Parking fines and penalty charge notices
Challenging a ticket
You may be able to challenge your ticket if you think it鈥檚 wrong.
If you lose your ticket, contact the ticket issuer to find out how to challenge.
Challenging a penalty charge notice (PCN)
You have 28 days to challenge a PCN. If you do it within 14 days and your challenge is rejected, you may only have to pay 50% of the fine.
Check the ticket - there are different rules for some types of PCN.
| Type of PCN | How you usually challenge it |
|---|---|
| Local council PCN - received on the spot, for example on your windscreen | Make an informal challenge with the council |
| Local council PCN - received in the post, for example you were sent a 鈥榥otice to owner鈥� | Make a formal challenge (called a 鈥榬epresentation鈥�) with the council |
| Dart Charge PCN | Make a representation with Dart Charge |
| Red route PCN | with Transport for London (TfL) |
| Congestion charge PCN | with TfL |
| Low emission zone PCN | with TfL |
You will not have to pay the fine if your informal challenge is accepted.
If your informal challenge is rejected
You鈥檒l get a 鈥榥otice to owner鈥�. It will explain how to pay or make a formal challenge.
Making a formal challenge
You have 28 days to make a formal challenge (called a 鈥榬epresentation鈥�) after you get a notice to owner. You must:
- explain your reasons for challenging the PCN in as much detail as possible
- provide copies of any evidence or documents to support your challenge
You will not have to pay the fine if your representation is accepted.
If your formal challenge is rejected
You鈥檒l get a 鈥榥otice of rejection鈥� - it will give you 28 days to pay or appeal to an independent tribunal.
If you do not pay or appeal, you鈥檒l have to pay a late penalty (鈥榗harge certificate鈥�).
Challenging a fixed penalty notice (FPN)
You need to go to a magistrates鈥� court. The back of the ticket will tell you how to do this.
You鈥檒l be sent a summons with a date to attend a court hearing.
Challenging a standard or excess charge notice
Check the ticket or contact the ticket issuer for:
- ways to challenge
- what you can do if your challenge is rejected
Challenging a ticket from a private company
Check the ticket to find out who the issuer is. Contact them to find out how to challenge the private parking ticket.
If your challenge is rejected, you can appeal to an independent appeals service. Find out if the ticket operator is a member of an accredited trade association by looking at the ticket or their website.
Appeal to:
- (Parking on Private Land Appeals), if the operator is a member of the British Parking Association (BPA)
- (Independent Appeals Service), if the operator is a member of the International Parking Community (IPC)