Aldi Parking Fine – Should I Pay or Appeal?
Did you get a parking fine at Aldi and feel unsure about what to do next? You’ve come to the right place for answers. Each month, over 130,000 people visit our website for advice about parking fines.
In this article, we’ll show you:
- What an Aldi parking fine is and why you might have got one.
- If you need to pay it straight away.
- How to say the fine is not fair, if you think that’s true.
- What could happen if you decide not to pay.
Churchill Motor Insurance reports that in 2022, UK councils issued an average of 19,631 parking fines every day. That’s an increase of 12% from the previous year!1
So, it’s quite common to feel concerned about parking fines. Don’t worry, we’re here to help you understand what to do next.
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What is an Aldi parking fine?
An Aldi parking fine is a fine for breaking the terms and conditions of using one of Aldi’s free car parks.
Most people receive an Aldi parking fine because they use the car park but don’t actually shop at Aldi or because they overstayed the parking time limit of 90 minutes.
Because Aldi outsources the management of their car parks to Parking Eye, you’ll receive a parking ticket if you commit a breach of terms, which is why it may also be known as an Aldi Parking Eye parking fine.
Private parking fines like these are officially known as Parking Charge Notices.
Here is an example of someone’s experience from an online forum:
“My wife has just received a £40 parking fine from Parking Eye for parking on an Aldi-owned car park which has on its site an Aldi store (obviously!), Iceland, Ladbrokes and McDonalds. […] The notice arrived today saying that she spent 2 hours and 10 mins parked there, stating that there are signs saying 1 hour 30 min maximum stay.”
Bendrarin (Money Saving Expert Forum)
How does their car park work?
Aldi offers free parking to motorists who shop at an Aldi store.
Some store car parks have height restrictions, and there may be other conditions to using the car park, such as registering your vehicle address within a store computer or parking time limits.
Parking Eye, an outside company, is in charge of car park enforcement at Aldi and dishing out a parking ticket to anyone who contravenes the restrictions.
Parking Eye may have installed specialist CCTV cameras in Aldi car parks to prevent drivers from using the car park when they shouldn’t.
Check the right challenge process
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Check whether you need to make an informal challenge, formal representations or an independent tribunal appeal. Follow the route and deadline printed on your notice. London cases generally go to London Tribunals; relevant cases in England outside London and Wales go to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. Other UK jurisdictions have different procedures.
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Is there a time limit?
Yes, there are limits restricting the length of time you can park in an Aldi car park, even when you’re using the car park to shop at the store.
The exact time limit may differ between locations due to how busy each store can become, but generally, the Aldi car park time maximum stay duration is 90 minutes.
This will be enough time for most people to do their weekly grocery shop, but not everyone, especially those with children or people looking after someone with a disability.
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Can you park in Aldi overnight?
No, you shouldn’t use an Aldi car park overnight.
This would breach multiple conditions of using the car park, including the need to use the Aldi store, and you’ll exceed the time limit of 1.5 hours.
Moreover, leaving your car in an Aldi car park overnight wouldn’t be considered safe and could raise a range of security concerns.
If you left your car in an Aldi car park overnight, you’d likely receive an Aldi parking fine in the post.
How Much is their Parking Charge Notice?
Parking Charge Notices are currently capped at £100 with a minimum 40% discount that must be offered to people who pay within the first 14 days.
However, new laws have been passed that will cap Parking Charge Notices at £50 in most cases.
So in the near future, the most you could be charged for an Aldi parking fine will be £50 in most cases. This will also be subject to an early-bird discount, making them even cheaper.
It’s important not to confuse Parking Charge Notices with Penalty Charge Notices, as they’re very different in how they must be handled and what consequences they can bring.
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The appeal process
You can appeal the Aldi parking ticket instead. You must do this within 28 days, and the appeal should be sent to Parking Eye – not Aldi.
Your appeal should state why the Aldi parking fine is unfair and may require supporting evidence. Parking Eye has 56 days to respond.
There’s due process that must be followed when appealing a parking fine. Here’s a quick table summarizing it.
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| On receiving a council PCN | Read the notice, keep it, gather evidence and note all payment and challenge deadlines. |
| Windscreen or handed-to-driver PCN | An informal challenge may be available before the Notice to Owner. Early challenge can preserve a discount under the authority’s policy; 14 days is not a universal final appeal deadline. |
| Postal PCN or Notice to Owner | Normally make formal representations within 28 days as stated on the notice. Do not assume there is an extra informal stage. |
| Representations rejected | The Notice of Rejection explains how to appeal to the appropriate independent tribunal, normally within 28 days. |
| Appeal unsuccessful | Pay by the deadline given in the decision or obtain advice on any available review. Further statutory charges can follow if you do neither. |
| Other ticket type | Private parking charges and FPNs use different procedures; follow the actual notice. |
Further guidance: Traffic Penalty Tribunal; Citizens Advice.
Use MoneyNerd’s free parking appeal letter template as a starting point. The form asks for contact details to deliver your template. Check your notice’s instructions and deadlines, and adapt the wording to your circumstances. This is general information, not legal advice; no outcome is guaranteed.
You can escalate the appeal to POPLA for free if the appeal is rejected. They’re an independent appeals service for private parking fines and will sort out dispute resolution.
They will follow a process to see whether your claim is valid.
There are only two possible outcomes; you will either have your parking charge notice cancelled or be asked to pay.
You can contact Citizens Advice for further advice if your appeal is unsuccessful.
Before using a paid legal information service
Paid general legal information from JustAnswer.
A paid service is optional. Gather your notice and evidence, check the deadline and decide whether you need professional advice about your circumstances.
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Memberships renew automatically until cancelled. Check the initial price, renewal price, billing interval and cancellation terms.
The standard service does not create a solicitor-client relationship. No successful outcome is guaranteed. JustAnswer’s membership and cancellation information.
References
