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Parking income in Cardiff
Last updated . Figures refresh every night. How each figure is worked out.
In 2024–25 Cardiff took £10.6m in parking income and spent £5.8m, a surplus of £4.8m against £3.1m in 2023–24 (+53%), the largest of 22 councils in Wales. Figures are from the council's own return to the Welsh Government.
Figures for the 2024–25 financial year. Source: Welsh Government (StatsWales).
Key figures
- £4.78mParking surplus up on a year earlier: +£1.66m (+53.2%) vs 2023–24
- £10.61mParking income up on a year earlier: +£1.84m (+20.9%) vs 2023–24
- £5.83mSpending on parking up on a year earlier: +£0.17m (+3.1%) vs 2023–24
- 1 of 22Rank in Wales, largest surplus first
Source: Welsh Government (StatsWales).
How much has Cardiff made from parking each year?
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Income | Spending | Surplus |
|---|---|---|---|
2002–03Details for 2002–03 | £2.16m | £1.04m | £1.12m |
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2003–04Details for 2003–04 | £2.46m | £1.28m | £1.18m |
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2004–05Details for 2004–05 | £2.55m | £1.16m | £1.39m |
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2005–06Details for 2005–06 | £2.79m | £1.32m | £1.47m |
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2006–07Details for 2006–07 | £2.88m | £1.31m | £1.58m |
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2007–08Details for 2007–08 | £3.74m | £1.42m | £2.32m |
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2008–09Details for 2008–09 | £4.39m | £1.51m | £2.87m |
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2009–10Details for 2009–10 | £4.42m | £1.51m | £2.91m |
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2010–11Details for 2010–11 | £5.01m | £3.08m | £1.93m |
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2011–12Details for 2011–12 | £6.06m | £3.28m | £2.79m |
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2012–13Details for 2012–13 | £6.18m | £3.59m | £2.59m |
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2013–14Details for 2013–14 | £6.61m | £3.69m | £2.92m |
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2014–15Details for 2014–15 | £6.9m | £3.47m | £3.43m |
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2015–16Details for 2015–16 | £7.26m | £3.76m | £3.49m |
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2016–17Details for 2016–17 | £7.6m | £3.94m | £3.66m |
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2017–18Details for 2017–18 | £8.63m | £4.76m | £3.86m |
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2018–19Details for 2018–19 | £9.74m | £5.29m | £4.45m |
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2019–20Details for 2019–20 | £9.55m | £5.56m | £3.99m |
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2020–21Details for 2020–21 | £3.42m | £5.69m | £-2.27m |
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2021–22Details for 2021–22 | £7.01m | £5.99m | £1.02m |
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2022–23Details for 2022–23 | £7.87m | £5.45m | £2.42m |
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2023–24Details for 2023–24 | £8.78m | £5.66m | £3.12m |
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2024–25Details for 2024–25 | £10.61m | £5.83m | £4.78m |
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Figures for the 2024–25 financial year. Source: Welsh Government (StatsWales).
Wales reports parking as a single line, so there is no on-street and car park split.
Figures for the 2024–25 financial year. Source: Welsh Government (StatsWales).
All figures are cash, in the council's own return. The most recent year is a first release and may be revised. Cardiff is recorded as: Unitary Authority.
What can Cardiff spend a surplus on?
On-street parking charges and all council parking penalty charges (England and Wales)
Ring-fenced by law a ring-fenced parking account. A surplus may only be spent on parking, public transport, highway and environmental improvements and similar purposes; a deficit is made good from the general fund.
Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, s55, as applied in England by SI 2022/71, regs 25 and 27
At the end of each financial year any deficit in the account shall be made good out of the general fund or, in Wales, council fund, and (subject to subsection (3) below) any surplus shall be applied for all or any of the purposes specified in subsection (4) below
Council car park (off-street) tariffs
Kept by the body that collects it the council's general fund. Section 55 covers on-street parking and enforcement income, not car park fees. Not verified
Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, s55(1), and DfT statutory guidance on civil parking enforcement
The income from on-street charging and any penalty charge payments received (whether for on-street or off-street enforcement) must only be used in accordance with section 55 (as amended) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
Legal position as of 22 September 2026. Source: legislation.gov.uk. Checked by hand 22 September 2026.
How does Cardiff compare with other councils?
Every council's parking surplus, penalty charge levels and the national trend.
Sources for this page
| Source | Publisher | Figures as of | Updated | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roads and transport revenue outturn expenditure by authority and service | Welsh Government (StatsWales) | the 2024–25 financial year | annual | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
| legislation.gov.uk and official guidance, provision by provision | legislation.gov.uk | 22 September 2026 | annual | Open Government Licence v3.0 (legislation.gov.uk) |
Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, under CC BY 4.0.