This is the preferred payment option for over half of drivers on an income of around £21,000, according to the AA.
Just over a tenth (12%) of drivers aged under 24 years old would pay for their parking with physical cash, whereas over a third (37%) would rather use contactless cards to pay.
A further third (35%) of the 13,500 respondents surveyed like to use an app when paying for their parking. For drivers of all ages, just 2% would pay using their phone, but 14% would use an app to cover the parking costs.
Cashless parking machines have replaced the vast majority of sites, with councils preferring to cut costs by spending less on administrative costs, which come from collecting coins and sorting the cash in the machine.
Amid the rise of cashless parking machines, local authorities were reminded to keep parking machines accessible for all drivers by keeping cash options available for drivers.
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| Age | Most popular payment method |
| 18-24-year-olds | Contactless (37%) |
| 25-34-year-olds | Contactless (43%) |
| 35-44-year-olds | Contactless (38%) |
| 45-54-year-olds | Cash (32%) |
| 55-64-year-olds | Cash (40%) |
| 65-year-olds | Cash (46%) |
‘Parking a car should be simple and hassle-free’
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: “Parking the car should be a simple and hassle-free experience, but some drivers are becoming more frustrated as taking cash has become less common.
“During the pandemic, many councils moved to cashless solutions to reduce transmission while still encouraging people to use facilities when allowed. However, lots of local authorities have not returned to cash as the reduced administrative costs proved beneficial to their coffers, and are now going further than some drivers are willing to accept.”
Cousens added: “While it is clear that younger drivers prefer contactless payment options, older and low-income drivers want to pay by cash. In fact, some claim they drive on until they can do so. With the high street already under strain, it seems counterintuitive for car parks to refuse a customer willing to pay.
“Allowing parking to be paid by a multitude of options seems the best solution for both car parks and drivers, but those opting to pay by app should take note that doing so could be more expensive, as administration costs are added to the rates.”
