Watch out for parking fines! Where in the UK are you most likely to get caught?

Have you ever got a parking ticket and had to pay a big fine? You’re not alone. And some places in the UK are much worse for parking fines than others, according to research by Uswitch car insurance.  

The data from the comparison website shows UK councils handed out 46,662 parking fines last year, with motorising forking out up to £130 if they fail to pay on time.

The four councils that issued the most parking fines were all located in London – Newham, Lewisham, Islington, and Kensington & Chelsea. Newham Council issued 257,788 tickets alone – equating to 72% of all residents receiving a fine.

The most common eviction in Newham was parking in a residents’ space without having displayed a valid permit (78,419). Other top reasons for getting a fine were parking after your ticket had expired and parking on the pavement (which is against the law in London).

Parking penalties were more common in cities than suburban and rural areas because there is less private or free off-road parking. Only 29% of households in cities or urban areas had access to off-road parking, compared to 39% of those living in the suburbs and 55% in rural areas.

Hart District Council in Hampshire issued the fewest parking fines with just 3,070 fines recorded – almost 44,000 below the average. Hart was followed by Eastleigh (4,026) and St Helen’s (5,004).

According to Leoni Moninska, insurance expert at Uswith car insurance, there are a number of things you can do to avoid getting a parking fine, including:

• Always check for signs that tell you the parking rules - this will help you stay on the right side of the law.

• Do your research before you go somewhere new. Use websites like Parkopedia to find out about parking options and costs.

• Keep your parking ticket safe and set an alarm to remind you when your time is nearly up.

• Make sure you know the parking laws in the Highway Code, so you don't get caught out.