Can I drive someone else's car on my insurance

We’ve all been there. Parked up ready for a great day out and then when we see the signpost, not only does the machine not take cash or card but it also only uses an app we do not have downloaded to our phone. With time running away, the last thing anyone wants to do is download and verify yet more apps to our devices…

This could now be a thing of the past with the Department for Transport announcing the nationwide roll-out of the National Parking Platform (NPP). Described as a ‘one app fits all’ parking platform, it will enable drivers to pay for parking in all participating car parks on their preferred app - ending the need to download more apps and encouraging more flexibility when paying for parking.

Industry leaders including Ring Go, JustPark and PayByPhone have all signed up to the car park apps platform, which will be led by the British Parking Association. The government claims the introduction of this new platform will:

• Cut confusion
• Reduce the chances of drivers receiving fines
• Open the parking market to fairer competition

Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads, said: “This is public infrastructure done right: built by government, shaped with councils and now delivered by the sector that knows it best, at a time where we’re investing a record £1.6 billion through our Plan for Change, to mend our pothole-ridden roads that damage cars and £4.8 billion to deliver new road infrastructure that will better connect people.”

The parking sector will work with councils to run the National Parking Platform on a not-for-profit basis, with the parking apps being rolled out across more local authorities imminently.

How do parking apps work?

As described on moneytothemasses.com, parking apps allow you to pay for parking via smartphone. All you need to do is:

• Download an app (soon, you’ll be able to have the National Parking Platform)
• Provide login details
• Enter car registration details
• Enter payment details

Once this is all set up, you’ll be able to pay for parking sessions via the app at any car park that works with this app. The National Parking Platform is designed to help drivers avoid downloading various apps when they just want to pay for their parking.

The AA describes how many parking apps now offer real-time availability, telling you whether a space is available before you get there. They do this by using sensors installed in parking bay spaces that can detect whether a car is parked or not.

Why are there so many parking apps?

A survey carried out by Autocar in 2024 found that 83% would prefer to pay for parking using cash or card over downloading and registering for an app, but the apps have increased in popularity in recent years, perhaps due to their convenience.

This is despite drivers having reservations over having too many, their privacy and sometimes struggling for connectivity in remote places that allows them to download a new one. Many drivers may not own or be comfortable with a smartphone either.

The National Parking Platform is designed to make the number of parking apps more manageable and take some stress and hassle out of paying for parking.

How secure are parking apps?

The JustPark website describes just how seriously parking operators should take the details they collect and process: “Parking management systems collect and process sensitive information like vehicle data and payment details. If this data is compromised, it can lead to serious consequences, including identity theft and financial fraud.”

The leading parking app providers will balance security, compliance and convenience in ways that are legal and effective. The UK government says the NPP ‘will operate under clear terms to ensure transparency, sustainability, and public value’.

Flex more with Tempcover

With paying for parking now looking like it will be more flexible, you can start planning your next road trip with less stress. Thinking of going further afield, why not share the driving?

Temporary car insurance allows a buddy to get your hands on the wheel for some of the journey, giving you the chance to sit back, relax and be in charge of the snacks.