Do Parking Fines Expire in the UK?

Have you received a private parking fine from 4 years ago and are unsure if it’s still valid?

This is the right place to find answers. Every month, over 130,000 people visit our website looking for guidance on issues related to fines and parking tickets.

In this simple guide, you’ll learn:

• The time limit on parking fines. 
• The different types of parking fines.
•  If you must pay these fines.
•  The consequences of not paying a parking ticket.

We know how concerning receiving a private parking fine can be. But don’t worry; you’re not alone! In fact, over 19,000 parking fines are issued each day in the UK.¹

We’re here to clear any doubts about the expiry of parking fines in the UK and help you to make an informed decision about paying or appealing.

Let’s dive in!

Is there a time limit?

There is a time limit for private parking companies to issue you with the Parking Charge Notice.

As long as the parking fine has “Protection of Freedoms Act”² written on it, the company must issue the parking fine within 14 days of the incident. 

Moreover, if the parking company left the Parking Charge Notice on your vehicle, and you haven’t responded to it, they must send another one within 56 days of the incident.

However, none of these time limits apply when the Parking Charge Notice doesn’t state “Protection of Freedoms Act” anywhere on it. 

This information comes from Citizens Advice³, which also states that:

Council parking fines usually have to be issued within 28 days from the date of the incident. They may take longer if the DVLA is slow to respond with the vehicle keeper’s address. 

How long can a company chase you?

Some online forums advise drivers to ignore Parking Charge Notices, suggesting they won’t take legal action. Sometimes, they can be right, and ignoring them won’t result in litigation or having to pay the fine. 

Side note – this is still a risky strategy. 

If you’ve followed this route and ignored a Parking Charge Notice in the past, you may be wondering how long a company can chase you for a parking ticket?

Well, after a long time spent researching, the answer wasn’t always clear. So. we may not have the correct answer.

Lane & Co Solicitors state that an unpaid invoice falls within the statute barred law.

This means any unpaid invoice must be acted upon with litigation within six years before it can no longer be enforceable.

The six-year time limit to start legal action on an unpaid invoice begins from the date of the invoice.

As a Parking Charge Notice is considered an invoice, this should also apply. 

I’ve included a message posted by a motorist who received payment demands for a private park fine over 10 years old.

Source: Moneysavingexpert

What happens if you don’t pay?

Parking fine enforcement UK rules depend on the type of fine you’ve received.

A Penalty Charge Notice is an official fine, which means there is a strict process to follow.

But a Parking Charge Notice is only considered an invoice, so what can happen may differ from case to case. 

The legal consequences

The legal ramifications of unpaid parking tickets can be extensive.

For example:

• You could face dealing with debt collectors
• You may receive a court summons
• A default notice could be registered on your credit file (County Court Judgement)
• Bailiffs (enforcements agents) could be instructed to recover the amount owed

What are the different types?

Most motorists in the UK will receive one of two types of parking fines.

If the parking contravention was committed on public land, they’ll be issued a council parking ticket called a Penalty Charge Notice. 

But if the parking contravention was on private property – usually a private car park connected to a business like a supermarket – they will be issued a private parking ticket called a Parking Charge Notice.

Both of these parking fines can either be left on your vehicle or sent to you in the post.

The council and any private company that is a member of an Accredited Trader Association like the BPA can request the vehicle owner’s address from the DVLA.

This enables them to send the fine in the post to the registered keeper.

I was recently featured in The Sun about parking tickets, where I encouraged everyone to check whether the ticket was issued by a member of a trade association. If they aren’t, then they probably can’t get your details from the DVLA to pursue you.

Glossary of terminology

Protections of Freedoms Act – covers the use of fingerprints/DNA samples, regulation of CCTV, disproportionate enforcement of specific offences, counter-terrorism, safeguarding the vulnerable, freedom of information

Accredited Trader Association – approved schemes designed for members involved in parking management on private sites etc

Charge Certificate – a formal notice issued to a motorist when payment is late with details of an increase of 50%

Registered keeper – a person who drives a vehicle and typically has it in their possession

DVLA – Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority

Statute-barred – a debt that is too old to enforce as it has passed the statute of limitations on UK parking tickets.

References

1. Sky News — Parking Tickets Statistics
2. Legislation.gov.uk – Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
3. Citizens Advice – When to appeal a parking ticket