'Postcode lottery' in parking costs
Motorists are facing a "postcode lottery" over the cost of residential parking permits, according to a survey.
Some councils do not issue permits, others issue them for free and some charge as much as £750 a year, the survey of 433 UK councils by Churchill Car Insurance found.
The £750-a-year figure was the highest charged for some permits by Birmingham City Council and Manchester City Council.
Third in the list was Islington council in London where the highest permit was £434 a year. Next was Mole Valley Council in Surrey (£350) followed by City Of Edinburgh Council (£280) and Solihuill Metropolitan Borough Council in the West Midlands (£275).
The survey showed:
:: The average cost of a residential parking permit across the UK was £59.17
:: 62% of local councils issue parking permits to residents and 29% of these have a range of charges as opposed to a blanket charge
:: The cost of a parking permit varies within a council's own districts by an average of £97.72
:: While some Birmingham City permits are £750 a year, others are just £16
:: In Islington permits for electric cars are free whereas for cars over 2,751cc permits cost £434
:: Permits from South Ayrshire Council in Scotland cost just 50p a year
Churchill Car Insurance head Steve Barrett said: "Parking controls and permits play a huge part in keeping roads safe and clear, as well as ensuring residents have priority over spaces surrounding their property.
"Our research shows that parking permit costs vary considerably across the UK, so we'd urge motorists to factor this in when looking to purchase a new vehicle, especially if it is an additional vehicle."
These were the councils with the highest annual parking permit charges:
:: 1= Birmingham City Council £750
:: 1= Manchester City Council £750
:: 3. London Borough of Islington £434
:: 4. Mole Valley Council, Surrey £350
:: 5. City of Edinburgh Council £280
:: 6. Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, West Midlands £275
:: 7. London Borough of Hackney £265
:: 8. London Borough of Lambeth £260
:: 9= City of Glasgow Council £250
:: 9= Sevenoaks District Council, Kent £250
:: 9= Forest Heath District Council, Suffolk £250
Parking on AOL Money
Family faces £400 fine for taking too long over pub lunch
DVLA makes £25 million selling your personal details
Abandoned Merc clocks up £14,000 in parking charges
