Britons demand larger parking spaces amid calls for outdated 50-year-old laws to be scrapped

Felix Reeves

By Felix Reeves


Published: 12/11/2025

- 10:59

Motorists also called for more affordable car prices and electric car chargers

Drivers have voiced support for wider parking bays across the country as millions of motorists now own larger SUV-type vehicles.

A survey of more than 1,500 Britons found that almost half of drivers (48 per cent) want larger parking spaces to meet the demand of bigger vehicles.


Industry guidelines for parking spaces haven't changed in almost 50 years, with the average space being 2.4 metres wide and 4.8 metres long.

However, calls have grown in recent years to expand the size of spaces, given the massive expansion of drivers choosing larger vehicles like SUVs.

SUVs now make up eight of the top 10 best-selling vehicles in the UK, including the Tesla Model Y, Nissan Qashqai, MG ZS and the Volvo XC40.

While the vast majority of SUVs do fit into a standard parking space, owners of neighbouring vehicles could be impacted if they cannot open their doors or leave the space safely.

A separate study found that one in five drivers has had their parked car scratched by a car door being opened too close to them.

Larne O'Donoghue, spokesperson at YourParkingSpace, said: "This research tells us that space and comfort are now top priorities when parking - not just price.

A Range Rover parked over the lines and a car park

Drivers have called for parking spaces to be made bigger

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GETTY/SUV ALLIANCE

"Many car parks are working with layouts that were designed decades ago, and that mismatch is clearly being felt by today's motorists.

"While national guidelines may take time to evolve, we're finding that drivers are already adapting by planning ahead, choosing locations carefully, and prioritising convenience when deciding where to park."

Experts from Clean Cities and Transport and Environment have previously warned of SUVs causing parking issues by leaving too little space for other road users.

In the event that two SUVs are parked on either side of the road, a cyclist would not have enough space to safely travel when travelling next to another SUV.

However, if two average-sized cars, that are roughly 180cm wide, were parked on either side of the road, a cyclist would have around 130cm to ride next to a car safely.

Research from T&E shows that new cars, on average, are getting one centimetre wider every two years in Europe.

This trend seems to show little sign of slowing, as SUVs continue to gain popularity among motorists, as evidenced by sales data.

Aside from larger parking spaces, 46 per cent of drivers have called for lower prices of new and second-hand vehicles.

\u200bData shows that SUVs are getting one centimetre bigger every two years

Data shows that SUVs are getting one centimetre bigger every two years

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T&E

Other wishes included guaranteed parking spaces (34 per cent), clearer parking signs (20 per cent) and an easy system to reserve parking spaces (18 per cent).

Electric vehicle chargers appeared towards the bottom of the list, with just nine per cent wanting more accessible charging points.

Motorists will be looking to switch to electric vehicles in the coming years as the Government prepares to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from the end of the decade.

From 2035, only new zero emission vehicles will be on sale, although drivers can still purchase a hybrid vehicle between 2030 and 2035.