Quick answer
Parking signs tell you where and when you can park or wait. Blue signs with a white P show parking places, often with time limits or payment rules. Upright plates next to yellow lines give the times waiting is restricted. Loading bays and permit holders’ bays are only for the users the sign names.
What does each parking sign mean?
Each sign is shown with its official meaning from the Department for Transport. Tap through to the quiz when you’re ready to test yourself.
-
No stopping on main carriageway -
'Pay and display' ticket-regulated parking place -
Bay reserved for loading and unloading -
Bay reserved for loading and unloading by goods vehicles -
Bay reserved for loading and unloading by goods vehicles during the period indicated -
Bay reserved for loading and unloading by goods vehicles during the period indicated, and waiting prohibited during the period indicated -
Continuous prohibition on loading and unloading -
Continuous prohibition on waiting by vehicles with an exemption for taxis during the period indicated -
Continuous prohibition on waiting except for loading and unloading -
Continuous prohibition on waiting except for loading and unloading for period indicated -
Continuous prohibition on waiting except loading and unloading on the footway -
Continuous prohibition on waiting except loading and unloading on the verge -
Continuous prohibition on waiting except loading and unloading on verge or footway -
Disc zone parking place where the waiting period is limited and display of a disc is required -
End of a controlled parking zone applying to goods vehicles over a gross weight of 5T -
End of a controlled parking zone applying to goods vehicles over a gross weight of 7.5T -
End of area where vehicles may be parked partially on the verge or footway -
End of area where vehicles may be parked wholly on the verge or footway -
End of controlled or voucher parking zone -
End of designated off-highway loading area in which waiting restriction apply -
End of restriction on stopping -
Entrance to a controlled parking zone -
Entrance to a controlled parking zone applying to goods vehicles over a gross weight of 5T during the period indicated -
Entrance to a controlled parking zone applying to goods vehicles over a gross weight of 7.5T during the period indicated -
Entrance to a controlled parking zone in operation during the period indicated -
Entrance to a controlled parking zone, with loading and unloading prohibited -
Entrance to a designated off-highway loading area in which waiting restrictions apply -
Entrance to a disc and meter parking zone -
Entrance to a disc parking zone -
Entrance to a meter parking zone -
Entrance to a pay and display parking zone -
Entrance to a ticket parking zone -
Entrance to red route clearway -
Entrance to voucher parking zone in operation during the period indicated -
Free parking for all vehicles, with restrictions on length of waiting time and return period -
Free parking for motor cars only, with restrictions on length of waiting time and return period -
Free parking for motor cycles only, with restrictions on length of waiting time and return period -
Hazard or prohibition extends for 7 miles -
Information relating to a taxi rank for the number of taxis specified -
Loading and unloading prohibited during the periods and in the direction indicated -
Loading and unloading prohibited during the periods indicated -
Loading and unloading prohibited during the periods indicated and in the direction indicated -
Location of 'pay and display' ticket machine -
No stopping during periods indicated except to pick up or set down passengers -
No stopping for any purpose at any time -
No stopping for any purpose at any time except buses -
No stopping for any purpose during the period indicated -
No stopping in lay-by except in emergency -
Parking for motorised caravans or caravans drawn by motor vehicles -
Parking place -
Parking place for buses only during the times shown -
Parking place for goods vehicles -
Parking place for motor cars -
Parking place for permit holders with limited waiting permitted by others at specified times -
Parking place for solo motor cycles -
Parking place reserved for disabled badge holders -
Parking place reserved for doctor permit holders -
Parking place reserved for permit holders -
Parking place reserved for resident permit holders -
Parking place reserved for resident permit holders during the time period indicated -
Parking place reserved for voucher parking during the period indicated -
Prohibition on stopping by vehicles other than taxis during the period indicated -
Prohibition on waiting by vehicles other than taxis during the period indicated (upper panel), and carriage way reserved for loading and unloading of goods vehicles during the period indicated -
Vehicles may be parked partially on the verge or footway -
Vehicles may be parked partially on the verge or footway during the period indicated -
Vehicles may be parked partially on the verge or footway in marked bays -
Vehicles may be parked wholly on the verge or footway -
Waiting by goods vehicles over a gross weight of 5T prohibited during the periods and in the direction indicated -
Waiting prohibited during the period and in the direction indicated (upper panel), and loading and unloading prohibited during the periods and in the direction indicated (lower panel) -
Waiting prohibited during the period indicated (upper panel), and loading and unloading prohibited during the periods indicated (lower panel) -
Waiting prohibited during the period indicated (upper panel), and parking place reserved for doctor permit holders during the periods indicated (lower panel) -
Waiting prohibited during the periods indicated (upper panel), and parking for all vehicles, with restrictions on length of waiting time and return period (lower panel) -
Waiting prohibited during the periods indicated (upper panel), loading prohibited during periods indicated (middle panel), and 'pay and display' ticket-regulated parking available during the period indicated with directions to ticket machine (Lower p -
Waiting prohibited except for loading and unloading during the period and in the direction indicated -
Waiting prohibited except for loading and unloading during the period indicated -
Waiting prohibited except for loading and unloading during the times and in the direction indicated -
Waiting prohibited in designated off-highway loading area during the period indicated except by permitted vehicles -
Waiting prohibited in the direction indicated (upper panel), and loading and unloading prohibited in the direction indicated (lower panel)
Ready to test yourself on road signs?
The free road signs quiz uses the same official artwork, with an explanation for every answer. Revise the rules behind them in our Rules of the Road guide.
Start the road signs quizFrequently asked questions
How do you recognise parking signs?
Parking signs tell you where and when you can park or wait. Blue signs with a white P show parking places, often with time limits or payment rules. Upright plates next to yellow lines give the times waiting is restricted. Loading bays and permit holders’ bays are only for the users the sign names.
Do parking signs come up in the theory test?
Yes. Signs appear throughout the theory test, mainly in the Road & Traffic Signs topic and also in topics such as Rules of the Road. Practise with our free questions until you can read each sign from its shape and colour.
Which other road sign categories should you learn?
Traffic sign images: Crown copyright, Department for Transport. Reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Licence · Source.