Has the single code replaced POPLA and IAS yet?

As of 2024, implementation of the full single code framework — including a replacement for POPLA and IAS — is ongoing. Check the Department for Transport website for the most current status. For charges currently in the system, POPLA and IAS remain the operative appeal services unless official guidance states otherwise.

Will the single code change the maximum charge amount?

The single code is expected to include a maximum charge level, which was the subject of consultation. The government has indicated the charge cap may be set at a level similar to the current BPA/IPC caps, though the exact figure depends on the final approved code. Check the published code when it takes effect.

Does the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 change anything right now?

The Act itself confers powers on the Secretary of State to make and enforce a code — it does not itself contain the code's substantive requirements. Those requirements are set out in the code made under the Act, which is being phased in. Until the code takes full effect, the BPA and IPC codes remain operative for charges issued under their respective frameworks.

Single Code of Practice

By GetRighted Legal Research TeamLast updated July 2026

Summary

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 mandated a single government-approved code of practice to replace the separate BPA and IPC codes. The Act passed in 2019, but implementation has been delayed by legal challenges and consultations. As of 2024, the single code is being phased in under the oversight of an independent scrutiny body. Once fully in force, all private parking operators — regardless of whether they are BPA or IPC members — will be bound by one unified standard, with a single independent appeal service replacing POPLA and IAS. The code will set maximum charges, signage requirements, and appeal timescales.

Why a single code was needed

The parallel BPA and IPC codes created inconsistency: operators could switch accreditation bodies to escape one code's stricter requirements, and motorists faced confusion about which appeal service applied. Consumer groups, the Citizens Advice Bureau, and the British Retail Consortium lobbied for a single unified standard. The government commissioned a review that led to the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, which gave the Secretary of State power to establish a code of practice to which all parking operators must adhere as a condition of DVLA data access.

Current status and implementation

The 2019 Act was passed but implementing the single code has taken longer than anticipated due to consultation processes and legal challenges. The government published a draft code and consulted on it. As of 2024, elements of the unified code framework are being phased in alongside existing BPA/IPC arrangements. Check the current status on the Department for Transport website — the position has evolved since the Act passed. For charges issued before full implementation, the BPA or IPC Code applicable at the time of issue still governs.

Effect on existing charges and appeals

For charges already issued under the BPA or IPC Codes, the single code does not apply retroactively. Appeals for existing charges use POPLA or IAS as appropriate. The significance of the single code is prospective — once in force, it will set the standard for all new charges and create a single appeal service. Monitor developments if your case is ongoing, as the appeal landscape may shift.

What to check when the single code status matters

✓Check the Department for Transport website for the current implementation status of the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.
✓For charges issued before the single code's full implementation date, use the BPA or IPC Code applicable at the charge date.
✓Check whether a unified appeal service has replaced POPLA and IAS — if so, that service governs new appeals regardless of operator trade body membership.
✓If the operator claims the single code changes their obligations, verify this against the actual published code — not the operator's interpretation.
✓Monitor BPA and IPC communications for transition arrangements affecting pending appeals.

Sources

Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019
BPA/IPC Single Code of Practice (draft) 2024
Department for Transport — parking reform consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the single code replaced POPLA and IAS yet?: As of 2024, implementation of the full single code framework — including a replacement for POPLA and IAS — is ongoing. Check the Department for Transport website for the most current status. For charges currently in the system, POPLA and IAS remain the operative appeal services unless official guidance states otherwise.
Will the single code change the maximum charge amount?: The single code is expected to include a maximum charge level, which was the subject of consultation. The government has indicated the charge cap may be set at a level similar to the current BPA/IPC caps, though the exact figure depends on the final approved code. Check the published code when it takes effect.
Does the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 change anything right now?: The Act itself confers powers on the Secretary of State to make and enforce a code — it does not itself contain the code's substantive requirements. Those requirements are set out in the code made under the Act, which is being phased in. Until the code takes full effect, the BPA and IPC codes remain operative for charges issued under their respective frameworks.

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