In some cases, the single white line is there to indicate that there’s no pavement – if this is the case then it’s illegal to park there.

Some parking bays will also have limitations on how long you can stay and what type of vehicle can park there. Make sure you read the signs carefully, park within a bay and buy a ticket to cover the length of your stay.

On some urban main roads in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh you'll see these red lines, often referred to as 'red routes'.

Single yellow lineparking

These exceptions won't always apply though, so check for local signs or kerb edge markings. If there are pairs of short yellow lines over the kerb edge you're not allowed to load at any time. Even with a Blue Badge you musn't park anywhere where there are loading restrictions.

Watch out for different rules and restrictions when there's big sporting events, festivals like Glastonbury or a big concert. It could mean parking is only allowed for residents during the event or over a weekend. In some cases, parking could even be completely suspended for everyone.

Single yellow lines mean no waiting or parking during the times shown on nearby signs or at the entrance to a controlled parking zone. There are no standard times or rules so you must always check the signs before waiting or parking.

If the signs state that the parking restrictions apply Monday to Saturday, 9am-6pm, as an example, these will still be in place if it’s a bank holiday - unless signs specifically exclude this.

Not by default - it depends on what the local signs say. But you're free to park there on any days that aren't restricted by instructions on the sign.

Some parking is free, while others will need to be paid for. If you're looking for free parking, some shopping centres or supermarkets will let you park for free for a set number of hours, or waive the parking fee if you show them a receipt.

It can be a little confusing to work out what the difference is between 'no stopping' and 'no parking'. The best way to understand the difference between parking and stopping is to get literal.

Many urban councils allow free or discounted parking for electric cars in parking bays where you'd normally need a permit or have to pay. You can find your council's homepage on Gov.uk to check if discounts apply.

A 'no waiting' or 'no parking' sign lets a driver stop temporarily, maybe to let out a passenger or unload some goods, but you can't linger there.

Many residential streets will have on-street parking bays marked out. However, these are often only for permit holders. That means you need to live in the area, pay for a permit and display it in your vehicle to park there.

'You must not park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it. Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs.'

There's no fixed amount, and the cost depends on where you get your ticket - charges are usually higher in London. You usually have 28 days to pay, but if you pay within the first 14 days the amount can drop by 50%.

Parking rules in London mean that parking commercial vehicles in residential streets overnight is banned in boroughs across the city.

In the weeks leading up to an event that’s expected to cause disruption, the local councils should usually have signs up explaining what’s going to change.

Australia roadsign

The Blue Badge Scheme specifies how many disabled parking spaces a council needs to provide in council car parks or on-street. If you park in a disabled bay and you don't have a Blue Badge displayed, you could get a fixed penalty notice.

You can stop on a single or double red line to pick up or set down a Blue Badge holder - the badge must be displayed clearly and you must move off promptly.

The easiest and safest place to park is in a marked parking bay, either in a car park or at the road side. They're purpose built to provide parking spaces that are more secure, usually monitored by CCTV and in a good location for local amenities. These are marked by a large white ‘P’ on a blue background.

Penalty Charge Notices, commonly called parking tickets, are issued by Civil Enforcement Officers (England and Wales) or Parking Attendants (Scotland).

You'll receive a Parking Charge Notice if you park illegally on private land. Privately owned car parks can set their own restrictions and fines so always look for signs regarding parking restrictions.

In private car parks like supermarkets, the council doesn't have the power to issue tickets. There may be a private company enforcing the parking rules which can issue a fine (a parking charge notice) or you might be asked to move your car.

Single red lines mean you can’t park, stop or load during specified time periods that should be displayed clearly on surrounding signs.

As with disabled spaces in private car parks, you could be asked to move your car if you've wrongly parked there. Check the signs to see if there are guidelines on the age of the children it applies to as well.

Some permit parking restrictions only apply during certain hours of the day or days of the week. Check the parking signs to see if there are times when you're allowed to park there without a permit.

The problem is, sometimes it’s hard to know what the rules are when it comes to parking. Yellow lines, white lines, red lines - they all have different restrictions.

You can usually stop to drop off or pick up passengers unless signs say otherwise or there are small yellow lines marked on the pavement at right angles to its edge. If these yellow markings are in pairs, it means no loading or unloading at any time - if they're single markings, check the signs for what you can and can't do.

The Highway Code explains that double yellow lines “indicate a prohibition of waiting at any time even if there are no upright signs.”

Some people might assume restrictions on parking around busier routes don't apply on a bank holiday since the usual traffic of people won’t be there. This is wrong.

If there aren't any signs to restrict parking, you can park on a residential street as long as you follow all the other rules about yellow lines, double yellow lines and white lines. (And make sure not to park on the pavement in London unless signs allow it.)