Euro Car Parks fined a driver. The car was sitting in line for gas. That should never happen, yet it did.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has officially launched an investigation into one of Britain’s largest parking firms. Motorists have been screaming for change. Now the watchdog is listening.
Is Euro Car Parks breaking the law with queue fines?
The core issue is simple but infuriating. Why get penalized for waiting your turn at the pump? The CMA inquiry targets whether these fines breach consumer law. It’s not just about petrol stations either.
Emma Cochrane, the executive director for consumer protection at the CMA, wasn’t vague about this.
“Parking companies must treat motorists fairly at all reasons – and a clear and consistent appealsprocess must be at the heart of the this.”
She went further. A warning to the industry at large. Comply or face consequences. All private parking operators need to follow consumer law or risk direct action from the CMA.
No judgment has been made yet. Euro Car Parks hasn’t been ruled illegal as of this writing. Evidence gathering continues until Spring 2026. The firm runs over 3,000 locations across the UK. They have been contacted for comment but remain silent.
What the CMA is doing beyond one firm
The regulator isn’t stopping at Euro Car Parks. An open letter was sent to the Government. The goal? A review of broader industry abuses.
Key targets include:
- Car park grace periods (those tiny windows of free time when you pull in).
- Early payment discounts for fines.
- Appeal processes across the sector.
Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, sees this as progress. Finally. The CMA findings highlight issues the charity has pushed on for years. Drivers aren’t getting fair outcomes when they challenge PCNs (penalty charge notices). The RAC data backs this up.
In the 2024-25 period, firms issued nearly 14.5 million tickets. That is double the volume from just six years ago. The scale is massive.
Where is the new parking code?
The Government promised a review. They launched a consultation on the Private Parking Code of Practice. It ended in September 2019.
Silence since. No revised code.
The AA is angry. They accuse Downing Street of bending to pressure from parking firms. The draft proposals included controversial moves.
- Raising the maximum fine cap from £50 to £100.
- Keeping debt collection fees intact.
This isn’t about fairness. It looks like revenue generation for the industry.
The CMA investigation will take months. For drivers, the wait continues. Tickets pile up. Appeals drag on. Is it any surprise?
You pay. You protest. The system stays.
Until the new rules drop. They never seem to.
