Most Expensive Residents' Parking Permits in the UK
Residents' parking permit costs vary across the UK. This ranking lists only councils with a verified publishable tariff, effective date and official source URL.
How this ranking is built
This ranking cites the highest published first-permit, 12-month price in each council's tariff table — not a combined household total, and not a second-or-third-permit surcharge. We only include councils that pass our full publish bar: a verified tariff, a printed effective date, and an official source URL together (see how we verify prices for the full method).
Out of 230 UK local authorities we track, 43 currently meet that bar and are eligible for this ranking. For medians across the full verified estate, see the UK parking permit Cost Index. This table was last rebuilt on 7 October 2026.
Most expensive councils (verified tariffs only)
| Rank | Council | Maximum Annual Cost | Date | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | London Borough of Islington | £854.90 | 2 January 2026 | Official tariff |
| #2 | City of Edinburgh Council | £765.30 | 29 May 2026 | Official tariff |
| #3 | London Borough of Hackney | £720.00 | 3 September 2026 | Official tariff |
| #4 | London Borough of Lambeth | £682.63 | 14 April 2025 | Official tariff |
| #5 | London Borough of Camden | £590.70 | 7 October 2026 | Official tariff |
| #6 | Brighton & Hove (Unitary) | £456.25 | 20 April 2026 | Official tariff |
| #7 | City of Westminster | £353.10 | 2 March 2026 | Official tariff |
| #8 | London Borough of Croydon | £342.00 | 3 September 2026 | Official tariff |
| #9 | London Borough of Brent | £341.00 | 3 September 2026 | Official tariff |
| #10 | London Borough of Ealing | £340.00 | 3 September 2026 | Official tariff |
Note: Maximum costs use the highest published first-permit 12-month price in each council's tariff table. Only isPublishable councils with a verified tariff triple are listed.
Limitations
- A council's rank here reflects its most expensive published band — usually the highest CO₂ band or a second-permit household surcharge is excluded, not included, per the first-permit rule above. It does not mean every driver in that council pays this much.
- Diesel-specific surcharges can push some councils' real diesel cost above the figure shown here, if that council's diesel treatment is a surcharge on top of the CO₂ band rather than baked into the band itself. See our diesel surcharge guide for the breakdown.
- Councils not yet meeting our publish bar (HOLD councils) are excluded entirely, even if their prices look high on their own site. This ranking is a floor on "most expensive among verified councils," not a claim about the UK's true maximum.