The UK government has introduced a new “one app fits all” system for parking payments, aiming to eliminate the hassle drivers face when forced to download different apps for each car park.
According to the Department for Transport, motorists will soon be able to use any major parking app to pay at participating car parks, regardless of the app originally associated with the site.
This system is part of the National Parking Platform (NPP), which has completed its trial phase and will now be managed by the British Parking Association (BPA), an industry body representing the parking sector. The platform will be rolled out nationally, though participation is optional for both app providers and car park operators.
The RAC welcomed the initiative but stressed that its impact depends on widespread adoption.
“Paying to park should be one of the simplest tasks for any driver, but it has become needlessly complicated,” said Rod Dennis, RAC’s senior policy officer. “If the National Parking Platform removes that frustration, it’s a step in the right direction. The challenge now is ensuring as many car park operators as possible join the scheme.”
With the NPP in place, a driver using an app like JustPark could pay at a car park that previously only accepted payments through Ringo, provided both are part of the platform.
The government says this approach will eliminate the current “scramble” to download multiple apps and offer drivers a more streamlined, flexible parking experience.
During its pilot phase, the NPP operated across 10 local authorities in England and facilitated over half a million transactions. The government confirmed that more councils will be added soon, and that the scheme is open to both public and private parking providers throughout the UK.
Andrew Pester, Chief Executive of the BPA, praised the milestone: “Today’s announcement is the culmination of six years of hard work by the parking sector to simplify the payment process. We’ve supported the NPP from day one and are excited to take it forward.”
Despite the BPA taking over operational costs from the government, it assured drivers that this shift will not lead to higher parking fees. “In fact, we believe it will encourage greater competition among providers,” a BPA spokesperson told BBC News. “We do not expect any increase in prices.”
