Received a private parking charge you believe is wrong? Start by checking the notice, signs, evidence and deadline. This guide explains the operator appeal and independent appeal routes.
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In this straightforward guide, we’ll help you understand:
- The difference between Penalty Charge Notices and Parking Charge Notices.
- If you really have to pay the fine.
- How you can appeal a parking ticket.
- Time limits relevant to a private Parking Charge Notice.
- Ways to avoid a parking fine in the future.
We understand that getting a parking fine can be very annoying. It may seem scary and confusing but don’t worry, we’ll provide clear steps and advice to help 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.
The two types of parking tickets
Two common types of parking notice are civil Penalty Charge Notices and private Parking Charge Notices. Other procedures, including Fixed Penalty Notices and byelaw notices, also exist, so identify the notice before choosing an appeal route.
The two types of parking fines are either Penalty Charge Notices or Parking Charge Notices.
Even though they sound similar and have the same abbreviation (PCN) they should be dealt with differently. You need to know which one you have to know how to appeal your specific parking ticket.
Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) explained
A Penalty Charge Notice is a type of financial penalty to a motorist from a local council or Transport for London. They are predominantly issued for parking contraventions and traffic offences, such as driving in a bus lane. But they can be issued for missing road toll deadlines as well.
I’ve come across good excuses for a parking ticket appeal, but it’s also worth knowing when there are exceptions made, such as blue badge holders or other forms of disabled parking.
A council parking PCN may be served by a Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) acting under the relevant statutory scheme.
A CEO may hand over or fix a PCN to the vehicle. Postal parking PCNs are permitted only where the statutory conditions are met; CCTV evidence alone does not authorise every postal notice.
If you received a Penalty Charge Notice and want to make a Penalty Charge Notice appeal, the information below won’t be relevant to you. Instead, head back to our council and police fines page and select Penalty Charge Notices.
A challenge should explain why the notice is wrong or why cancellation is justified, with supporting evidence. Consider the discount and appeal deadlines; making an appeal does not guarantee cancellation.
Parking Charge Notice (PCN) explained
A Parking Charge Notice is a private parking ticket issued by a private car park operator or other private company.
The parking company that issues the fine could operate a standalone car park, or the car park could be attached to a hospital, supermarket or retail park.
If you park on private land and don’t pay the required parking fee, the company that owns the land can issue you with a parking ticket called a Parking Charge Notice. This could be left on your vehicle or sent in the post when the contravention is caught on camera.
Can you appeal a parking ticket?
Council and private notices have different challenge routes and deadlines. Submit in time wherever possible; a late challenge may sometimes be considered, but acceptance is not guaranteed.
The rest of this guide will be dedicated to appealing unfair parking fines from a private company.
Can I challenge a PCN after payment?
Payment normally closes the operator’s standard appeal process and may prevent a POPLA or IAS appeal. If you want to dispute the charge, check the appeal rules before paying. A contractual parking charge is a civil matter, so “guilt” is not the appropriate test.
Some motorists may be tempted to pay the discounted fine within the first 14 days before appealing, in the hope that they will get the money back if they win the appeal.
This isn’t the case, but some private parking operators will hold the discounted rate if you make an initial appeal within the timeframe that the discounted fine is still offered.
Thus, it’s sometimes possible to make an initial appeal and still pay the reduced fine if it gets rejected. But you need to check that your PCN issuer offers this, and you’ll need to be quick to make your appeal to qualify.
What if the operator is not a trade-association member?
Check whether the operator belongs to the BPA or IPC approved operator scheme. Membership affects access to DVLA keeper data and the normal independent appeal route, but non-membership does not by itself invalidate a parking contract or claim.
Do not ignore a notice, letter before claim or court claim solely because the operator is not an accredited trade-association member.
An operator may already have contact details or obtain information through another lawful route. If you dispute the charge, consider the evidence and seek advice about responding without unnecessarily identifying the driver. Never give false information.
Use the BPA or IPC website to check the relevant scheme and complaint route.
How do you formally challenge private parking tickets?
Unlike the council parking fine appeals process, there isn’t typically an informal and formal appeal for private parking tickets. Appealing a parking ticket from a private company is usually just one type of appeal.
This is a bit different from council parking fines because recipients of these fines can submit an informal appeal within so many days before having to make a formal appeal called a representation.
The private parking fine appeal is comparable to a council parking fine representation, so you could say it’s already a formal appeals process.
How do I appeal a parking ticket UK?
The process for appealing private tickets from private companies can differ between issuers.
But on the whole, appealing a parking ticket requires you to either:
- Write a letter stating why you think the ticket should be canceled and supporting your letter with evidence
- Uploading a letter or statement to an online portal on the PCN issuer’s website along with supporting evidence
Either of these usually has to be done within 28 days of receiving the Parking Charge Notice.
How do I write a letter to appeal a parking ticket?
Your parking ticket appeal letter should start by stating relevant personal information and your vehicle registration number and your PCN number.
It should then clearly explain the reason or reasons why you believe the parking ticket should not have been issued against you. Your letter should also refer to supporting evidence when possible.
If you want to save time and write an effective appeal, you can download MoneyNerd’s free parking ticket appeal letter template. This free resource gives you a fantastic starting point to launch your appeal.
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.
Free parking appeal letter template from MoneyNerd.
Can you appeal a parking ticket if the machine is broken?
You may or may not be able to use a broken ticket machine as an excuse to get out of your private parking ticket. There are some private parking companies that don’t accept this as an excuse.
Some car park operators will put up signs or add to their terms and conditions that if you cannot pay for parking due to an out-of-order machine, you should leave the car park and not use the facility.
If you don’t pay because the machine is broken and this is included in the company’s terms and conditions, it may not work as a good parking ticket appeal excuse.
If you do plan on appealing for this reason, it’s important to get evidence of the broken ticket machine. This can easily be done by taking a photo or a video of you trying to pay.
Is there a time limit to issue a PCN?
The 14-day rule concerns a particular route to keeper liability in England and Wales, not the validity of every private parking charge. If no windscreen notice was given, a Notice to Keeper normally must be delivered within 14 days for Schedule 4 keeper liability. If a windscreen notice was given, the normal delivery window is days 29 to 56, and other statutory conditions must also be met.
A late or non-compliant Notice to Keeper can prevent an operator relying on Schedule 4, but it does not automatically extinguish a valid claim against the driver. Keep the notice and envelope and check the keeper-liability requirements. Different rules apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
How can I avoid a Parking Fine?
Nobody wants a parking ticket, and sometimes you may miss a sign or lose track of time, which then leads to a parking fine. However, there are ways you can avoid this in the future:
- Use parking apps
- Research parking restrictions in areas you frequent
- Refresh your knowledge on signage
- Set alarms when parking in an area with a time limit
What is the best excuse to appeal a parking ticket?
There are several excuses that are good for appealing a parking ticket. The best parking ticket appeal excuses are truthful and backed up by solid supporting evidence, such as photos, videos or witness statements.
Here are some examples of excuses people have successfully used in the past:
- The Notice to Keeper does not meet the applicable statutory conditions and the operator is relying on keeper liability
- The parking ticket machine was broken (could be contested as explained above)
- Parking signs were removed, damaged or unclear
- You broke down
- You were involved in an emergency situation that prevented you from getting back to your vehicle in time
- The charge was issued within a grace or consideration period that applied under the relevant code and circumstances
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.
How long does a parking company have to respond to an appeal?
The BPA/IPC industry code requires an operator to respond to an appeal within 28 days or acknowledge it and give a completion timeframe if it cannot decide within that period. There is no general private-parking rule that silence for 56 days automatically cancels a charge. Check the applicable code and complain through the operator and trade association if it is not followed.
Keep a copy and proof of posting or electronic submission. Proof of posting is useful evidence but is not the same as confirmation of receipt. Check any acknowledgement and follow up promptly.
How successful are ParkingEye appeals?
Parking Eye is one of the largest car park operators in the UK and frequently sends out PCNs.
An appeal outcome depends on the evidence and facts. Check the notice, signs, payments and camera timings rather than relying on another motorist’s outcome or an assumed success rate.
Private parking ticket appeal rejected – what now?
If your private parking ticket appeal is rejected you can accept the company’s decision and pay the fine, or you might decide you want to keep fighting the parking ticket.
You can escalate a private parking fine appeal to an independent group if you think the company has made the incorrect decision. There is sometimes a time limit on your rights to escalate the appeal, typically 28 days from the date of the initial rejection.
The exact method of escalating the PCN appeal must be told to you at the same time the car park operator rejects your first appeal. But the main details are outlined below.
Appeal to POPLA or the IAS
An eligible rejection under the BPA scheme normally gives a POPLA verification code. For Scottish and Northern Irish charges, POPLA accepts the driver or an authorised representative of an identified driver, not a keeper-only appeal.
But if the PCN issuing company is a member of the International Parking Community (IPC) instead, you should escalate the appeal to the Independent Appeals Service (IAS) unless told otherwise.
The IAS standard appeal is free and normally must be lodged within 28 days of the operator’s rejection. A later non-standard appeal may be available in specified circumstances, can involve a fee and is binding on both parties. Read the IAS rules before choosing that route.
How successful are appeals to POPLA?
POPLA decides eligible appeals on their evidence and the applicable rules. A historical overall success rate cannot predict your case. Use the rejection notice’s code and deadline, and submit your grounds and supporting documents clearly.
Are parking tickets legally enforceable?
A valid private parking charge may be legally owed before court action. If disputed or unpaid, the operator may bring a civil claim. A court decides a contested claim; a judgment and the proper enforcement process are needed for court enforcement measures.
Take a letter before claim or court claim seriously and respond within its deadline, even if an appeal has already been rejected.
Can I ignore a parking ticket from a private company?
If you ignore a private parking company you run the risk of being taken to court and having to pay more because you could have to pay court costs. You could also be subject to a court order that affects your credit file.
Is a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) a criminal Offence?
No, Parking Charge Notices won’t result in a criminal record.
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.
