UK city could become the first to charge higher parking fees for SUVs and 4x4s

A council in Wales could become the first UK council to impose higher parking charges on drivers of large vehicles such as 4x4s in a bid to deter people from buying them.

Cardiff Council is proposing to increase the cost of parking permits for owners of SUVs (sports utility vehicles) or cars weighing more than 2,400kg.

They are expected to approve the changes on Thursday as part of a new parking policy aimed at reducing congestion and improving air quality in the city.

A report to the council claimed large SUVs like the Range Rover were “more polluting, more expensive and more dangerous” and so their owners “must pay more for permits”.

It is hoped the surcharge will “encourage” the uptake of larger vehicles, which it says are “fast becoming the norm in the UK”.

Although it is unclear how much extra SUV owners will be charged, permit fees in Cardiff are currently £35 a year for a car and £90 for a second.

The report raises concerns about the increased risk of serious injury in car crashes, the impact of large cars on traffic congestion and parking capacity, and high fuel consumption.

He adds: “The proliferation of oversized vehicles is worrying due to the many harms associated with them, including road hazard, carbon emissions, air pollution, resource use and exclusion of other road users.

“Overall, it is thought that a growing body of evidence supports the imposition of surcharges on such vehicles to deter uptake.”