Are motorway services charging for parking?

All motorway service operators offer free parking for 2 hours, but charge for parking after this period. This position has been the same for the last 40 years on the motorway. The reason for charging after two hours is that our main purpose is to provide rest and relaxation for long distance travellers.

Can you park in service stations overnight?

You may not have realised it yet, but many motorway services areas allow caravans to halt overnight for a reasonable charge. Various regulations apply to staying at a service area overnight; for example, the use of gas inside a caravan is forbidden due to fire regulations.

Can you stop overnight in motorway services?

How long can you stop at motorway services?

The two hour free period has been enshrined in government policy since 1979, on the basis that a motorway service area’s primary function is to cater for the immediate needs of motorists and that two hours was considered sufficient.

Can you sleep overnight in caravan at motorway services?

Why is it illegal to sleep in your car UK?

When is it illegal to sleep in your car? Under Section 4 and 5 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, you could get in to trouble for sleeping in your car. The act relates to driving or being in charge if you’re over the alcohol limit or under the influence of drugs. The penalties are harsh.

Do you have to pay for parking at motorway services?

Usually motorway services, such as Welcome Break, Moto, and RoadChef, offer free parking for two hours, as they are required to by law. However, should you inadvertently go over the two hour limit, it is almost certain that the keeper of the vehicle will receive a Parking Charge Notice through the post. Motorway services parking sign

Why did I get a parking charge notice?

We put it down to bad luck and thought that was the end of it. Until a week later when we received a Parking Charge Notice for £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. We’d overstayed our welcome at the services, where parking was limited to two hours. It certainly added insult to injury.

How long do you have to park at a motorway service station?

Specifically, parking for all vehicles must be provided free for at least two hours, with more detail given below. A significant portion of formal complaints regarding motorway service areas relate to parking. How can something so simple go so wrong? There appears to be a mismatch between what customers expect and what they are offered.

When do motorway services charge for car sharing?

While motorway services can make handy places for car-sharing or meetings, this is not meant to be their priority. There is no rule that charges must apply after two hours, but convention is that all operators charge after two or three hours (four hours is common in Ireland).