Parking Fines on Private Land – What you need to know
Have you received a private parking fine and are now wondering what to do next?
This is the perfect place for you. Every month, more than 130,000 people visit our website seeking advice on fines and parking tickets.
In this easy-to-understand article, we’ll cover:
- The rules about parking on private land.
- How to spot and understand parking signs.
- What a Parking Charge Notice is.
- How to appeal against a private parking fine.
We know that getting a private parking fine can be very annoying, but you’re not alone. Research shows that over 19,000 parking fines are issued each day in the UK1.
Don’t worry; we have plenty of useful tips and real examples to help you make the best choice. So, whether you’re thinking about paying the fine or appealing it, we’ve got you covered.
56% of Ticket Appeals Succeed
In some circumstances, you might have a legitimate reason not to pay your parking 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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*According to Martin Lewis, 56% of people who try to appeal their ticket are successful and get the charge overturned, so it’s well worth a try.
Is it illegal to park on private land?
Parking regulations on private property are referred to as unauthorised parking rather than illegal parking.
- A supermarket
- Hospital
- Business
- Regular private car park
Are parking fines on private land enforceable?
UK law on private parking enforcement means there must be a court order to pay in place, but there are some exceptions.
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Importance of signage on private land
Landowners and car park operators must erect proper parking signs and follow signage regulations for UK private parking.
According to the British Parking Association (BPA), signs must be clear and easily visible to motorists who use their car parks.
You could have grounds to challenge a parking ticket if the signs are unclear or missing.
Can you ignore a parking ticket from a private company?
In short, the consequences of not paying private parking tickets could be expensive.
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.
In partnership with Just Answer.
What happens if you don’t pay a parking ticket?
They will send you a charge certificate if you do not pay these council parking fines within 28 days.This automatically increases the fine by 50% and gives you 14 days to pay before taking court action.
Can you appeal private land parking charges?
| Process: | Steps you should take: |
|---|---|
| When you receive the ticket… | You should gather as much evidence as you can to support your appeal claim and prove that the ticket was unfairly issued. |
| If you were given the ticket in person/attached to your car… | You must make an informal appeal (sent to the local authority/council that issued the PCN) within 14 days. This should be a letter with the evidence proving why the ticket was incorrectly given. |
| If it was posted to you… | You will be given 21 days to submit an informal appeal (from the day you received the letter). Your informal appeal should be a letter with the evidence proving why the ticket was incorrectly given. |
| If the informal appeal is rejected… | You will receive a Notice to Owner and will have 28 days to respond to this with a formal appeal. You can conduct the formal appeal online or via paper form. The Traffic Penalty Tribunal can send you one of these forms. |
| If the formal appeal is rejected… | You will receive a Notice of Rejection. From here, you are free to challenge the council’s verdict at an independent tribunal. |
| If the independent tribunal disagrees with your appeal… | You should pay the ticket within 28 days of the tribunal rejecting your appeal. If you don’t, the fine will be increased by 50%. If you don’t have the money to pay the fine, you should contact Citizens Advice or another debt charity. |
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How do you appeal against private parking tickets?
· Photos
· Statements from witnesses
The specific appeals process should be made clear by the company that issued your private parking ticket.
If your appeal is rejected, you also have the opportunity to take your appeal to an independent appeals service.
The appeals service to use is based on which trade body the car park company is a member of.
Note: Make sure you follow the right steps to challenge a private parking fine as detailed on the parking ticket you receive.
Misconceptions and myths about private parking tickets
There are many myths and misconceptions about private parking tickets.
We’ve listed some of the common misunderstandings about private parking charges here:
- You don’t have to pay a private parking ticket. Not true. The issuer could take you to court and win a case. Once an order to pay is issued, you must pay the parking ticket
- You can ignore a Parking Charge Notice: Not true. It is a risky decision which could earn you a County Court Judgement
- Private parking tickets are not enforceable. Not true. As previously mentioned, the issuer could start court proceedings to recover what you owe
Check out what happened to one person who got a CCJ for not paying a Parking Charge Notice.
Source: Moneysavingexpert
Private land parking tickets time limit
The private car park operator usually has 14 days to issue you a Parking Charge Notice. But this timeframe can be extended in some circumstances.
Some private car park operators will place the Parking Charge Notice on your vehicle.
But other car parks don’t use parking wardens and instead rely on specialist cameras to spot motorists who don’t pay.
They get your address from the DVLA and send the parking fine in the post using your vehicle registration if you are the registered keeper.
They should serve the private parking ticket within 14 days, but they can get much longer if the DVLA is slow to provide your information.
Hire a Parking Solicitor for less than a coffee.
If you’re thinking about appealing your parking ticket then getting some professional advice is a good idea.
Getting the support of a Solicitor can make your appeal much more likely to win.
For a £5 trial, Solicitors from JustAnswer can look at your case and help you create an airtight appeal.
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