Has NCP Gone Bust? | Latest Updates on National Car Parks Explained

National Car Parks (NCP) has entered administration in March 2026, but the company has not shut down completely and continues to trade across most of the UK.

PwC has been appointed to oversee the business while it explores a sale or restructuring plan. Around 318 car parks remain open, although more than 20 sites are due to close and hundreds of jobs are at risk.

Key points you need to know:

• NCP is in administration, not liquidation
• Most NCP car parks are still open and operating
• PwC is managing the company during the process
• Around 682 jobs are at risk across the business
• 22 underperforming sites are closing permanently
• Existing bookings and season tickets are generally still valid
• A buyer or major restructuring is the most likely outcome

Has NCP Gone Bust or Is It Just in Administration?

The phrase “gone bust” usually means that a company has failed and stopped trading altogether. That is not currently the case with NCP.

The business entered administration on 16 March 2026, which is a formal insolvency process designed to protect a company while experts try to rescue it.

Administration is different from liquidation, if National Car Parks were liquidated, its car parks would close and assets sold. Instead, it continues operating while PwC reviews the business.

Despite being insolvent, NCP is still running its sites, and customers can continue using its services for now.

PwC partner and joint administrator Zelf Hussain said:

“Our priority on appointment is to ensure continuity of service while we undertake a detailed review of the business.”

That statement suggests that, for now, customers should still be able to use NCP services largely as normal.

Why Has National Car Parks Gone into Administration?

NCP’s financial problems did not happen overnight. The company has been under pressure for several years due to a combination of lower parking demand, rising costs and a large amount of debt.

How Have Post-Pandemic Travel Habits Affected NCP?

Travel company behaviour has changed significantly since 2020. Previously, many NCP sites relied on daily commuters parking in city centres.

However, hybrid working and remote jobs have reduced the need for regular long-stay parking.

Although footfall has improved since lockdown, commuting levels remain lower than before. Many people now travel less frequently, use public transport, or shop online, reducing demand for city-centre parking.

Why Did Debt and Lease Costs Become a Problem?

At the same time, NCP remained tied to expensive long-term leases, meaning it had to continue paying landlords even as usage declined.

The company also carried significant debt, with liabilities reportedly exceeding assets by over £305 million by late 2025.

Rising inflation, higher interest rates, and increasing energy costs added further pressure.

According to PwC, key challenges included:

• Long-term leases that could not easily be cancelled
• Falling commuter demand after Covid-19
• Rising operating and energy costs
• Heavy debt repayments and higher borrowing costs

A spokesperson for PwC stated:

“The business has faced a challenging trading environment over several years, driven by changes in commuting and customer driving patterns.”

Is NCP Still Trading and Are Its Car Parks Still Open?

Although NCP is in administration, most of its sites remain open. Administrators have confirmed that approximately 318 car parks are continuing to trade across the UK.

Drivers can still:

• Use the NCP app
• Pre-book parking spaces
• Pay for parking at most sites
• Use existing season tickets where the site remains open

For many customers, there may be no obvious difference in day-to-day use. Car parks are still operating, barriers are functioning, and staff remain in place at most locations.

However, some sites are being closed because they are no longer commercially viable. Administrators identified around 22 locations that were losing money and could not realistically be saved.

A parking industry analyst explained:

“Administration is not a one-off decision. Each site is being reviewed individually to determine whether it has a future.”

Which NCP Car Parks Are Closing?

The following sites are scheduled to close permanently from 27 March 2026:

These sites were selected because they had low customer numbers, high rents or weak long-term profitability.

What Happens to Existing Bookings and Season Tickets?

For customers with existing bookings, the impact depends entirely on whether their chosen NCP car park remains open.

If your local NCP site is continuing to operate, your booking or season ticket should still be valid. PwC has confirmed that reservations and permits for the remaining open car parks will continue to be honoured.

Drivers can still use their season tickets, pre-book spaces and, in many cases, purchase new bookings through the NCP website or app.

If Your Site Remains Open

At the majority of NCP locations, very little has changed so far. Existing bookings are still active, and season ticket holders can continue using their usual car park as normal.

You should still be able to:

• Use your current season ticket
• Access any pre-booked parking spaces
• Make future reservations through the NCP app or website

However, because the administration process is still ongoing, there is some uncertainty around making bookings too far in advance. If further sites are closed later, customers could face disruption.

If Your Site Is Closing

The situation is more complicated if your booking or season ticket relates to one of the 22 NCP car parks scheduled to close.

PwC has not yet confirmed whether affected customers will automatically receive a refund, be transferred to another nearby site or need to make a claim themselves.

Drivers with unused bookings may need to contact NCP customer services directly.

PwC has already warned that refunds cannot be guaranteed because customers may be treated as unsecured creditors, meaning they rank behind banks and other lenders if money is owed.

For help, customers can contact:

• NCP customer services via the usual channels
• Email: ncpcustomerservice@ncp.co.uk

I spoke to a regular commuter from Leicester who shared his experience after finding out his usual car park was due to close.

He told me:

“I only found out when I checked the news. My season ticket still had three months left, so now I’m waiting to hear whether I’ll get moved to another site or lose the money.”

He explained that the situation has left him uncertain about what will happen next and whether he will be able to recover his remaining balance

Can You Get a Refund From NCP?

Customers affected by a closure may struggle to get a direct refund from NCP. PwC has stated that, because the company is in administration, it is unfortunately unable to guarantee repayments.

That does not mean you are completely out of options. If you paid by card, you may be able to reclaim your money through your bank or credit card provider.

Can Section 75 or Chargeback Help?

If you paid more than £100 on a credit card, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act may apply. This makes the credit card company jointly responsible if the service is not provided.

If you paid by debit card or spent less than £100, you can ask your bank to start a chargeback claim instead.

• Section 75 applies to credit card purchases over £100
• Chargeback may apply to debit cards and lower-value purchases
• You should keep receipts, booking confirmations and any emails from NCP
• Claims are usually stronger if the car park closes and you cannot use what you paid for

Many banks require chargeback claims within 120 days, so it is worth acting quickly if your site has closed.

Are NCP Parking Fines and Penalty Notices Still Valid?

NCP parking penalties remain enforceable even though the company is in administration. If you receive a parking charge notice, you are still expected to pay it unless you believe it was issued unfairly.

The normal appeals process is still available through the NCP website. However, there is some uncertainty over how long this process will remain unchanged while the company is being restructured.

Drivers should not assume that the administration cancels outstanding parking charges. In practice, notices issued before and after administration continue to apply.

How Many Jobs Are at Risk at NCP?

Around 682 jobs are currently at risk across the company. These include site staff, customer service teams and office-based roles.

The first wave of closures is expected to result in around 31 immediate redundancies. Further job losses may follow if more sites close in the months ahead.

The final number of employees affected depends on what happens next. If a buyer purchases the business, many jobs could be saved. If NCP shrinks further, more redundancies are likely.

The British Parking Association commented:

“Effective parking management is essential to keeping towns and cities moving, and our thoughts are with the NCP workforce at this difficult time.”

Who Owns NCP and Could It Be Sold?

NCP has been owned by Japanese company Park24 and the Development Bank of Japan since 2017. During the administration process, however, PwC is effectively running the business.

Administrators are now looking at several possible outcomes. The most likely options include:

• Selling the entire company to a new owner
• Selling profitable car parks separately
• Restructuring the debt and keeping fewer sites
• Downsizing the business to focus on stronger locations

Despite its financial problems, NCP still has significant value. The company has a well-known brand, hundreds of sites and an established digital payment system through the NCP app.

Because of that, many industry experts believe there is a strong chance that another company or investor could step in.

What Does NCP’s Administration Mean for UK Drivers?

For most UK drivers, NCP’s administration will not cause immediate disruption because the majority of its car parks remain open.

You can still use the NCP app, pay for parking and access existing bookings at operating sites. However, there is more uncertainty than before, especially if you rely on one location regularly.

Drivers should check whether their local NCP car park is on the closure list and keep copies of booking confirmations, receipts and season ticket details. It may also be sensible to avoid making long-term bookings until the future of the business becomes clearer.

If your usual site closes, you may need to find an alternative nearby or contact NCP for updates regarding refunds or replacement parking.

Final Verdict: Has NCP Really Gone Bust?

NCP has not gone bust in the sense that most people mean. The company is in administration rather than liquidation, and most of its car parks remain open.

Drivers can still use the majority of NCP sites, existing bookings are largely being honoured, and the company continues to trade while PwC searches for a buyer or restructuring plan.

The next few months will be crucial. If a rescue deal is found, NCP could survive in a smaller or reorganised form. If not, more sites may close and further jobs could be lost.

For now, the safest approach is to keep checking whether your local NCP car park remains open and to avoid making long-term bookings unless necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is NCP bankrupt or just in administration?

NCP is in administration, which means the company is still operating while experts attempt to rescue or sell it.

Can you still use the NCP app and pay for parking?

Yes, the NCP app and most payment systems continue to work at open sites.

Are NCP season tickets still valid?

Season tickets remain valid at car parks that are still open.

What happens if your local NCP car park closes?

You may lose access to that site and need to contact NCP or PwC about possible alternatives or refunds.

Can you get a refund if your booking is cancelled?

Refunds are not guaranteed, but you may be able to claim through Section 75 or chargeback.

Are NCP parking fines still enforceable?

Yes, parking charge notices issued by NCP are still valid and must be paid unless successfully appealed.

Will another company buy NCP?

There is a strong possibility that part or all of NCP could be sold to a new owner.