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If you’re reading this page, it’s likely that you or someone you care about has recently received a fine – and you want to know what your options are.
Council and police penalties are different from parking charges issued by private companies. The type of notice and where it was issued determine your options and the process for challenging it.
Use the sections below to find the relevant guide. Check the notice for payment and challenge deadlines, and do not ignore it. Procedures differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Council and Police Fines
What are council fines?
Local authorities can issue penalties for matters such as parking, bus lane and littering contraventions. The rules and challenge process depend on the type of penalty.
The most common type of council fine is issued to motorists for bus lane contraventions and parking contraventions on public land, known as a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). Another council fine you might have received is a council littering fine.
If you want to know more about council fines and how to deal with them jump on over to our page discussing council fines in more detail.
What are police fines?
Police fines are any fines issued by a police officer or police force. You can be given a penalty fine from the police for your behaviour in public, but the most common police fines are given to motorists who commit road offences, such as speeding.
Police can issue Fixed Penalty Notices for some offences. These have a different challenge process from council Penalty Charge Notices. Learn more on our police fines page.
Private Parking Charges
What are private parking charges?
Private parking operators issue Parking Charge Notices when they believe a motorist has breached the parking terms, for example by overstaying. These are contractual charges, not council or police fines, but they can be enforceable.
Whether a charge is valid depends on the circumstances. Our private parking charges guide explains paying and challenging these notices.