The UK’s most expensive residential parking permits – where motorists can pay up to £1,250 a year
The cost of residential parking permits can vary by hundreds of pounds depending on your local council
THE most expensive places to park near your own home have been revealed.
And the type of car you drive can even bump up the cost of your residential permit in some areas, new research has found.
An investigation by and AutoExpress revealed drivers living in the Barbican Estate in London forked out the most for their residential permit, costing a whopping £1,258 a year.
As it's a private estate, fees were much higher than regular council areas - but other city dwellers were still paying hundreds to park their motor.
Birmingham City Council was next on the list, charging £785 for motorists living within the city centre zone, while the same region in Manchester costs £750.
And high-emitting vehicles proved incredibly costly for their owners.
Cars in Edinburgh with CO2 emissions levels at 226g/km and over were slapped with a £499 fee for residential parking, which is more than double the average £243 annual permit charge for the Scottish capital.
Carbon dioxide emissions readings bumped up prices for residents in London Boroughs as well, while drivers in Enfield were forced to pay as much as £330 if their car's engine was 3.0-litres or larger.
Drivers in York were slapped with higher parking charges of £136 a year if their car produced emissions readings of over 185g/km or was more than five metres in length.
And residents of Islington saw the biggest difference in price based on emissions levels, with anything over 256g/km costing £475, while cars under 100g/km parked for free.
A number of councils also offered free parking for motorists with hybrid and electric vehicles.
Residents in Newcastle, Westminster and a handful of London Boroughs don't have to pay a penny to park eco-friendly motors.
It's no surprise London councils are charging more for higher polluting vehicles.
Mayor Sadiq Khan recently announced a major expansion on the Ultra Low Emissions Zone, that will see diesel owners charged £12.50 to drive anywhere in London from 2021 in a bid to lower pollution levels.
Motorists in Birmingham and Leeds also face similar charges, with proposals for minimum £6-per-day taxes to be introduced by 2020.
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Edmund King, AA president, said: “Residents understand that permits are a necessary evil if they wish to deter people from parking on their street.
"However, these schemes should be affordable so that low income families, who are the most car dependant, can take part.
"Paying in excess of £65 a month in Birmingham is a ridiculously high price, certainly when other major cities charge less.”