Parking Income by Region: The Top 10 UK Councils Cashing In

Despite the attention private parking laws have been receiving in the recent years, newly released data from the RAC foundation for motoring reveals that parking charges also provide a generous source of income for the local councils. In 2015-16, the total income from parking in England exceeded £1.5 billion; 4% higher than in 2014-15.

Per the report titled ‘Local Authority Parking Finances in England 2015-16’, it was found income from on-street tickets and permits totalled £483 million (up 2%.) A further £338 million came from on-street penalty charges (up 3%) and £682 million (up 5%) from off-street charges and penalties.

Penalty income in London was £235 million, the same as in 2014-15. In the rest of England, penalty income was £103 million, 11% higher – but only a third of that collected in London; reflecting the lower penalty tariffs outside of the capital. For example, the penalty for more serious parking offences in London can amount to £110 or £130, whereas, outside the main city, £70 is more typical.

Overall, parking income for English councils outside London amounted to an impressive £906 million; a 5% increase on 2014-15.

To determine parking income, three main sources were considered: meter income, residents’ and business permits, and penalties. Bearing this in mind, Click4reg.co.uk decided to analyse exactly which areas of the UK are receiving the highest income from parking charges and whether it has risen or fallen in the past year.

Coastal destination, Brighton and Hove landed the number one spot with the highest parking income, at £28.7 million: an increase of 6% and the 9th largest income in England – outside of London. This was closely followed by Nottingham, at £20.9 million with a relative increase of 6%.

In terms of rise and fall, councils with the largest increase in rates included Bristol (22%) and Milton Keynes (16%); whereas Leeds saw the biggest drop and decline, at -12%, followed by Birmingham and Manchester with -4% apiece.

The total parking income is equivalent to approximately £58 per year per person – much lower than the £1,400 that the average motorist will spend a year on fuel. Yet, it is safe to say parking charges are perhaps the most emotive issue amongst drivers.

Important DVLA information

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, or DVLA, sees all aspects of personalised number plates across the UK. Created in 1965, above all, the DVLA is integral in controlling passenger vehicles. From managing drivers and road tax, the DVLA protects our roads. As one of the highest profile government agencies today, our roads may look different without them. In short, we work with them daily. However, it is important to note that we do not affiliate with them.

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Number plate law

As responsible agents, we prioritise following the law. It is now mandatory for customers to provide a V948 certificate issued by the DVLA before purchasing a number plate to verify their entitlement. These are valuable assets and essential features of cars that criminals can duplicate to create a false identity, which is a common practice among them. Therefore, we advise visitors to exercise extra caution when obtaining cherished registrations.

Number plates must be road-legal and readable. It’s essential to keep the positioning and spacing of the characters the same. They Must use reflective materials with black characters on a white background for the front plate. Also for the rear plates, they must have black characters on a yellow background. They cannot have patterns.

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