Ealing now uses the RingGo or PayByPhone apps for most permits. They’re fine—until the Wi-Fi dies during a storm. Then you’re stuck, staring at a parking meter like it owes you money.
Ealing Council makes over £11m from parking permits since 2026 - EALING
Download the app before you need it. Register your car, add a payment card, and practice typing your license plate number three times fast. Because when you’re in a rush, your fingers will mash the keys like they’re playing Guitar Hero.
I’ve paid £9 for a visitor permit via the app while hiding from the rain in a Starbucks. The drip coffee was almost worth the frustration.
What About Businesses and Works?
If you run a shop or do odd jobs in Ealing, you’ll need a business permit or a temporary works permit. These aren’t cheap—think £30 per day for a van—but they’re cheaper than a fine.
I once watched a plumber park outside a house in Southall, skip the permit, and return to a ticket that cost more than his hourly rate. He muttered something about “the council’s revenue scheme” and drove off. I nodded in silence, clutching my own permit like a relic.
