A 10 minute parking grace period is something that is now being offered to motorists before they are issued with a parking fine. This means that even if you overstay by a couple of minutes through no fault of your own you can avoid that annoying parking fine.
Although the 10 minute grace period has been in force on council car parks since 2015 it is still voluntary for private car park owners. However, the 10 minute parking grace period will form part of a new code of practice published by the British Parking Association, and International Parking Community.
While the two trade bodies have indicated that they would like the new code to be introduced by October, private parking companies are being allowed a “period of transition” and there will only be a requirement for them to “fully” meet the new standards by December 2026.
How Does the 10 Minute Parking Ticket Grace Period Work
The 10 minute grace period will begin immediately after your permitted period of parking ends. So if you have parked for an hour you should be given an extra 10 minutes to exit the car park before you are issued with a parking charge notice. One thing to be aware of is that the 10 minute grace period for parking if the period you parked for is under 30 minutes or where parking is by permit only or there is no parking allowed.
Why are Car Park Companies Introducing the 10 minute Parking Grace Period
For many years motoring organisations have campaigned saying that imposing a fine of say £60 for anyone going over their permitted parking time was extremely unfair. While certain local authorities were found to take a balanced view when drivers had good reasons for being a few minutes over time, many simply imposed the charge notice.
This made it a bit of a lottery when it came to whether or not you are likely to get a parking ticket. However, since 2015 when the government brought in the 10 minute grace period for parking on council properties, drivers have at least been given that small leeway. The hope is that with the implementation of the new code of practice, anyone parking on privately run car parks will be afforded the same consideration.
What are the Differences Between a Grace Period and a Consideration period for Parking
So, we have ascertained that the grace period is the amount of time you are allowed to get back to your car if you slightly overstay your permitted period of parking. But what is a consideration period for parking ? Under the new code of practice from the British Parking Association and International Parking community the consideration period, which should be a minimum 5 minutes, is the time given to motorists to allow them to read the signage, check out the charges and find a parking space. The consideration period begins when a motorist enters the car park. As long as you leave within this consideration period you should not be charged for parking.
Call Parking Patrol for all your Parking Consultancy Services
As an experienced car park management company, our team is fully conversant with all aspects of parking legislation, and as such when you employ our services you can be sure any parking space is being operated within the parameters of the new codes of practice. We are specialists when it comes to delivering effective parking solutions for business owners and property managers.
If you feel you need any information about the 10 minute grace period parking law in the UK or do not fully understand consideration periods, get in touch with our team of industry experts today. Whether you’re aiming to provide convenient and accessible parking for customers, visitors, or the general public, we’re here to help. Contact our team at 03707 203 807, or simply fill out our easy contact form.
