Britain's councils have raked in more than £242million from parking permits in the past three years, new figures show.
In 2017, streets with permits generated £87.6 million in revenue, while last year, residential roads brought in an income of £77.2 million for cash-strapped councils.
And with budgets being cut, it may come as no surprise to learn an additional 2,500 permits have been introduced onto streets in the UK since 2016 - a 6% increase.
However, despite this rise in the number of permitted roads, parking permit applications have seen a significant fall.
Over two million applications were made to local councils in 2016, with this number falling to 1.6 million in 2017, a decrease of 22%. Last year saw even fewer applications made with only 1.4 million across the UK, a further 12% decrease.
But for those reliant on it, three million drivers have seen their permit price rise in the past year, with 42% of those affected feeling that the costs are too high.
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The cost of parking permits varies across the UK due to a range of factors.
In Lambeth, the price of a permit depends on vehicle emissions or engine size. For example, a vehicle that produces up to 100 CO2g/km will cost £35.84 per year in comparison to one that produces 225 CO2 g/km or 3000+ CC which would cost the owner £306.17 a year.
In Norwich, the cost of a permit depends on the length of a vehicle with prices ranging from £24.60 to £52.80 a year; and in Edinburgh permits depend on the street location and vehicle emissions with the council charging between £35.50 and £524 a year.
"For people who live in towns and cities, parking close to home can be a challenge, with access to available parking on many streets being in short supply. While the cost of permits can be frustrating for residents, they can make it significantly easier for people to park outside their own homes," explained Alex Borgnis, at Churchill, who carried out the report.
"Whether you have access to residential parking, own a permit, or are unable to park your vehicle outside your home, it is important to always take the necessary precautions to limit the chances of your car being stolen or damaged.
"We recommend that car owners should always double lock their vehicle, even if they are only leaving it for a few minutes; keep their car keys out of sight of doors and windows; never leave valuables visible inside the vehicle; and finally park in a well-lit, populated area whenever possible."
