Asger Risom
Cardiff Council has approved a new parking surcharge targeting large and polluting vehicles, and some surprisingly common family cars are on the list.
Cardiff Council has approved a new parking surcharge targeting large and polluting vehicles, and some surprisingly common family cars are on the list.
Parking costs to rise for big vehicles
The council’s new plan introduces a surcharge for cars over 2,400kg in revenue weight, with the aim of reducing street congestion and promoting cleaner transport alternatives.
What is ‘revenue weight’?
Revenue weight is the maximum loaded weight of a vehicle—including passengers, luggage, and fuel. It’s used to determine whether a car qualifies for the new parking charge.
Electric SUVs not exempt
Despite being emissions-free, several electric vehicles are heavy enough to be affected. These include the 2025 Skoda Enyaq, BMW iX, and Audi Q4 e-tron—all exceeding the 2,400kg threshold.
Premium 4x4s also impacted
High-end models like the Range Rover D350, Range Rover Sport, and Land Rover Discovery all fall within the surcharge category due to their size and weight.
Large family vehicles on the list
Popular people carriers like the Volkswagen Sharan and Ford Galaxy also exceed the weight limit, meaning larger families may be caught by the surcharge.
Ultra-heavy vehicles banned from permits
Vehicles over 3,500kg in revenue weight, such as some versions of the Mercedes-Benz GLS, won’t be eligible for any parking permits under the new rules.
Lower limit coming for non-EVs
The council plans to reduce the surcharge threshold to 2,000kg for non-electric vehicles in the future, putting even more models at risk of extra charges.
Safety cited as key motivation
Officials say larger vehicles pose a greater risk in collisions. Cardiff’s climate and transport lead, Cllr Dan De’Ath, said SUVs dramatically increase the chance of fatal accidents.
Diesel vehicles also targeted
Diesel-powered cars face a separate surcharge due to higher nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions—unless they meet RDE2 standards.
Amount still to be decided
The exact surcharge hasn’t been finalized. The city will consult residents through a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process before setting permit and tariff prices.
Reviews every two years
The city plans to reassess all parking charges every two financial years, meaning the rules—and costs—could continue evolving in the future.
This article is made and published by Asger Risom, which may have used AI in the preparation
