Does a Parking Ticket Have to be Placed on the Car?

Have you received a private parking fine and aren’t sure what to do next? You’re in the right place. Each month, over 130,000 people visit our website for help with fines and parking tickets. 

This article is here to help you. In a simple way, it will explain:

•  If a parking ticket must be placed on your car.
•  The difference between council and private parking tickets.
•  How you can pay or appeal against a Penalty Charge Notice.
•  If a parking ticket can harm your credit score.
•  What to do if your car breaks down and you get a ticket.

The DVLA report that over 11 million parking tickets were issued last year, which is up by 29% year on year!¹. So, you’re not alone in this situation.

We understand that getting a private parking fine can be upsetting and we’re here to help you with advice based on real examples and lots of useful tips.

Does a parking ticket have to be placed on a car?

A parking ticket doesn’t have to be placed on your car.

You can receive a Penalty Charge Notice or Parking Charge Notice in the post when there are ANPR cameras in a car park.

If you are the registered keeper, the issuer will contact the DVLA² for your address using your car registration plate.

We were recently featured in The Sun about parking tickets, where we 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 you.³

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Keep in mind that not having a Penalty Charge Notice on your window has some benefits.

If the ticket arrives in the post, you have a longer to claim the discounted amount. Instead of 14 days to pay the reduced rate, you may be given 21 days to pay a reduced fine. 

Moreover, if you appeal a Penalty Charge Notice and the fine is left on your windshield, you have to make an informal appeal before making a formal appeal (representation).

Appeal Process Steps

POPLA is working hard to address issues that cause unfair parking fees. Main issues are often with technology and third-party ticket issuers.⁴ If you believe the ticket was unfairly issued, you can appeal your parking ticket. To do so, it’s crucial to understand the process.

Here’s a quick table that explains the steps involved. If you’d like to learn more about the appeal process, don’t forget to read our specialized 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.

How long do you have to be parked to get a ticket?

Most car parking wardens working for the council or a private car park, such as Sip Parking, will give motorists a grace period of ten minutes.

You could have grounds to appeal if a parking ticket is issued before the grace period expires.

Can you get a parking ticket if your car is broken down?

You might still get a parking ticket if your car has broken down in a parking bay. However, you could use this as a reasonable excuse to contest the parking ticket and have it cancelled.

We suggest you keep any evidence that you did break down if this happens to you. 

What supporting evidence should you provide?

The more evidence you can provide to support an appeal, the stronger the appeal will be.

We suggest you provide the following:

• Photos of payment machines not working
• Photo of the ticket you purchased to park (time-stamped images)
• Photos of missing or unclear signs/road markings
• Witness statements

Is a parking ticket legal if it has the wrong registration number on?

You should ask why your parking ticket has the wrong registration number.

It could be a clerical error, genuine mistake or a sign that you have received a parking ticket intended for someone else. 

How do you know if a parking ticket is real?

As we see it, checking whether a parking ticket is fake is always a good move to avoid scams.

Using their online contact details, you can cross-check the info with the issuing authority or private car park operator. Plus, parking tickets are NEVER issued by email!

Parking restrictions for Blue Badge Holders

Having a Blue Badge doesn’t entitle you to park where you want.

Like other road users, you must follow the “rules of the road”. Plus, the government has added a list of places where Blue Badge holders cannot park on their website.

We suggest you always check with a local authority before parking anywhere you are unsure about.

References

1. RAC Foundation – Parking Tickets Statistics
2. GOV.UK – Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency
3. The Sun – Check Your Parking Ticket
4. POPLA — Parking on Private Land Appeals Annual Report