Motorists issued record-breaking penalties at Christmas as local authorities double down on fines
Drivers across the UK have been slapped with more than 386,000 parking fines during December over the last three years, new research has revealed.
Figures published today show councils raked in more than £14million from festive parking enforcement between 2022 and 2024, as shoppers battled crowded high streets and packed car parks in the run-up to Christmas.
The data, obtained through Freedom of Information requests by Marshall Motor Group, showed councils made an average of £154,000 a day during December alone.
December has become an increasingly difficult month for motorists, with busy town centres, limited parking spaces and confusing restrictions making it easier to slip up.
The number of Penalty Charge Notices issued in December has risen sharply year on year. In December 2022, councils handed out 86,888 parking fines.
But this number jumped to 114,098 in December 2023, marking an increase of more than 31 per cent. By December 2024, the figure had climbed again to 131,100 fines, meaning more than 350 drivers were penalised every single day.
According to reports, in December 2022, councils collected over £3.8million from parking penalties, but this rose to £5million the following year and increased again to £5.4million last December.
The figures highlight the growing financial pressure on drivers at one of the most expensive times of the year.
Local authorities have issued roughly 386,000 parking fines in December over the last three years
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GETTYManchester City Council issued by far the most fines, handing out more than 109,000 parking penalties during December across the three years.
More shockingly, the total was almost three times higher than Lambeth Borough Council, which came second with 37,426 fines.
Leicester City Council came in third with 25,834 penalties, and this was followed closely by Liverpool City Council on 25,507.
Ealing Borough Council issued 24,609 fines, while Bristol and Barnet councils recorded almost identical totals of just over 23,000 each. Bradford City Council, Newcastle upon Tyne City Council and Enfield Council rounded out the top 10.
Councils were found to make an average of £154,000 a day during December alone
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GETTYWhile London boroughs featured heavily, the data showed drivers outside the capital were just as likely to be caught out, with major cities like Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol and Bradford all seeing large numbers of fines.
Where councils provided more detailed information, the data showed parking fines have been concentrated around town centres, shopping streets and busy car parks — exactly where Christmas shoppers are most likely to be.
In Manchester, the Arndale Car Park was a major hotspot, issuing more than 2,300 fines in December 2024 alone. Similar numbers were recorded in the two previous years, despite parking costing £3.80 an hour.
In Ealing, The Broadway saw 579 fines last December, up from 527 the year before. Leicester’s London Road also saw a steady rise, with 526 penalties issued in December 2024 compared with 457 in 2022.
The report found parking penalties ramped up over the Christmas period
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GETTYEnfield‘s Green Lanes experienced one of the sharpest increases, with December fines rising from 171 in 2022 to 397 last year.
Ben Welham, motoring expert at Marshall Motor Group, warned drivers to be extra careful during the festive period to avoid getting slapped with unnecessary fines.
He said: “December is one of the busiest months on the roads and in town centres, and these figures show just how quickly small parking mistakes can become costly.
“Drivers should take extra care to check signage, restrictions and payment rules, particularly in high-footfall areas like shopping streets and major car parks.”
