Council Parking PCNs: Payment and Appeals

Received a council parking PCN? Check the alleged contravention, evidence, amount and deadlines on the notice before deciding whether to pay or challenge it.

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In this article, we’ll cover:

• What a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is.
• Why you may have received a PCN.
• How much you can expect to pay.
• How you can pay your PCN.
• What happens if you appeal your PCN.

We understand how stressful dealing with debt can be, as many of us have been in your shoes – worrying about house visits and trying to figure out how to get debt-free. We’re here to help you figure things out and understand how to deal with your PCN in the best possible way.

Let’s dive in!

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What is a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN)?

A Penalty Charge Notice is a type of fine predominantly issued by local councils across the UK. These fines can be issued for a small number of different reasons, including for alleged parking contraventions on public land. 

A parking Penalty Charge Notice might be left on your vehicle for when you return. This is done by a council worker called a Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO).  

A postal notice is normally sent using DVLA registered-keeper details, but the keeper and legal owner are not necessarily the same person.

A postal parking PCN can be used only where the relevant legal conditions permit, such as specified camera-enforcement situations or where a CEO was prevented from serving a notice. CCTV evidence alone does not authorise every postal PCN.

If your parking fine isn’t from a council… 

If your parking fine isn’t from a local council, there’s a good chance it’s from a private parking company and is actually called a Parking Charge Notice – not a Penalty Charge Notice. 

If you have a private parking fine, we’ve provided lots of free help and support in dealing with these private companies elsewhere. Head to our private parking fines page to uncover what you need to know.

Or if you have a Fixed Penalty Notice instead, you’ll find more info on these by jumping back to our police and council fines page. 

Why have I received a PCN?

For civil council parking penalties, liability normally rests with the vehicle’s owner, who is generally presumed to be the registered keeper. There are exceptions and grounds to challenge liability, including some hire arrangements, a vehicle taken without consent or a change of ownership. Follow the notice’s procedure if you believe you are not liable.

There are lots of reasons why you could receive a PCN, including:

1. Parking on double yellow lines
2. Parking on single yellow lines when not allowed
3. Other forms of illegal parking and ignoring parking restrictions
4. Not paying to park in local council parking areas
5. Overstaying in local council parking areas

How long does a local authority have to issue a PCN?

There is no single 14-day or 28-day deadline that applies to every council parking document. A PCN handed to the driver or fixed to the vehicle, a postal PCN and a Notice to Owner follow different rules.

In England, a postal parking PCN is normally subject to a 28-day service limit, with statutory exceptions. A Notice to Owner following an on-street PCN can normally be served after 28 days and, in exceptional circumstances, up to six months from the relevant date. Rules elsewhere in the UK differ. Check the document type and the issuing authority’s guidance before arguing that a notice is late.

More on Parking Fines From the Council

If you’re looking for information about a parking Penalty Charge Notice for a particular municipality, why not check out the content I’ve written about location-specific council parking fines?

How much is a PCN (UK)?

Amounts depend on the authority and contravention. London borough parking rates are £160 or £110 in Band A and £140 or £90 in Band B, before a 50% discount where available. TfL red-route PCNs are £160. Use the amount and deadline on your notice; these are not UK-wide rates.

A 50% early-payment discount is commonly available, but the period depends on the notice and procedure. It is often 14 days and may be 21 days for certain postal camera PCNs. Use the deadline printed on your notice.

London red route PCNs are sent by Transport for London (TfL) rather than a local authority. 

Do you get points for a Penalty Charge Notice?

No, you won’t receive any points on your driving licence if you receive a Penalty Charge Notice for a parking contravention. 

The penalty for these minor road offences is financial only. 

How to pay a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN)

Directions on how to pay your Penalty Charge Notice will be explained on the Penalty Charge itself. 

Available methods vary by council and may include:

1. Over the phone using a 24/7 automated payment line
2. By sending a cheque in the post
3. By paying with cash at select locations, such as council libraries 
4. Or online via the council’s website

It’s common for people to go to the relevant council website and pay online. The council is likely to have a dedicated online portal where the individual can view evidence held against them and make the payment.

To locate their council parking fine and pay, the individual will need to enter their vehicle registration number and their PCN number first.

What is a PCN number?

A PCN number is a unique identifier of your Penalty Charge Notice. It’s like a reference number for each council parking fine. 

How do I find my PCN number?

The PCN number is located on the Penalty Charge Notice. It might be located in different positions on the notice deepening on which local authority issued the fine. However, it’s usually written at the top of the notice on the left-hand side. 

If you’ve lost your PCN and therefore your PCN reference number, you will need to contact the council and ask for further instructions. Some local councils have a dedicated email address to solve this problem. 

Are PCNs legally enforceable?

A civil Penalty Charge Notice can be enforced through the statutory process. In England and Wales, an unpaid penalty may be increased and registered at the Traffic Enforcement Centre, followed by an Order for Recovery and, if unresolved, a warrant. This is not the same process as an ordinary County Court Judgment for a private parking claim. Do not ignore official documents.

What happens when you don’t pay a council parking ticket (UK)?

After a windscreen parking PCN remains unresolved, a Notice to Owner may be served under the statutory rules. A postal PCN can already provide the formal representation stage, so do not assume another notice and an extra 28 days will follow.

The Notice to Owner explains the alleged owner liability, payment deadline and grounds for formal representations. Respond even if you previously made an informal challenge.

A charge certificate can increase the penalty by 50% only when the legal conditions are met. Timely representations and appeals affect that process; an increase is not automatic merely because the first 28 days passed.

An unpaid charge certificate may lead to statutory debt registration, a registration fee and an Order for Recovery. A warrant may follow if the process remains unresolved. Traffic Enforcement Centre registration is not an ordinary CCJ on a credit file.

Can you appeal a PCN?

You can make an informal and formal appeal against a parking Penalty Charge Notice. Even if your informal appeal is rejected or you don’t make one, you can still make a formal appeal. The formal appeal is also called a representation. 

An informal challenge is normally available before the Notice to Owner. Some councils preserve or re-offer the discount for a timely early challenge, but follow the actual notice and published policy.

So if the appeal is rejected, you might still have the opportunity to pay a reduced fine!

Make formal representations within the period stated on the Notice to Owner or qualifying postal PCN, commonly 28 days from service. Explain the real legal or factual grounds and include relevant evidence.

How to make council parking fines appeals

A PCN appeal is usually submitted through the local council’s website using the same online portal which is used to view the evidence against you and pay the fine. 

You might be able to upload your own appeals letter here, or you might have to fill in an online appeals form. 

There is also an option to submit your formal appeal by sending a letter if you prefer not to use the online service. 

What grounds can support a parking challenge?

Use truthful facts and evidence. Depending on the circumstances, relevant grounds or requests for discretion may include:

1. Signage was damaged, removed, unclear or obstructed from view
2. A statutory grace period applied. In England, the ten-minute rule generally concerns the end of an authorised stay in a designated parking place; it does not permit parking on yellow lines or excuse an initially unlawful stay.
3. You were involved in an emergency (medical) situation
4. You paid and an error was made
5. You were parked legally and an error was made

How do I write a letter of appeal for a Penalty Charge Notice?

A Penalty Charge Notice letter of appeal should first identify you and your fine by providing personal details and the PCN number. 

It should then politely make your arguments against the parking fine. You won’t be expected to reference specific parking legislation, but you can do this if you wish.

The letter should include appropriate evidence to support your argument against the council parking fine. For example, it might include a witness statement, photographic evidence or even a police crime reference number

How long does a local authority have to respond to a PCN appeal?

For formal representations under England’s civil parking rules, the authority must normally serve its decision within 56 days of receiving the representations. This is not a universal deadline for informal challenges or every UK penalty scheme. Keep evidence of submission and check the relevant rules before relying on a time-limit argument.

If you decide to send a letter instead of using the online appeal service, it’s important to keep a copy and a record of your appeal. This way you can prove that the deadline to respond has passed – if it does. 

What happens if you appeal a PCN and lose?

If you submit a formal PCN appeal and lose, you can either:

1. Accept the decision and pay the fine within a further 28 days.
2. Appeal to the independent tribunal named in the Notice of Rejection, within its stated deadline.

Independent appeals for London council parking PCNs generally go to London Tribunals. Relevant cases in England outside London and Wales go to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own procedures. The rejection notice explains where and how to appeal. An appeal is free to lodge, but you may lose a discount and exceptional costs orders are possible.

A rejection of formal representations explains the statutory tribunal route. An informal rejection is an earlier stage and does not normally give an immediate tribunal appeal.

What do I do if you lose your council parking ticket UK?

If you lose your council parking ticket and need to pay or appeal, it’s important to get in touch with the local council that issued it quickly. 

If you delay, you could miss an opportunity to pay a reduced fine and miss the deadline to appeal.