Drivers ‘fed up’ with being wrongly fined by parking apps
Thu, 22 Jan 2026
Frustrating with car park apps is growing as almost half of drivers say they have been wrongly fined while using a parking app.
A quarter say it has happened “multiple times” – while just 6% say the fine they received was fair and warranted - according to new research by Uswitch.
Motorists now say they are becoming fed up with the apps, which claim to simplify parking, but are leading to drivers having to juggle multiple apps just to park their car.
Common complaints include problems downloading and registering for the apps, along with crashing apps and mobile signal issues.
Many drivers also find the app interfaces confusing and clunky.
Other issues include sneakily hidden admin or service fees, unclear location code or space selections, general payment issues and broader app-related delays and confusion.
Nearly a third of drivers say they are only using parking apps because they are forced to by the car park in question.
In contrast, just 14% say they use them for convenience reasons, such as paying or extending parking time remotely. 17% of motorists like apps because it saves time when parking.
There is hope on the horizon for fed up drivers, points out Uswitch, which commissioned the research into how they feel about parking apps. The National Parking Platform is coming soon, with major players such as RingGo, JustPark and PayByPhone already confirmed to feature.
The hope is that it will allow drivers to pay for parking across all participating car parks in one app, "ending the need to download multiple apps."
Anticipated features in the new app include upfront pricing with no hidden fees, alerts before parking expires and clear information on local restrictions and time limits – all functions that would help reduce the risk of drivers being unfairly fined.
Drivers would also like to see the National Parking Platform offer real-time parking space availability, one-tap payment and map views of nearby car parks.
In the meantime, Uswitch expert Felicity Ferguson has offered some top tips on how drivers can make the most of today’s parking apps.
These include double-checking location codes carefully before hitting ‘pay’, setting parking expiry reminder timers, saving details within the app and, if possible, preparing in advance by finding out which app is used in a new location ahead of time.
