Leeds Parking Fine - Should You Pay or Appeal?

Just got a Leeds parking fine and wondering whether to pay it or appeal? You’ve come to the right place for help. Each month, over 130,000 people use our website to get guidance on fines and parking tickets.

In this article, we’ll give you simple instructions on:

What a Leeds parking fine is.
If you need to pay Leeds parking fines.
How to make an appeal against a Leeds parking fine.
How much is a bus lane fine in Leeds.
What can happen if you don’t pay the fine.

Churchill Motor Insurance reports that in 2022, UK councils issued an average of 19,631 daily parking fines, a 12% increase from the previous year.¹ So rest assured, you’re not alone.

Don’t worry; we’re here to help with lots of helpful tips and examples.

Most Appeals Succeed

In some circumstances, you might have a legitimate reason not to pay your fine.

It’s a bit sneaky, but the last time I needed legal advice, I paid £5 for a trial to chat with an online solicitor called JustAnswer.

Not only did I save £50 on solicitor feeds, I also won my case and didn’t have to pay my £271 fine.

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Ask a question,get an answer ASAP!

*Around 35,000 people dispute their tickets each year with the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, and a striking 64% of those appeals are successful, so it’s well worth a try.

What is a Leeds parking fine?

A Leeds City Council parking fine is called a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

They shouldn’t be mixed up with Parking Charge Notices, which can be issued by private parking companies in Leeds.

The Penalty Charge Notice can be issued to drivers for:

Parking illegally in public areas, such as in a no-loading bay
Not paying for parking in Leeds Council areas
Overstaying in a paid-for parking bay
Driving in a bus lane (more on this later!)

The Penalty Charge might be left on your vehicle by a Leeds City Council warden, or it can be sent to you in the post.

The council can find out your address by giving the DVLA the car registration plate, which would mean the registered keeper receives the fine – not necessarily the driver.

Interestingly, the registered keeper is always liable, even if they weren’t the driver at the time of the contravention.

How much is a Leeds parking fine?

A Penalty Charge Notice for a parking contravention is usually £50 or £70.

There is a lower and higher amount to pay, which is determined by the seriousness of the offence. But you can get 50% off the fine if you accept liability and pay within 14 days of it being issued.

Therefore, a Leeds parking fine may only cost you £25 or £35.

Private Leeds parking fines can currently be more expensive, but in the future, they’re mostly going to be capped at £50.

Successful Appeal Case Study

Situation

Initial Fine	£100
Additional Fees	£171
Total Fine	£271

The Appeal Process

Scott used JustAnswer, online legal service to enhance his appeal. The trial of this cost him just £5.

Total Fine	£271
Cost of legal advice	£5

JustAnswer helped Scott craft the best appeal possible and he was able to win his case.

Scott’s fine was cancelled and he only paid £5 for the legal help.

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In partnership with Just Answer.

How do I pay for a parking ticket in Leeds?

You can pay a Leeds parking fine:

Online
Via bank transfer
By cheque
Over the phone

The easiest way to pay is online by using the council’s payment portal.

You’ll need your PCN reference number to make the payment.

Click here to find out how to pay via a bank transfer, over the phone, or by cheque.

Leeds City Council parking fine appeal process

You can appeal a Leeds Council PCN within 28 days.

The appeal must be in writing by sending a letter or by uploading your written appeal to the council’s online appeal portal.

Before appealing, you can view the photographic or video evidence the council holds against you.

This will help you decide if appealing is a good idea or not. In some cases, the evidence could work against the council and favour you.

Your appeal must include at least one reason you think the Penalty Charge has been incorrectly issued.

It’s better if you can support claims with evidence yourself.

Rejected appeals can be escalated to an independent tribunal. Instructions on how to do this will be provided on the rejection notice.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer

PCN Common Defences

If you believe the PCN was unjustly issued, you do have the opportunity to appeal. However, it’s essential to carefully consider the defence you can present.

There are a few common PCN defences that you can use if you decide to appeal your ticket.

Common PCN Defence	Explanation
You were parked correctly	By law, your ticket should be cancelled if you haven’t broken any parking laws.
Unclear, incorrect, or missing signage	It is a legal requirement that all parking areas or roads with parking restrictions have clear road markings or signage. You also have a good defence if your ticket was sent in the post, but there were no signs warning of CCTV or ANPR systems when you parked.
You had no way to pay	You can appeal your ticket if you can prove that the only available ticket machine was broken or damaged. You also won’t win your appeal if there is a sign telling you not to park if there is no way of paying.
It wasn’t you who committed the parking infraction	The ticket should be cancelled if you didn’t commit the parking infraction as someone else was driving your car.
You couldn’t get back to your car	People with some disabilities or small children are protected from discrimination by the 2010 Equality Act. Struggling to get back to your car could be legitimate grounds for appeal.
Your car had broken down	If you got a ticket whilst waiting for your car to be towed or fixed, you have strong grounds for appeal. The ticket issuer should have understood that you physically couldn’t move it.
You were only just out of time	Late by just 5 or 10 minutes? You can appeal as you are entitled to a ‘grace period’ after your parking time runs out.

What are the consequences of not paying a PCN?

As previously mentioned, you risk being taken to court if you don’t pay a PCN.

Not only that you’d get a county Court Judgement (CCJ) which will stay on your credit file for 6 years if you don’t pay it within 30 days.

You would have trouble getting any sort of finance until the CCJ expires.

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How much is a bus lane fine in Leeds?

A bus lane fine from Leeds City Council will cost £60, reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.

You also have the right to appeal a Penalty Charge Notice for an alleged bus lane fine in Leeds within 28 days.

Leeds parking fine contact details

To discuss a parking fine or other parking services with Leeds City Council, you can call 0113 378 5000 between 8.30 am and 5 pm on weekdays. Or you can send an email to [email protected].