Parking in Permit Holders Only Fine – Pay or Appeal? 

Have you received a fine for parking in a ‘permit holders only’ spot and are not sure if you should pay or appeal?

You are at the right place. Our website is visited by over 130,000 people each month to get guidance on fines and parking tickets.

This piece will give you easy-to-understand information on:

•  What permit parking is in the UK.
•  If you must pay for a ‘permit holders only’ fine.
•  How to appeal a ‘permit holders only’ fine.
•  Tips on avoiding a ‘permit holders only’ fine.

We know it can be upsetting to get a private parking fine. But don’t worry; you’re not alone. In fact, over 19,000 parking fines are issued each day in the UK¹.

We have loads of helpful advice and examples to guide you through the process. Whether you’re dealing with a council’s parking enforcement policy, a digital permit system, or a parking solicitor, we’ve got you covered.

You got a parking permit holders only fine – now what?

You will often receive a PCN, Parking Penalty Charge Notice tucked under your windscreen wiper, although some may be stuck onto your windshield.

On other occasions, they’ll get your address and the PCN will be sent to your home. ²

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 you³

Keep in mind that, like other PCNs, you can choose to pay or appeal the permit holder only parking fine.

Appeal Process Steps

If you’re interested in appealing, it’s important to understand the steps you should take.

That’s why I’ve created this table that explains the appeal process. For more information, don’t forget to read our complete guide.

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.

Keep in mind that since the early repayment period is frozen when you submit an appeal, you can still get the discount if your appeal is rejected, and you choose to pay the fine afterwards. 

Do not pay the fine if you are going to appeal.

Appeal first, and then wait for the outcome and further instructions. But make sure you follow the right parking fine appeal process.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer

What is the fine for unauthorized parking?

For most councils in the UK, parking in a permit holder-only parking space will be charged at £70.

However, in London, parking fines can be up to £130. That’s the cost of parking violations in the UK.

Common Mistakes Leading to a Parking Fine

Motorists often think parking restrictions don’t apply during bank holidays and weekends. Unfortunately, it’s a common mistake that leads to receiving a permit holder only parking fine.

It’s a good idea to check the signage because there are times when you can park and other times when you’d get a fine.

Understanding parking restrictions and when they are in operation could save you a lot of money.

How can you pay your permit holder only fine?

The acceptable methods of payment for your permit holders only fine will be found on the local authority websites. 

Typically you will find both a payment portal for parking fines and an appeals portal on the website.

In both cases, you’ll need:

• The PCN reference number
• The vehicle registration

You can also usually pay via phone and in person. 

The quickest way to determine which council you should pay the fine is to use the Gov.UK postcode finder (for England and Wales). For parking fines not issued by a council, read the information on the parking ticket to find the issuing body.

When paying your permit holder only parking fine, you usually have 28 days to pay in full. Or to take advantage of up to 50% if you pay within 14 days (21 for some councils). 

What happens if your parking fine appeal is rejected?

Informal appeals that have been rejected become eligible for a formal appeal. Formal appeals are known as “making formal representations”.

Each council will have their procedure for making a formal appeal for parking fines so I suggest you check with the relevant authority. A Notice to Owner (NtO) ordering you to pay the initial fee will be sent to you if your formal appeal is unsuccessful. It also offers guidance on how to appeal to impartial parties.

After the NtO is issued, you have 28 days to pay or appeal. The council will raise the penalty by 50% if you do neither.

If you continue to fail to pay, the debt will be reported to bailiffs and lodged with the county court.

What if you don’t appeal or pay?

You mustn’t ignore a PCN, whether a private company issued it or a council body. The risks of ignoring parking fines outweigh appealing or paying it/

Once you have passed the early-repayment period and the 28 days standard payment period, additional charges will be added to the original fine. Continuing to take no action to pay your PCN or appeal will result in the council passing the fine to an enforcement agent (bailiff).

An enforcement agent will add more charges on top of the original fine. 

Permit holders only Monday to Friday rules

When you come across a sign saying, ‘Permit Holders Only’ Mon – Fri’, it means you mustn’t park a vehicle there between 8am and 6:30pm on Monday to Friday without a permit.

References

1. Sky News — Parking Tickets Statistics
2. GOV.UK – Ask DVLA for information
3. The Sun – Check Your Parking Ticket