Drivers shouldn’t be forced to use mobile apps to pay for parking, according to the RAC — and it’s not hard to see why.
A new RAC survey found that three-quarters of drivers have struggled with parking apps, with issues ranging from poor phone signal to apps that fail to recognise the car park they’re in. What was meant to make parking easier has, for many, become yet another source of stress.
The motoring group says paying by app should never be the only option — especially for older drivers or anyone without a smartphone. While digital tools can be convenient, they shouldn’t leave people unable to park simply because of a lack of signal, battery or confidence with technology.
As RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis puts it: “No-one should be forced to use a mobile app when parking if they don’t want to.”
Tech meant to make life easier — but not for everyone
In theory, parking apps are supposed to remove hassle. Instead of hunting for coins or queuing at a ticket machine, you can pay in seconds from your phone. In practice, it doesn’t always work like that. Apps crash. Car parks aren’t recognised. Some drivers only discover a payment hasn’t gone through when a fine drops through the letterbox.
According to the RAC, drivers should have at least two ways to pay — ideally including a card or contactless option alongside digital payments. But many car parks across the country have removed machines altogether, leaving only an app or a phone number as payment options.
This might seem unproblematic to tech-savvy drivers, but for many others it’s a real barrier. One in four drivers over 75 told the RAC they couldn’t figure out how to use a parking app at all. Even younger drivers can get caught out when a weak signal prevents the app from loading.
A national fix in sight?
The government’s National Parking Platform (NPP) aims to simplify things by letting drivers use one app across participating car parks — instead of downloading a new one for every town.
Run on a not-for-profit basis by the British Parking Association, the NPP has been trialled in several local authorities and is now being rolled out nationally. The goal is to create a single, joined-up system where drivers can choose their preferred app and still pay wherever they park. But it will only work if enough local authorities and operators sign up.
And that’s the sticking point. Participation is voluntary, meaning local councils and private operators can decide whether to join. If too many opt out, the patchwork problem continues — and so do the frustrations.
Many motorists say the fix doesn’t go far enough. For older or disabled drivers, even one national app won’t help if they find digital payments stressful. For those in rural areas with patchy mobile coverage, no amount of tech integration can make up for a missing signal.
In some cases, failed payments have led to unfair fines, leaving drivers to prove after the fact that they did try to pay. The RAC recommends taking screenshots of error messages or failed login attempts as evidence if you run into trouble.
When parking tech goes wrong — know your rights
The RAC’s warning adds to a growing frustration among drivers over unfair or unclear parking practices.
We recently covered how one driver, known online as Zoë Bread, successfully overturned a Manchester parking fine after highlighting confusing signage through social media. Her persistence — and her viral TikTok campaign — forced Manchester City Council to review the street’s signs and cancel similar fines.
Her story struck a chord with thousands of motorists who’ve faced the same problem: unfair or confusing penalties caused by poor communication and broken systems.
If you’ve received a fine linked to poor signage, faulty machines or a failed app, you may have grounds to appeal or challenge the penalty. Our guide on how to appeal a parking fine explains the different types of fines, your rights, and when legal action may be possible.
Technology should be a choice, not a trap
The debate over parking apps is part of a bigger issue: how digital systems are reshaping everyday life. Across the UK, more services are moving online — from banking and healthcare to travel and parking — but not everyone can keep up.
For millions of people, digital-only systems create barriers rather than convenience. They rely on smartphones, data coverage and user confidence that not everyone has. And when those systems fail, it’s often the consumer who pays the price. Parking is one example, but it reflects a wider need for accessible, fair and flexible technology.
In short, digital innovation should expand choice, not remove it.
