Motoring experts in the UK have told drivers that they should never scan a parking QR code and should either pay in cash or drive away. For many years, parking meters in the UK have required cash payment, usually by coin, although some do take banknotes.
However, an increasing number are transitioning to card- or mobile-only payments for parking. Fewer of us, be it in the UK or the USA, use cash these days, and contactless payments have become normal in a lot of places.
There are other ways to pay for parking too. Many machines have apps you can use to pay on your phone, while others also have QR codes you can scan to go and pay. However, experts in the UK have warned against scanning these codes, as they could actually lead to scams.
Reports state that some people are placing their own QR codes on these machines that take customers to fake websites. Scammers can then get access to people’s money this way and gain access to these people’s personal details and bank information. Experts say if you see a QR code on these machines, then you should drive away instantly.
Why These Parking Machines Are Such a Problem
The shift to card- or mobile-only parking payments has led to a new type of scam. This has been called quishing, and it dupes individuals into divulging their personal information on fraudulent websites. This involves scanning what look like legitimate QR codes, but they have actually been placed onto machines by criminals.
Not only can this steal funds from motorists and take some of their personal details, but it also exposes victims to potential fines for unpaid parking charges. Unwitting motorists will think they have paid to park, when the reality is they haven’t. Worryingly, there has been a sharp increase in this type of scam in the UK. Incidents surged from just 100 in 2019 to 1,386 in 2025.
Dan Briggs, CEO of frontline worker car discount company Motorfinity, spoke to Yorkshire Live about what drivers should do. Firstly, he said that motorists should bypass the QR code entirely. “Even if you don’t suspect the QR code has been tampered with, it’s good practice to skip scanning the code altogether and pay either on the official website or app,” he said. Avoiding the QR codes and going straight to the apps is a surefire way to avoid being scammed.
Other Methods Can Stop You From Being Scammed
Briggs also said that inspecting the QR code itself can help you avoid a scam. If the QR code looks to have been placed over one that was already there, then that is a potential sign of a scam. If the sticker is peeling, raised, or has bubbles, it can also be a sign of fake stickers. The codes can have URLs for websites on them too, and it is worth checking to make sure there are no strange shortened links, web extensions, or words that have been misspelled that shouldn’t have been.
The easiest way to avoid a scam is to simply pay in cash. However, that is getting harder and harder in a society that is becoming increasingly cashless. If you are in doubt, Briggs said one of the best things to do is to simply get in your car and drive away. While it might be a bit of a hassle to have to find somewhere else to park, it could save a lot of trouble if there was indeed a fake QR code affixed to a machine. It is never worth the risk of losing money in such a way.