New parking machines set to modernise district car parks

The upgraded machines will make paying for parking faster, easier and more reliable.

The new payment machines will be installed from Monday 24 November 2025 in Market Harborough, followed by Lutterworth.

Temporary signage will give car park users guidance during this period, but disruption will be kept to a minimum.

The upgrade will introduce modern, user-friendly machines offering multiple payment options, including contactless card payments and mobile methods. Importantly, parking charges will remain the same.  

At each machine drivers will be able to enter their registration number using a touch screen and follow simple instructions.

There will be no need to display a ticket anymore as car parking officers will use a handheld device to check that a ticket has been purchased for a vehicle. 

New standard payment machines will accept both contactless card and cash payments. In some larger car parks, there will also be additional, smaller payment machines that accept contactless card payments only. Both types of machines will be clearly signposted by yellow Pay Here signs showing the payment methods accepted.

If paying at one of the cash and contactless card machines car park users can opt to receive a physical receipt and at contactless card payment machines only the receipt will be available electronically by scanning the on-screen QR code. 

Payment by phone will be available via the Pay by Phone App or by calling the Pay by Phone number on 0330 400 7275. Please never pay via a QR code.

At Sainsbury’s car park in Market Harborough, specific information needs to be provided for refunds. To take advantage of the refund offer provided by Sainsbury’s a receipt either electronic or paper must be obtained at the time of purchasing a parking session. This must then be presented in store when completing in-store purchases.

The new payment machines will be installed in time for the run up to the festive period.

The council is also offering free parking in its car parks in the lead up to Christmas on December 6, 13 and 20. This will be four hours free in short stay, all day in long stay and Lutterworth. Drivers will receive one free session per vehicle per Saturday. A free parking session must be obtained at the machines by entering your vehicle registration number or by obtaining a free parking session on the Pay by Phone App.

Cat Hartley, Director of Communities and Wellbeing at Harborough District Council, said: “This upgrade is part of an investment into our car parks and will significantly enhance the convenience and accessibility of our town centres. By having modern payment options at machines and going ticketless we are improving the parking experience for all in Harborough district.”

For general information about car parking visit: www.harborough.gov.uk/parking

To find out more specific details about the new payment machines visit: www.harborough.gov.uk/paymentmachines