- Five councils have banned vehicles over 5 metres from using public car parks
- This outlaws cars including the Mercedes S-Class, Range Rover, Tesla Model S
- Some 91% of councils also said they have no plans to increase parking bay sizes
If you drive a particularly big car, you could be fined for parking in some public car parks.
That’s because five local councils have introduced length restrictions on vehicles using their parking facilities, with most setting a limit at 5 metres, which is shorter than a Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
And more than nine in ten councils have said they have no intention of making their parking bays bigger to accommodate today’s much larger vehicles, which are said to be growing 1cm wider every two years.
Automotive title, Autocar, sent Freedom of Information request to every UK councils to inquire about any future plans to expand the size of parking spaces, given that regulations around the minimum dimensions of an off-street bay haven’t changed for over 50 years.
Since the 1970s, the smallest a car parking space can be is 2.4 metres wide and 4.8 metres long.
However, the size of passenger cars has grown dramatically since.
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This is primarily a result of a combination of both modern car design and stricter safety standards, including the requirement for larger crumple zones and more reinforcements to protect drivers and passengers in crashes.
In fact, the study revealed that seven out of the top 10 best-selling car brands in the UK last year produce at least one car that exceeds this length.
Yet 91.8 per cent of the 287 authorities that responded to Autocar’s request said they have no intention of increasing the size of their council-run car parking spaces to accommodate today’s much larger motors.
To make matters worse, five UK councils already impose maximum length restrictions on vehicles, putting the drivers of many big-selling models at risk of receiving fines when using council-run facilities.
Five councils in total said they expressly ban cars from parking in their car parks if they exceed a specific length.
Wokingham, South Hams, Broadland and South Norfolk, and West Devon all have in place a restriction of 5 metres.
Cars including the Audi A8 and Kia’s electric EV9 SUV exceed this restriction and are therefore deemed ‘unparkable’, as is the latest Range Rover and both the Tesla Model S and Model X EVs.
Thurrock council imposes a slightly more lenient length restriction of 5.35 metres, which means owners of BMW’s 7 Series (5,319mm) and Land Rover’s Defender 130 (5,358mm) will be fined if they use these authority-ran car parks.
Height and weight restrictions are also in place in these and other council-operated car parks.
Why are cars getting bigger?
With hardly any councils planning to increase the size of their parking bays, the study says drivers of the largest motors – especially hulking SUVs – will find it increasingly hard to park without risking punishment if the current trend of growing car dimensions continues.
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Based on a sample of 27 popular models on sale both in 2018 and today, the report found that the average increase in vehicle length is 3.8 inches (97.6mm).
The car in the sample which has grown the most is the Peugeot 208, which is nearly 580mm (22.8in) longer than it was in 2018.
The luxury BMW 7 Series – which starts from just over £100,000 – has grown nearly a foot longer, meaning it is too long for the vast majority of parking spaces in the UK.
A similar study carried out earlier this year by green campaign group, Transport & Environment, found that the average new car sold in the UK is getting 1cm wider biannually.
As a result, many SUVs and larger family-friendly models are wider than kerb-side on-street parking spaces in London – with T&E claiming they are bullying other transport users, especially cyclists, off the road.
Mark Tisshaw, editor of Autocar Business, said: ‘We know that cars are getting longer and wider, typically due to ever-stricter crash and safety legislation they must meet, and these figures show too few councils are adapting to this new reality.
‘Fewer than one in 10 of them plan to increase the size of their parking bays and, in some regions, you run the risk of receiving a fine for parking a car the size of a BMW 7 Series.
‘Space sizes should reflect the UK vehicle parc, so motorists can park without fear of damaging other vehicles or being fined for overstepping a bay.
‘The fact it’s almost impossible to find the parking restrictions online – with drivers often forced to read the small print on physical signage at the location to understand the precise rules – only adds to the difficulties faced by motorists.’
Since 2018, Autocar found that councils have issued more than 357,000 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for cars parked outside marked bays since 2018, raking in more than £8million over this period.
Mike Hawes, chief executive at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which represents car makers in Britain, has defended the increasing size of the latest vehicles.
He told This is Money that new cars are getting bigger in order to improve safety and to allow for cleaner powertrains to be used to slash emissions.
‘Modern cars are packed with advanced safety technology that protects passengers and other road users, from airbags to crumple zones, all of which contribute to vehicles being larger than before,’ Mr Hawes said.
‘Cars also increasingly accommodate electric batteries and motors rather than just engines which can affect size and shape.
‘Ultimately, however, it is consumers that influence vehicle design with manufacturers responding to market tastes and preferences and ensuring that all cars – irrespective of size and body type – meet relevant regulations.’
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Robert Johnson is a UK-based business writer specializing in finance and entrepreneurship. With an eye for market trends and a keen interest in the corporate world, he offers readers valuable insights into business developments.
