If you're sitting in a car in a parking space with a meter do you need to pay or only pay when you actually leave the car?

[DoverCliffs]

I'm waiting for an appointment and if I only pay 5 minutes before the appointment I save £1 ... and I've got 15 minutes to wait.
This is greater London by the way.
Thanks

You are using the car parking space so you will have to pay

You pay from when you park. If there is any sort of cctv camera monitoring you may find yourself fined.

You pay as soon as you park - you’re still using the space even if you’re still in the car.

I don't think there's any CCTV cos' I've done it before and not been fined.
Feeling guilty now as I prepare to jump out if I see a parking ticket person (insert guilty emoji here).

No way! Only if I see a traffic warden.

If I know there aren't cameras then definitely not!

@LIZS

You pay from when you park. If there is any sort of cctv camera monitoring you may find yourself fined.

This happened to me. It was one of those car parks where you have to enter your registration number and cameras clock you going in and out.

I spent 10 minutes waiting in an empty car park to pick DP up from the station (no parking at the station and nowhere to stop apart from quick drop off pick up) and didn't pay, because who would. I never even left the car, but got fined £100. I tried fighting it and offered to pay the £2 that I should have done, but felt I was getting nowhere, so paid up. Lesson learned.

I pay if I go into a car park. Coz of ANPR and parking eye stuff. But not in a metered bay.

I never pay car park charges.

You pay as soon as you park whether you’re spending the entire time in the car or getting out an exploring.

The charge is for the space - and you’re using the space by sitting in it. So you pay.

Agree the charge is for using a space, not for leaving your car there. But nobody expects you to leap out of your car immediately with the engine running as soon as your car goes into the space... so you might get away with faffing around with your bag/handbrake/boot for 10 minutes

Our local car park states you must buy your ticket within 15 minutes of entering.

Unless I'm being recorded going into the car park or there are rules about the time limit between pulling in and paying then nope, I pay when I'm leaving my car.

Definitely check for cctv. I got done once when I'd paid for an hour to pick the DC up from an activity but then spent ages faffing with car seats and snacks and was fined for going over.