Can You Get a Parking Ticket While in the Car?

Have you just received a parking ticket while sat in your car and are wondering what to do next? Welcome! This article is here to help you.

Every month, more than 130,000 people who are dealing with fines and parking tickets visit our website seeking advice. So you’re in the right place.

We are going to share clear and simple information about:

The kinds of parking tickets you can get in the UK.
What happens if you don’t pay for a parking ticket.
How to decide if you should pay or not.
The best way to appeal a parking ticket.
How to avoid getting a parking ticket while sat in your car.

We know that getting a private parking fine can be very annoying. But don’t worry; we have lots of useful tips and examples to help you handle this.

Types of UK parking tickets

There are different parking tickets in the UK. The two main UK parking fine types are the Penalty Charge Notice and the Parking Charge Notice. Both are sometimes referred to as PCNs.

A Parking Charge Notice is basically an invoice from a private landowner or company. They are not actual fines, but the company can take you to court to make you pay. Parking Charge Notices are usually served within two weeks of the company obtaining contact details from the DVLA.
A Penalty Charge Notice is a fine from a local authority for a parking contravention (or a minor road offence) on council land. They are considered real fines and can easily be enforced and increased if you don’t pay or appeal. Local authorities have 28 days to serve a PCN.

Local authorities can also issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) and Excess Charge Notices (ECNs).

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

If you don’t pay or appeal a Penalty Charge Notice within 28 days, you will receive a charge certificate, and your fine will increase by 50%. This fine needs to be paid within 14 days, or the local authority may take you to court to make you pay. The local authority could use bailiffs to recover payment if you still don’t pay. You may need to pay additional fees if you refuse to pay.

If you don’t pay a Parking Charge Notice, the private company will chase you or ask a debt collection agency to do it. You may receive letters, calls and texts threatening additional fees and legal action.

From my experience, many private companies will take you to court to make you pay. If this happens, bailiffs could be sent to your home to recover your debt. I have compiled some information to help you understand the difference between Penalty and Parking Charge Notices.

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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Can you get a parking ticket while sitting in your car (UK)?

You can get a parking ticket when sitting in your car. Whether you are in your car, out of your car or doing a handstand on top of your vehicle is irrelevant. If you are guilty of a parking contravention, you can always be issued a parking fine.

However, a new rule is coming into effect that could help you if you’re sitting in your car preparing to leave. Keep reading this MoneyNerd guide to find out what it is.

What type of parking ticket can you get?

You could get a Penalty Charge Notice or a Parking Charge Notice while sitting in your vehicle, depending on whether you’re parked on council or private land. Both types of parking tickets can be issued to someone who has committed a parking contravention while sitting in their vehicle.

If you receive your ticket in the post, it is likely the local council or private company caught you on camera. Some car parks use number plate recognition software and CCTV cameras to issue different kinds of parking fines in the UK.

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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How much will the fine be?

The parking fine will be the same if you are outside of your vehicle or sitting inside it.

The fine for a Penalty Charge Notice will vary depending on the seriousness of the parking contravention and the location of the contravention within the council area. You can usually expect to pay between £60 and £80. However, the local authority must give you a 50% discount if you pay within 14 days. So you could end up paying as little as £30.

If you received a parking fine from a private landowner or car park management company, they could charge you up to £100. New rules are said to be coming into force to cut this amount in half. However, this new cap is not yet in place.

How long does a parking attendant have to wait?

Parking attendants working for the council or private car parks must now give drivers a ten-minute grace period. They cannot issue you a parking ticket within ten minutes after your paid-for parking has run out.

This means you could be sitting in your car preparing to leave and not be allowed to be given a ticket. The ten minutes is for you to exit the car park, not just for getting to your vehicle.

The ten-minute grace period only applies when the driver has parked legally, such as paying for their parking initially and using the correct parking spots. It doesn’t apply if the driver has not lawfully parked, such as failing to pay for parking or parking in places they are not allowed.

Does a PCN have to be attached to a vehicle?

Penalty Charge Notices and Parking Charge Notices aren’t always served by being placed on your vehicle. Instead, the council and private parking firms can send the parking ticket in the post.

How is a PCN issued in the UK?

Local authorities and private parking companies issue tickets by first identifying parking contraventions on specialist cameras that track number plates, then asking the DVLA for the registered vehicle owner’s address. They will send the PCN to the address, giving the recipient 28 days to pay or appeal.

Who can the DVLA give my details to?

According to DVLA data sharing regulations, the DVLA can provide local authorities with your details when necessary.

Only private parking companies that are members of an Accredited Trade Association (ATA) can get the registered vehicle owner’s details from the DVLA. Before paying a fine, check if the company is an ATA member by contacting the International Parking Community (IPC) or calling the British Parking Association (BPA) on 01444 447 300.

How can you appeal a parking ticket?

You must appeal your parking fine in writing to the council or car park management company that issued the ticket. This appeal has to be made within 28 days, or it may not be accepted.

Your appeal, also called a representation, should state why you want the ticket cancelled. You should include evidence to back your appeal, such as a photo, witness statement, letter or video.

You can escalate the appeal to an independent tribunal if it is rejected. The process slightly differs depending on whether you’re fighting a council or private parking ticket.

This MoneySavingExpert forum user escalated their appeal to POPLA. Later on in the thread, they mentioned using the argument that the 10 minute grace period was not given and that they were parked in the car park to have a meal at Mcdonalds. Ultimately, this forum user won their appeal and did not have to pay.

Can you get a parking ticket when sat in your car? (Quick recap)

If you are guilty of a parking offence, you can still be issued a parking ticket if you sit inside your vehicle. Some people sit inside their vehicles without paying, thinking they will leave if a parking attendant comes by. But this doesn’t always work.

Many locations now use specialist CCTV cameras to monitor the car park and individual vehicles. So don’t assume that you can drive away if a parking warden is on their way. You may have already been clocked on camera, in which case you can expect the parking ticket in the post.

Don’t Get Scammed!

It is possible that the parking ticket you received is fake. Fake parking tickets can be placed on your car, sent by post or even to your email address.

Never pay a parking fine until you verify the ticket!

If you think a parking ticket is suspicious, check the sender, read the ticket carefully, and ensure the details are correct. In addition, you can tell a parking ticket is fake if it contains typos or is sent from a suspicious address. I’ve put together a guide to help you spot a fake parking ticket.

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.