Often a supermarket car park is one of the most convenient places to park, not least when it’s entirely empty and you don’t have to hunt for a space.
But motorists have been warned that they face being stung with huge penalties if they make one crucial mistake.
Parking in a supermarket car park outside the store’s opening hours can land drivers with a fine of up to £100.
This applies even if the car park is completely empty and has no barriers blocking entry or exit.
Because supermarket car parks sit on private land, many are enforced by private enforcement firms with pedantic rules and restrictions that will not be shy to sting drivers using the premises outside of opening hours, even if they park up for just a matter of minutes.
Supermarket car parks typically have rules around time limits and designated bays, with fines of £40 to £100 handed out to any motorist caught breaching them.
Parking in a supermarket car park outside the store’s opening hours can land drivers with a fine of up to £100
All supermarket car parks should clearly display parking rules, which include time limits, on signs outside the store and throughout the car park.
It’s crucial for drivers to check this signage closely to make sure they don’t fall foul of the rules.
If a driver is found to be flouting these rules, private enforcement companies will slap them with a Parking Charge Notice (PCN).
It’s important to note that this is different to a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) which is a council issued (legal) fine.
Many supermarkets use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to catch drivers out, with car owners sent a payment demand in the post.
Graham Conway, managing director at Select Car Leasing who prompted the warning, said: ‘Parking in a supermarket car park when the store is closed sounds completely fine on the face of it.
‘But parking in a supermarket outside of its opening hours can actually lead to a fine of up to £100, and we’ve seen cases where people have been clobbered for leaving their car for a matter of minutes.
‘Check the signage as you enter the car park carefully before making a decision about whether to stay or not. Not all store car parks punish after or before-hours parking, but many do, and it’s an issue that’s causing real confusion among motorists.’
Restrictions on supermarket parking differ from store to store so make sure you check each store’s parking signs carefully to ensure you don’t get caught out
This is Money contacted the major supermarket chains if drivers will be charged for parking outside of store opening hours.
The typical response was that they have different restrictions depending on the location and whether they are managed by a private parking operator or not, with the guidance that customers should check signage carefully.
Asda told us: ‘The permitted parking hours vary from store to store, depending on the car park management system in use. Clear signage is displayed throughout our car parks to indicate the permitted hours for parking.’
Similarly, Tesco said: ‘Parking restrictions are managed by location in consultation with the local management team and any time limits will be clearly displayed on signs in the car park. We always review changes based on customer feedback.’
Waitrose commented: ‘Our branches use a range of different car parks, including those managed by third parties, so guidance will vary. However, all car parks have clear signage to explain the permitted usage.’
Morrisons simply said: ‘It really varies store to store, depending on their location’.
Sainsbury’s response echoed that: ‘Parking terms and conditions vary from store to store and they are clearly signposted throughout our car parks.’
Aldi and Lidl both failed to respond.