MOTORISTS could be liable for fines of up to £18 million from Penalty Charge Notices for failing to fit inside designated parking bays, new research by Citroen UK shows.

A total of 137,000 fines were issued to motorists for failing to park fully within the lines of parking bays since 2019, according to Freedom of Information requests issued to the local Authorities running the ten largest British cities, including all 32 London Boroughs.

The research found that Edinburgh Council handed out the most PCNs to drivers who parked outside a marked bay, with over 19,800 PCNs issued since 2019.

Tower Hamlets Council in London only handed out 52 over the same period for the same offence.

Glasgow Council was in second place, handing out 17,800 PCNs since 2019, while Havering Council in London handed out over 15,700.

According to the AA, motorists who receive a PCN for a parking offence are liable for fines up to £130, meaning that the 137,000 fines received could have cost drivers up to £17.9 million.

A total of more than £9 million could have been taken from motorists parking in London alone.

Citroen is now reminding drivers that its Ami 100 per cent Electric is perfect for navigating and parking in cities across the UK.

At just 2.41 metres long and 1.39 metres wide, the Ami Electric fits into just half of a regulation-sized parallel parking space.

The British Parking Association recommends that a parking space is 4.8m long and 2.4m wide, meaning that councils could double the number of spaces they have available in cramped urban areas if everyone drove an Ami, while drivers would avoid the risk of their larger vehicles not fitting in a space.

Greg Taylor, managing director of Citroen UK, said: "Our research shows that people are struggling to park their cars in urban environments, which could make millions of motorists across the country liable for fines.

"Ami 100 per cent Electric is the perfect solution to driving in urban areas, and represents a genuinely new and revolutionary way of getting around cities. It represents the very best of Citroen, offering innovative and fun solutions to very real problems."

As an electric mobility solution, the Ami is priced from £7,696 and emits zero emissions in use with a 5.4kWh battery that recharges in just four hours.

With a range of up to 46 miles and a top speed of 28mph, Citroen says that Ami is a modern, creative solution that delivers on the brand's promise to provide affordable and clean mobility solutions for all.