Supermarket shoppers could be fined up to £100 for breaking a parking rule.
Motorists can be penalised for leaving their vehicles in supermarket car parks outside of store opening hours, even if the car park is empty.
The warning comes from Select Car Leasing, which has highlighted the issue as an often-overlooked parking regulation.
Graham Conway, managing director at Select Car Leasing , said: "Parking in a supermarket car park when the store is closed sounds completely fine on the face of it.
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"The car park is likely to be empty, with no one around, and it might be a convenient location for you to leave your vehicle as you head elsewhere. Where’s the harm?
"But parking in a supermarket outside of its opening hours can actually lead to a fine of up to £100, and we’ve seen cases where people have been clobbered for leaving their car for a matter of minutes."
Mr Conway urged drivers to double-check the signs at supermarket car parks before leaving their vehicles.
He said: "Check the signage as you enter the car park carefully before making a decision about whether to stay or not.
"Not all store car parks punish after or before-hours parking, but many do, and it’s an issue that’s causing real confusion among motorists."
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Supermarket car parks are typically located on private land and managed by parking enforcement companies.
These firms issue Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) for rule breaches, with fines ranging from £40 to £100.
Many car parks use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to monitor vehicles, with letters demanding payment sent in the post.
Parking regulations are usually displayed at the entrance and throughout the car park.
Common rules include parking within marked bays, adhering to time limits, and only using parent and child or disabled bays if eligible.
Some stores require children to be aged 12 or under for use of parent and child spaces.
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