Parking Ticket Time Limits: When Must a Notice Arrive?
The answer depends on which type of notice you received. Identify the issuer and legal scheme before relying on a 14-day or 28-day rule.
This article will provide simple and clear information on:
- The difference between a Penalty Charge Notice and a private parking ticket.
- Reasons you might get a Penalty Charge Notice.
- Steps to prevent getting a Penalty Charge Notice.
- The effects of not paying a Penalty Charge Notice.
- The process of appealing against a Penalty Charge Notice.
We know how annoying a private parking fine can be, as, believe it or not, over 19,000 parking fines are issued each day in the UK1. But don’t worry, we’re here to help with lots of helpful tips and examples to guide you through the process.
Not sure what to write in your parking appeal?
You don’t need to start with a blank page.
We’ve created a free parking ticket appeal letter template that gives you a clear structure to follow.
Free editable parking appeal letter template from MoneyNerd.
Does a Penalty Charge Notice have to be issued within 14 days?
Some postal council PCNs normally must be served within 28 days, subject to statutory exceptions. Other initial notices and later documents have different rules.
Councils do have legal service time limits. A delay in obtaining keeper details can permit an extension only if the applicable statutory conditions are satisfied.
Check the particular regulations and dates, including any DVLA request and response, rather than applying a universal 14-day information-request rule.
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Parking charge notice time limit
For keeper liability under Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 in England and Wales, a notice without an earlier notice to driver normally must be delivered within 14 days after the parking period. If a compliant notice to driver was first given, the keeper notice normally must be delivered on days 29–56 after that notice. Other conditions also apply.
These are conditions for statutory keeper liability, not a universal deadline after which every private parking claim disappears. A failure can prevent recovery from the keeper under Schedule 4 while a claim against an identified driver may still be possible.
You could have grounds to appeal if the operator failed to follow private car park rules and signage guidelines.
POPLA is working hard to address issues that cause unfair parking fees. Main issues are often with technology and third party ticket issuers2.
What’s Included in the Free Appeal Template
A clear structure
The template gives you a simple framework for putting your parking appeal together, so you don’t have to work out what to write from scratch.
What you’ll add
- Your parking charge details
- Why you’re appealing
- Any relevant evidence
- What you want the parking company to do
Easy to adapt
Just replace the sections in [square brackets] with the details of your own situation and edit the wording where needed.
You’ll get the template by email so you can save it, edit it and use it when you’re ready.
Free parking appeal letter template from MoneyNerd.
How long can you be chased for a parking ticket?
You can be chased for a Penalty Charge Notice for many years. However, an issuing authority will likely chase you for payment much sooner.
Council civil PCN debt follows its statutory enforcement procedure. Traffic Enforcement Centre registration is not an ordinary CCJ recorded on your credit file.
Private parking trade-association membership is separate from the council PCN process. Non-membership does not automatically cancel a private charge or make it safe to ignore.
What happens if you don’t pay a Penalty Charge Notice?
A charge certificate can add 50% only when the statutory conditions are met. A timely challenge or appeal affects the process; the increase is not automatic after the first 28 days.
The authority issues the charge certificate. If it remains unpaid, debt registration at the Traffic Enforcement Centre and an Order for Recovery can follow.
A charge certificate normally gives 14 days to pay. The later Order for Recovery sets out its own payment or permitted witness-statement/statutory-declaration deadline.
And if you ignore the order, they could try to recover payment using enforcement officers, more commonly known as bailiffs.
When they use bailiffs, you will have to pay their fees, which can be expensive. That said, they’ll try to recover the money before visiting you are your home.
If you don’t pay, they can seize some of your possessions to clear the debt.
Feel more confident before you send your appeal
Writing a parking appeal can be difficult when you’re not sure what to include or how to structure it.
Our free template gives you a clear starting point, helping you:
- Set out what happened clearly
- Explain why you’re disputing the charge
- Include the important details
- Avoid starting from a blank page
Simply adapt the template to your own circumstances before sending it.
Free parking appeal letter template from MoneyNerd.
What happens if you don’t pay a private parking ticket?
You’ll be chased for the debt if you don’t pay a parking ticket.
A private operator can bring a civil claim against the person it says is liable. A valid debt can exist before judgment. If judgment is unpaid, it may seek a lawful enforcement method; not every method is available in every case.
In England and Wales, a judgment paid in full within one month can normally be removed from the register. Payment later can mark it satisfied, but it usually remains for six years from judgment.
You would have trouble getting credit for that amount of time.
Ready to appeal your parking ticket?
Don’t start with a blank page.
Get our free parking ticket appeal letter template and use it as the starting point for your response.
Add the details of your parking charge, explain why you’re appealing and adapt the wording to your circumstances.
We’ll send the template straight to your email.
Free parking appeal letter template from MoneyNerd.
Can you appeal against a PCN?
Follow the stage and deadline on the actual council document. A windscreen parking PCN normally permits an informal challenge before the Notice to Owner, but a prior informal challenge is not compulsory.
Formal representations are normally made in response to a Notice to Owner or a postal PCN inviting them. An informal rejection does not necessarily start that stage by itself.
A representation is a letter describing why you believe the PCN should be cancelled.
You might argue that:
- You were legally parked
- The payment machine was broken
You’ll need to back up these claims with evidence, such as:
- Statements from other people
- Photos
You can appeal to an independent tribunal if the council rejects your representation.
The appropriate tribunal depends on where the contravention occurred and the scheme, not simply where you live. The formal rejection identifies the route.
- England and Wales (outside of London)
- London
- Scotland
- Northern Ireland
To make the appealing process a bit clearer, here’s a quick table summarizing the key aspects and the different stages you’ll go through.
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| On receiving a council PCN | Read the notice, keep it, gather evidence and note all payment and challenge deadlines. |
| Windscreen or handed-to-driver PCN | An informal challenge may be available before the Notice to Owner. Early challenge can preserve a discount under the authority’s policy; 14 days is not a universal final appeal deadline. |
| Postal PCN or Notice to Owner | Normally make formal representations within 28 days as stated on the notice. Do not assume there is an extra informal stage. |
| Representations rejected | The Notice of Rejection explains how to appeal to the appropriate independent tribunal, normally within 28 days. |
| Appeal unsuccessful | Pay by the deadline given in the decision or obtain advice on any available review. Further statutory charges can follow if you do neither. |
| Other ticket type | Private parking charges and FPNs use different procedures; follow the actual notice. |
Further guidance: Traffic Penalty Tribunal; Citizens Advice.
References
