There are thought to be more than 30 parking apps in the UK causing frustration and inconvenience for drivers. Designed to eliminate the hassle of juggling multiple regional parking apps, the new National Parking Platform (NPP) is intended to bring a “one app fits all” vision to life by connecting participating car parks to a shared platform through which drivers can pay using their preferred app at any participating car park. This initiative has been moved out of government hands and is now being driven forward by industry bodies led by the British parking Association (BPA).
Whilst acknowledging that the new platform will encourage greater competition and transparency amongst app providers and bring added financial and data gathering benefits to councils, as a business we have some concerns about the NPP.
The sudden end of government funding earlier this year raised doubts about whether the project could scale nationwide without long-term financial stability.
The platform is currently being rolled out across 10 local authorities but the real test will be expansion: onboarding thousands of car parks across the UK’s network of councils and private operators is no small feat.
What most concerns us is the issue of digital inclusion. For the younger more tech-savvy motorists, the NPP offers real convenience. Instead of downloading a different app in every town, drivers will soon be able to stick with a single preferred provider. But this vision doesn’t reflect the experience of all road users. What if you are an elderly person, who likes to pay with coins from the glove box?
The charity Age UK said many older people had told it they were “at the end of their tether” when it came to paying for parking because they were unable to park when an app or mobile phone was required. Age UK warns there are 4.3 million older people who don’t use a smartphone, and 4.9 million who lack the basic digital skills needed to use the internet confidently.
Consumer groups have raised concerns that unless the NPP includes alternative payment methods, it risks deepening digital exclusion. For some, the shift away from cash machines and physical tickets is already a barrier to mobility and independence. As in the banking sector, the older generation and consumers who simply choose not to own a smart phone are being excluded in this shiny new digital world.
Network coverage and low battery charge are other factors that could potentially add to the stress of mobile app reliance. What if your phone dies when you park up, or you have no signal on your network? What if you just resent having to download yet another app for a car park you will never visit again?
Despite it purporting to make life easier for drivers, supporters of the NPP platform have failed to take notice of public opinion!
A 2024 Autocar survey revealed that more than 80% of drivers dislike parking apps, preferring cash or contactless payments instead, with older drivers disproportionately affected. If the NPP becomes a smartphone-only system, a large section of the driving population could become unintentionally marginalised
Motorists clearly value choice and have not given up on cash, card, and contactless payment methods. According to the 2024 Autocar survey, two-thirds of drivers (65%) think there should always be a cash payment option, while almost half (48%) say motorists should never be restricted solely to payment via a phone app. Only 14% of respondents favoured parking apps over physical payment options.
At Cammax, we are in the business of championing inclusivity and fairness and we strongly advocate an NPP roll out that works for everyone. Whether it’s a local authority managing high-street parking or a private operator overseeing a multi-site operation, hybrid parking terminals offer a versatile and inclusive solution that puts the needs of all users first.
Our parking payment machines support multi-channel payment options—cash, card, and mobile—and are designed with accessibility at their core, using clear layouts, simple workflows, and intuitive interfaces to reduce frustration for all users. Plus, they are engineered to resist vandalism and unauthorised access to safeguard the sensitive payment data being processed.
We believe parking payment machines must remain in place to provide dependable back-up on every site, ensuring no driver is excluded and providing resilience when technology fails, whether through dead batteries, poor signal, or system outages.
By providing choice and reliability, Cammax can help guarantee that the future of parking is simpler, fairer, and accessible to everyone.