Aberdeen is one of the UK’s most expensive cities, but residents are paying some of the lowest costs for city centre parking permits.
Freedom of Information figures requested by used car company Trusted Dealers show the cost of residential permits across the country is a postcode lottery, with some permits given out for free and others costing car users hundreds of pounds.
Aberdeen city centre residents currently pay £70 for an annual permit with the option to add a second permit in some areas of the city for an additional cost.
This has come down from an £80 annual cost, and will continue to be reduced until it reaches £50.
Aberdeen city finance committee convener, councillor Willie Young, said: “It’s part of Labour’s manifesto to reduce the parking permit cost to £50.
“What’s happening is people are saying permits are an indirect tax and they’re paying a fortune.
“We recognise that there are challenges in the city, we recognise that it’s viewed as an indirect tax, and we recognise it’s unfair which is why we want to reduce the cost to £50 by the time we finish our term.”
Drivers in Edinburgh city centre can expect to pay up to £200 annually, depending on the age and carbon emissions of the vehicle, and Glasgow residents are paying out some of the most expensive fees in Scotland with permits costing up to £250.
At the opposite end of the scale, drivers in Inverness pay just £40 annually to park in city centre areas including Ardross Street and Ardconnel Street. Senior citizens are offered a discounted rate of £20.
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “The current residential parking permit rates for Inverness were set by the council in 2013 – any change to those rates would be for members’ consideration.”
Some of the smaller areas worst hit by residential permit charges are covered by Fife Council. While the council provides free permits to those living in areas like Kirkcaldy and Inverkeithing, those living in St Andrews and Dunfermline are charged £90 annually.
Neil Addley, managing director of Trusted Dealers, said: “The price of residential parking may pale in comparison to the price of petrol, but it’s still an additional burden for motorists to bear, and this data shows some are counting the cost of living in certain areas.”