Got a Parking Fine? How to Appeal and Win

Got a parking fine and think it's unfair? You're not alone. Millions of parking tickets are issued in the UK every year, but a significant number are successfully appealed. Here's exactly how to challenge yours.

Types of Parking Tickets

First, identify what you're dealing with:

Council Parking Fines (PCN)

These are Penalty Charge Notices issued by local councils for parking on public roads. They're typically £50-£70 outside London, or £110-£160 in London.

Private Parking Charges

These come from private companies like Smart Parking, UKPC, or ParkingEye. They're technically invoices, not fines, and are based on contract law rather than criminal law.

Police Fixed Penalty Notices

Rare, but issued for serious offences like parking on zig-zag lines near crossings.

The Golden Rules

Never ignore a parking ticket. Even if it's unfair, ignoring it will cost you more. The charge increases if you don't respond.

Pay or appeal within 14 days. Most tickets have a 50% discount if paid within 14 days. If you're going to appeal, do it within this window so you don't lose the discount if you fail.

Valid Grounds for Appeal

For Council PCNs:

• Signs were unclear or missing - Take photos showing the signage wasn't visible
• Road markings were obscured - Worn lines, covered by leaves, etc.
• Machine was broken - Note the time and date; councils have records
• You were loading/unloading - But only for a reasonable time
• Blue badge holder - If the badge was displayed correctly
• Emergency situation - Medical emergency, breakdown, etc.
• Already left the location - Ticket was issued after you drove away
• The traffic order was invalid - Technical but can work

For Private Parking Charges:

• Signs weren't prominent enough - BPA code requires clear signage
• Grace period not given - Should be at least 10 minutes
• Driver wasn't the keeper - They need to prove who was driving
• Terms weren't displayed - Contract wasn't clearly communicated
• Camera evidence is wrong - Check entry/exit times carefully
• Mitigating circumstances - Medical emergency, breakdown

Step-by-Step: Appealing a Council PCN

Step 1: Informal Challenge (Within 14 Days)

Write to the council explaining why the ticket is unfair. Include:

• Your name and address
• PCN reference number
• Vehicle registration
• Your grounds for appeal
• Any evidence (photos, receipts, witness statements)

The 14-day discount period is usually paused while they consider your appeal.

Step 2: Formal Representations (Within 28 Days of NTO)

If your informal challenge fails, you'll receive a Notice to Owner (NTO). You have 28 days to make formal representations. This is free and you should include:

• All your original evidence
• Response to their rejection
• Any additional grounds

Step 3: Independent Tribunal

If formal representations fail, you can appeal to an independent tribunal:

• Traffic Penalty Tribunal (outside London)
• London Tribunals (in London)

This is free and you don't need to attend in person. The tribunal is independent and councils lose about 50% of cases that reach this stage.

Step-by-Step: Appealing Private Parking Charges

Step 1: Appeal to the Company

Write within 28 days challenging the charge. Be factual and include evidence.

Step 2: Independent Appeals Service

If rejected, you can escalate to:

• POPLA (if the company is a BPA member)
• IAS (if the company is an IPC member)

This is free and their decision is binding on the parking company (but not on you).

Step 3: Ignore the Debt Collectors

Private parking companies often use threatening letters from "debt collection" departments. Many are just internal teams with scary letterheads. Unless they take you to court (rare), you don't have to pay.

However, since the POFA 2012, parking companies can hold vehicle keepers liable even if they can't identify the driver.

Template Appeal Letter

"Dear [Council/Company Name],

I am writing to appeal Penalty Charge Notice number [X] issued on [date] at [location].

I believe this PCN was issued incorrectly for the following reasons:

[State your grounds clearly]

I enclose the following evidence in support of my appeal:

[List your evidence]

I request that this PCN be cancelled and I be informed of the outcome within 14 days.

*Yours faithfully,

[Your name]"*

Success Rates

The data shows that many appeals succeed:

• About 50% of council PCN appeals are upheld at tribunal level
• Private parking appeals through POPLA succeed around 40% of the time
• Companies drop many cases before tribunal because it costs them money to proceed

Red Flags for Scam Tickets

Watch out for:

• No company name or address
• No appeals process mentioned
• Demands for immediate cash payment
• Threatens criminal prosecution (private tickets can't do this)

Take Action

Don't pay an unfair parking ticket. Use our complaint letter generator to create a professional appeal, gather your evidence, and fight back.