The number of parking fines issued in a year is set to rise to its highest-ever level as millions after millions of drivers were slapped with expensive penalties.
Fresh data forecasts that the number of private parking tickets issued to drivers in the year to the end of March will soar to 17 million.
The RAC predicts that when the Government statistics are released next month, the UK will see a new record-high number of tickets issued.
In just three months, car park management companies have sent more than 13 million parking charge notices, an average of 4.3 million tickets a quarter.
The RAC has suggested the current 14.4 million ticket record from 2024-2025 is likely to be surpassed by as much as three million.
Data from the organisation also found that drivers are often confused when they have been hit with a parking fine because of different terminology.
Half of drivers did not realise that there are significant differences between public parking fines and private parking charge notices.
While they have similar names and they look almost identical when stuck to a windscreen, the RAC identified massive misconceptions among motorists when dealing with parking tickets.
The RAC has suggested that the UK could see a record number of private parking fines issued
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More than four in 10 drivers thought there were differences between a Penalty Charge Notice issued by a council and a Parking Charge Notice sent out by a private car park management company.
Exactly half of drivers were confused because both are regularly referred to as PCNs, with 37 per cent being unsure of the differences.
While three-quarters correctly understood that a Penalty Charge Notice is issued by councils and a Parking Charge Notice is issued by private car park operators, 15 per cent falsely believed that it was the other way around.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Drivers are clearly confused by the PCN acronym, which is concerning as they are very different in terms of consequences.
“A PCN sent by the council is a fine and must be paid, whereas a Parking Charge Notice, issued by a private car park operator, is an invoice for alleged breach of contract.
“The fact both can be put on drivers’ windscreens in identical bright yellow colour doesn’t help, either. We suspect they’re deliberately designed to look very similar to a council penalty charge notice.”
Drivers have now called for name changes to be introduced to ensure all motorists understand the difference between the two types of fines.
An overwhelming 91 per cent of road users surveyed by the RAC said the term “Parking Charge Notice” was confusing as it shared the “PCN” acronym.
Motorists have called for a greater distinction between the names of parking fines
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PAPotential name changes have also gained support, including 31 per cent for Private Parking Charge (PCC), 19 per cent favouring a Private Car Park Charge (PCPC) and the same proportion backing a Charge for Private Parking (CPP).
Mr Williams highlighted that two private parking trade associations set industry PCNs at £100, although they can be cut by at least 40 per cent when paid early.
Council fines vary, but are generally lower outside of the capital, while drivers can save 50 per cent by paying the penalty early.
“This record figure says to us that something must be going badly awry, which is why the outcome of the Government’s latest Private Parking Code of Practice consultation can’t come soon enough. Drivers need to know they’re being treated fairly whenever they use a private car park,” the expert added.