Map reveals UK cities with the most parking fines issued & it’s NOT London – do YOU live in a nightmare zone?

A MAP reveals the UK cities with the most parking fines issued – and it’s not London.

New data from the experts at National Scrap Car has revealed the councils that issued the highest number of fines last year as a warning to drivers to pay extra attention to where they leave their vehicles. 

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Manchester City Council topped the rankings as the authority that issued the most parking fines throughout 2024, handing out over 460,000 tickets.

Although Manchester is a tourist hotspot, with two Premier League football teams, it may be surprising to many that the city issued more fines than every council in London.

The capital has strict Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ), public transport lanes and limited public parking offering. 

Dorry Potter, vehicle expert at National Scrap Car, said: “While we would expect to see high levels of fines in a large city like Manchester, it is interesting to see that it outperforms the capital in penalties. 

“The complexities of driving in London alongside its expansive public transport infrastructure could be a reason behind Manchester topping the list as motorists are less likely to attempt driving around areas they are unfamiliar with in the capital and thus not make risky parking decisions.”

The Arndale shopping centre car park, one of Manchester’s top shopping locations, was the spot where drivers picked up the most tickets, with 17,356 PCNs handed out.

All those fines accounted for over £14.6 million of revenue for the Manchester City Council over double what the second-highest fining council made.

With over 264,000 fines issued in 2024, the London borough of Waltham Forest Borough Council ranked as the authority handing out the second-highest number of fines making £6.3 million in revenue from its parking penalties. 

Like many boroughs in London, parking fines in Waltham Forest were notably high due to the area’s inclusion in a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ). 

CPZs are designated to prioritise parking for residents, businesses, and their visitors during specific times and days. Without a valid permit, parking in these zones can lead to Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs). 

Ealing Borough Council ranked third for councils that handed out the most parking fines, issuing  227,280 in 202, totalling £5.7 million in revenue.

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council came in fourth, issuing 213,059 that collected £5.2 million in revenue. Enfield Council completes the top five with 192,437 PCNs issued last year, making £4.4 million in revenue.

Ms Potter went on to say: “The findings from our study only highlight the increasing need for drivers to check parking rules and restrictions when parking in major cities especially as new legislation around low-emission zones is being rolled out across the country.”