The study exposes major variations in parking charges from council to council, and discrepancies in how motorists are charged within a council’s constituent districts.

62 per cent of local councils now issue parking permits to residents, although 15 per cent of this total (24 per cent overall) issue permits free of charge.

While the average cost of a parking permit in the UK is £60, some drivers pay over 10 times the national average. For instance, drivers in Birmingham and Manchester can pay £750 per year – the highest parking permit charges on record.

London boroughs featured heavily in the rankings of the most expensive councils for parking permits. Islington council can charge motorists up to £434 annually for a permit, with a £96 surcharge imposed on diesel models – although permits for electric cars are free.

However, permits in other boroughs are comparatively economical. Hackney, Lambeth and Brent motorists pay between £218 and £265 every year. The lowest charges on record were levied by South Ayrshire council – motorists pay just 50p every year.

Many councils penalise residents with more than one car, with Daventry council charging a modest £17 for a resident’s first parking permit, but £288 for each additional one. Hammersmith & Fulham impose a two car limit on residents, charging £60 for the first permit and £497 for a second.

The table below illustrates the UK councils with the highest parking permit fees.

[article_related_posts]