Motorists in Birmingham and Manchester are paying three times as much as some London residents and more than 10 times the national average to park their cars as a result of a postcode lottery on residential parking permits.
A new study has found a huge variation in parking charges across the country – and even street by street.
Churchill’s car insurance arm found that many drivers in Birmingham and Manchester are paying the highest annual parking charges: a whopping £750 a year. In comparison, residents in the South Ayrshire council area are paying just 50p a year.
The study found that 62% of local councils now issue parking permits to residents, with the charges varying enormously. Just 15% of the councils that issue permits do so for free. Overall, the cost of a parking permit now averages almost £60 in the UK.
Car parking permits are relatively inexpensive in London boroughs. At £434 a year, Islington charges some drivers the highest fees in the capital. Car owners in the London boroughs of Hackney, Lambeth and Brent all pay between £218 and £265 – which is less than the amount paid by residents of Mole Valley, the area around Leatherhead, Surrey, who have to fork out £350 a year.
Churchill found that 38% of councils do not parking permits. Of those that do, emissions and/or engine size are increasing playing a part in their cost.
In Islington, permits for electric cars are free, whereas for cars with engines bigger than 2,751cc the permit costs £434. Councils have increasingly looked at charging diesel cars higher fees because of the damage they do to air quality. Islington imposes a £96 surcharge on diesel models.
The figures also suggest some councils are increasingly trying to cut down on the number of two-car households. Daventry district council charges £17 for the first parking permit, but £288 for each additional one. Hammersmith and Fulham charges £60 for the first car with a “greener vehicle” discount, but £497 for a second.
Steve Barrett, head of Churchill Car Insurance, said: “Parking controls and permits play a huge part in keeping roads safe and clear, as well as ensuring residents have priority over spaces surrounding their property. Our research shows that parking permit costs vary considerably across the UK, so we would urge motorists to factor this in when looking to purchase a new vehicle, especially if it is an additional vehicle.”
