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:

•  What private land is.
•  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 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. 

Do You Have to Pay?

In many circumstances, parking tickets are not enforceable.

It’s a bit sneaky, but last time I had a parking fine, I paid £5 for a trial to chat with an online solicitor called JustAnswer.

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

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What is private land?

The definition of private land is any property that is owned by entities other than a government.

As such, I’ve included examples of private land in the UK here:

• Supermarket owners
• Businesses
• Retail parks
• Hospitals
• Clinics

Is it illegal to park on private land?

You are not allowed to park on somebody else’s private land, which is not a car park.

Parking regulations on private property are referred to as unauthorised parking rather than illegal parking.

But you can park on private land owned by:

• A supermarket
• Hospital
• Business
• Regular private car park

You usually have to pay for parking when you leave your car on private land. 

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.

What is a Parking Charge Notice?

A Parking Charge Notice is a “fine” issued by a private landowner or private car park operator for parking on their land and not paying the required parking fee.

In short, it’s a private parking ticket you’d get because you didn’t pay at all or overstayed the time you paid for.

However, a Parking Charge Notice is not an actual fine. These “fines” are more like invoices.

Parking Charge Notice vs Penalty Charge Notice

Do not confuse a Parking Charge Notice with a Penalty Charge Notice.

Whereas private car park operators issue the former, the latter is issued by local councils for illegal parking in public areas, such as the high street.

A Penalty Charge Notice is a “real fine”. 

Can I ignore a parking ticket from a private company?

You could ignore a parking ticket from a private company and get away without having to pay.

But as I see it, this is risky, and the car park operator could take further action against you, which eventually forces you to pay.

Ignoring the parking ticket could also increase how much you have to pay. 

In short, the consequences of not paying private parking tickets could be expensive.

You might not have to pay

In many circumstances, parking tickets are not enforceable.

The last time I had a parking ticket, I paid £5 for a trial with an Online Solicitor called JustAnswer.

They advised me on the appeals process and helped me to create a successful airtight defence. It’s a bit of a no-brainer!

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What happens if you don’t pay a parking ticket?

If you don’t pay a private land parking ticket, the company will either stop chasing you for payment or take court action.

They could ask a small claims court to give you a court order to pay.

And if you don’t pay, they could ask to use private parking enforcement action, including the use of bailiffs (enforcement officers).

Not paying a Penalty Charge Notice is more serious.

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 bailiffs visit me at home?

Yes, bailiffs can visit you at home to recover an unpaid parking ticket when a judge issues an order to pay against you.

It’s one of the enforcement actions for unpaid parking tickets that bailiffs can take.

But they will typically try to contact you to recover the amount owed before they visit your home.

Remember, once there’s a court order against an unpaid parking ticket becomes a debt.

Are parking fines on private land enforceable?

Private parking companies cannot force you to pay their fine.

However, the fine may be enforced if a small claims court judges that you must pay.

Thus, a parking fine on private land is not initially enforceable, but it can become enforceable if the car park operator takes legal action against you and wins.

UK law on private parking enforcement means there must be a court order to pay in place.

Can you appeal private land parking charges?

You are allowed to appeal against private parking charges if you believe the ticket is unjustified.

You must make your appeal within so many days of receiving the Parking Charge Notice, as stipulated on the ticket. 

How do you appeal against private parking tickets?

You challenge a private land parking charge by making an appeal detailing why you believe the parking ticket should be cancelled.

You should provide evidence to support your appeal, which may be:

·        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.

I’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. 

The role of the DVLA

Accredited car park operators can ask the DVLA to provide details of a vehicle’s registered keeper.

Only trade association members can retrieve the details so they can mail Parking Charge Notices to the registered keepers.

That’s how the DVLA aids in private parking enforcement in the UK.

Free parking ticket guides at MoneyNerd

Further support and information to help you deal with parking tickets are available for free at MoneyNerd. We hope you found what you needed in this guide, but don’t forget to check out our other parking fine guides soon.