Our Data Sources — How FreePark.ing Verifies Free Parking

FreePark.ing cross-references multiple authoritative data sources to give you the most accurate and up-to-date free parking information in the UK. Here is how our data pipeline works.

D-TRO — Digital Traffic Regulation Orders

D-TRO is the UK government's official digital format for traffic regulation orders — the legal documents that define parking restrictions on every street. FreePark.ing ingests D-TRO data from 130+ UK councils daily, covering over 134,000 regulation records. This is the most authoritative source for parking restriction data in the UK.

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap (OSM) provides community-verified parking location data including coordinates, capacity, and fee information. FreePark.ing uses OSM data for parking spots not yet covered by D-TRO, particularly for motorcycle parking bays and car parks in smaller towns.

Community Reports

Registered users can submit free parking spots they have discovered. Each submission is reviewed by our team before going live. Community reports are particularly valuable for residential streets and lesser-known free spots that official data sources don't cover.

Data Accuracy & Disclaimer

Parking restrictions can change without notice. Always verify restrictions using physical signs before parking. FreePark.ing is not liable for parking fines resulting from inaccurate data. Read our full disclaimer.