Drivers are reportedly paying up to 40% more to park in council car parks across England, including in London, as more local authorities switch to app-only payment systems. Many councils have removed traditional pay and display machines, with app payments often being the only available option, particularly when machines are out of order.
These app payments can incur additional service fees, typically ranging from 10p to 30p. These fees are often not included in the advertised parking tariffs on car park signs and may not be clearly flagged within the apps until the payment stage.
Examples of these surcharges include a 30p mandatory service charge in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, which represents a 38% increase on an 80p tariff. In Chester, a 20p convenience fee added to a 50p tariff for two hours at Christleton Road car park results in a 40% price increase.
Parking apps tested by the Guardian, including RingGo, PayByPhone, JustPark, and MiPermit, reportedly did not clearly display service fees until the payment stage, with some requiring users to click on information symbols to view the additional cost.