment confirmation. JustPark claimed that mandatory fees are included in the quoted price, with the 'i' icon showing how the total price is composed. MiPermit listed its fee above the final price. The Local Government Association has placed the onus on app providers to ensure transparency, while the Department for Transport stated that drivers should be able to see all charges clearly before payment.