Drivers have been warned not to get caught out by hidden supermarket car parking rules which could see them unfairly fined.
For most supermarket car parks, parking is free for an allotted time frame, however, for pay and display sites, the rules can be different, especially if it is close to a town centre.
To avoid the fees for on-street parking and public spaces, some drivers are resorting to using a supermarket bay instead.
When arriving at a supermarket car park, there will be signs that clearly state the time frame drivers can park there, which usually varies between a few hours.
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But if it isn’t a pay and display car park, drivers may still need to display a ticket to show how long they’ve been there.
Meanwhile, for parent and child parking, which is usually put closer to the shop entrance, there are also different rules.
A spokesperson for Avalon Motor Company said: “While it can seem ambiguous as to who can park there, we’re here to clear things up: you can park in a parent and child parking space if you’re entering the shop with a child that is under 12 years old.”
To use the family parking bay, children need to be under 12 years old, which is the age a child must be secured in the vehicle using child restraints, such as car seats.
If a driver goes into the shop without their child but leaves them with another adult in the car, they must use an ordinary parking space.
A report by Confused.com found that one in three drivers has ignored the signage and incorrectly parked in a parent and child bay, with Asda being the supermarket this happens most commonly at.
Due to parking in a supermarket being managed and enforced by the supermarket itself, or by a private parking management company, drivers who break this rule could be fined as much as £100.
Meanwhile, any vehicle displaying a valid Blue Badge can park in a disabled parking space, but if a driver is caught abusing this for the free parking space, they can be fined.
A recent report highlighted how more than two-thirds of drivers admitted they had witnessed someone misusing a disabled parking space.
Avalon added: “Supermarket car parks are usually managed by private parking companies, which means that they’re able to put Parking Charge Notices on cars that are parked outside of the rules.
“You can appeal the fine if you believe it has been wrongfully issued (and have proof), but car park operators could take you to court if you fail to pay the amount associated with the PCN.”
To be able to fine drivers, a private car parking firm must be a member of the British Parking Association or the Independent Parking Committee in order to request a driver’s address through the DVLA.
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Children need to be under 12-years-old in parent and child bays
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As well as parking time limits, most supermarket car parks enforce height restrictions on vehicles that could cause obstructions. The height barrier is usually set at around two metres tall and is installed to prevent access to larger vehicles.
