Parking ticket appeals
Fight unfair parking tickets from public bodies
Got an unfair parking ticket from a public body? This step-by-step guide shows you how to appeal against unfair parking fines from councils, the police and Transport for London, and includes free template letters.
If your ticket is from a private firm instead, see our Fight unfair private parking tickets guide.
While every effort's been made to ensure this article's accuracy, it doesn't constitute legal advice tailored to your individual circumstances. If you act on it, you acknowledge you're doing so at your own risk.
We can't assume responsibility and don't accept liability for any damage or loss which may arise as a result of your reliance upon it.
First, a quick overview of parking ticket appeals...
In this guide we show you how to appeal against a parking ticket from a public body. Here's what you need to know in brief:
This is about PUBLIC parking tickets, not PRIVATE. So a ticket from a council or the police, for example. (We've a separate private parking guide.)
It's about fighting UNFAIR tickets. If you've been ticketed for breaking the rules, you'll need to pay up. But if you think it's unfair, do challenge it.
Never pay if you plan to appeal. This is considered an admission of liability.
There are various grounds for appeal. These are the official reasons a ticket can be ruled as unfair, such as wrong signs, the warden making a mistake (for example, they missed your blue badge) or an error on the ticket.
You can also claim mitigating circumstances, too. For example, getting a ticket while being ill, broken down or dealing with an emergency.
There are three main types of public parking ticket: Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), Excess Charge Notice (ECN) or Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).
Challenge unfair parking tickets in up to three steps. The route differs depending on which ticket you got – we show you how to challenge a PCN, an ECN and an FPN.
Parking ticket need-to-knows
Before we set off, it's crucial that you understand these key points about unfair tickets given by public bodies...
1. Official Penalty Charge Notices are different from Parking Charge Notices
Parking tickets can either be from:
Public bodies (such as councils or the police), OR
Private companies
This guide deals solely with official tickets, given by public bodies. If you've got one of these, it will be called a Penalty Charge Notice, Excess Charge Notice or Fixed Penalty Notice.
Tickets issued by private companies have the similar name of Parking Charge Notice
Agreed, it's confusing. But despite the similar name (and same abbreviation), they're actually completely different.
So if you've got one of these, you'll need our Fight unfair private parking tickets guide.
In this guide, we mainly focus on Penalty Charge Notices (the most common), but we do have help if you've been given an Excess Charge Notice (which are rare) or a Fixed Penalty Notice. All three of these ticket types have different appeals processes.
Ticket type | Issued by | What for | Legal status | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) | Council traffic wardens | Parking, bus lane violations, unpaid charges (such as ULEZ) & more | Civil matter (no prosecution risk for non-payment) | See your grounds to appeal. |
Excess Charge Notice (ECN) | Council traffic wardens | Parking offences | Criminal penalty | Here's what you should do. |
Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) | Police, councils, DVSA | Parking illegally, speeding, not wearing a seatbelt & more | Criminal offence (can lead to prosecution if ignored) | Here's what you should do. |
2. This is about fighting UNFAIR tickets
Parking laws are in place for safety and to help traffic flow, and should benefit us all. Yet mistakes happen, meaning you can be ticketed unfairly. That's the focus of this guide.
However, if you've blocked a school gate, parked on zigzag lines, or caused a huge traffic backlog by taking a break on a red route, this guide isn't intended to help. Even if it did, you'd have little chance of success.
So, if you think your ticket is genuinely unfair (check out the most common grounds for appeal and mitigating circumstances below), then read on.
You shouldn't be fined within 10 minutes of your ticket expiring
Councils offer a 10-minute grace period after your paid-for parking has ended, in which you shouldn't be charged, as long as you're parked in a council bay.
3. You'll need evidence to strengthen your appeal
If still at the scene, gather as much evidence as possible. If you're reading this after, it's still worth grabbing what you can, as this can be key to winning.
Your evidence should ideally be 'contemporaneous' (made at the time), to truly reflect the situation when you got your ticket, so act ASAP.
Here's what to collect:
Photographs. Snap any unclear signs, bay markings or lines, and areas where you believe they should be. Also take pics of where your car was, the meter and your ticket, plus anything else that might be relevant.
Correspondence. Keep the ticket and/or any other notice you've received, and copies of any info you've sent off.
Proof of mitigating circumstances. Keep anything relevant, such as receipts from a recovery company if you were broken down.
Witness statements. If anyone will corroborate your story, get their details and ask them to sign a statement – for instance, if it was impossible to see the signs or you were loading or unloading goods from your car and you stayed within the rules.
4. NEVER pay a parking fine if you plan on appealing
Paying the fine is considered an admission of liability – so if you want to appeal against a ticket, don't pay. But don't just ignore it either, as the charge will go up and up. Instead, follow our step-by-step guide on how to appeal.
However, if you've been clamped or towed away, you DO have to pay first to get your motor released, and then you can appeal afterwards.
5. Don't assume the driver's liable for the ticket
Official parking tickets are the responsibility of the vehicle's registered keeper – the person named on its V5C registration document – and not the driver. This applies throughout the UK.
The exception is if you've got a ticket while in a hire car. If this is the case, hire firms can either send you the payment demand or pay the ticket themselves and send you a bill, plus an admin fee. So if you've got a ticket while driving a hire car and want to appeal against it, let the hire firm know first.
6. The rules are different for postal tickets
You may have got a parking ticket through the post if you've been recorded on CCTV apparently breaking parking rules.
This of course makes it more difficult to gather evidence for an appeal, because the 'contravention' would have taken place days before. The only plus of being seen on CCTV is that you've 21 days to pay at the reduced rate, instead of the usual 14.
If you do decide to appeal against a ticket, there's no way of doing this informally, so you jump straight to making a formal appeal to the council. Read the information it sends carefully, as some will still allow you to pay the discounted rate after the formal appeal, whereas others won't.
What are the grounds for a Penalty Charge Notice appeal?
When appealing to a council, or the independent adjudicator if you take it further, there's a strict list of official grounds for appeal. These are the reasons a ticket can be ruled as unfair.
Both the local authority and adjudicator will consider mitigating circumstances too (these are more subjective, where they may decide in your favour even though you don't have a case legally). An example is if you've recently had a bereavement.
If you appeal on official grounds you've a good chance of beating the ticket, as long as you can prove your case. If you're citing mitigating circumstances, even if you think your case is strong, it's less certain.
Official grounds for a Penalty Charge Notice appeal
The signs were wrong. This is the one most people fall into, for example if the sign gave the wrong info or wasn't visible.
The traffic warden or council got it wrong. This one is if you simply shouldn't have been given a ticket – for instance, if your blue badge was displayed.
You've already paid the fine. If you paid in time, the parking ticket fine shouldn't have increased. Gather evidence to show you paid, or attempted to, such as bank statements or receipts.
The council made an error on the ticket or letter. This applies when councils have failed to include all the required information on their tickets or 'Notice to Owner' letters. (it's different for ).
The traffic rules are wrong. For example, a council might have added a new restriction, such as a yellow line, and didn't follow proper procedures for the 'Traffic Regulation Order' in doing so. You can check orders with the Traffic Penalty Tribunal or your council.
You didn't own the vehicle at the time. You'll need to prove you weren't the registered keeper at the time, which your log book (V5C) or dealer/showroom receipt will show. If you sold the car before the ticket, send copies of the receipt of sale, and proof you'd informed the DVLA.
The public body wrongly claimed the warden was stopped from giving a ticket. If the warden had the opportunity to put a ticket on the vehicle, the issuing body can't then decide to send one via post.
Your car was stolen. If the thief parks illegally, the ticket can be waived if you can prove the car was stolen – for instance, if you'd reported it to the police.
You were overcharged. The cost should be no more than the standard charges. These depend on the type of enforcement system used.
You can also claim there were mitigating circumstances
There are many other reasons why you may have been given a ticket unfairly, but these are not listed within the official grounds and are instead mitigating circumstances.
Essentially, it's where you've broken the rules but had good cause for doing so. You don't have an automatic right not to get a ticket in these circumstances, but many councils will take them into account.
There are no hard and fast rules, though mitigating circumstances could include:
Getting a ticket while broken down.
Tending to an emergency or clearing an obstruction from the road.
Dropping an ill patient off at hospital.
Being too ill to move your car.
A recent bereavement.
You needed to park to attend a funeral or were unable to move your car because you were attending one.
You were on holiday when the bay your car was in was suspended (temporarily stopping parking there) and the warning was erected while you were away.
You bought a ticket/had a permit but it fell off the window or was not visible to the warden (technically it's your responsibility to display the ticket correctly, so prepare for possible defeat, but it's worth appealing).
It's a first offence within that council's boundaries. Councils say this in itself is not a valid reason to waive the charge, but it's worth a go.
You're a law-abiding citizen who made an honest mistake, and you're now fully aware of the parking restrictions. Again, councils don't have to refund you on that basis, but there's no harm in asking.
When CAN'T I appeal against a Penalty Charge Notice?
There are also some reasons, that although might sound like good excuses, simply won't cut it – for example:
If you were getting change to put in a meter. You'll only have grounds for appeal if you were on the way back to pay for parking.
If you disagree with the parking regulations.
If you only parked illegally for a few minutes.
If you agree you were blocking the road or footpath.
If there was nowhere else to park.
Is it worth appealing against a parking fine?
Normally, if you pay a parking charge within 14 days of a ticket being issued, you can pay half-price – so it's important to weigh up the risks involved in appealing.
Crucially, most councils will let you submit an informal appeal and still pay the discounted rate if you lose, so doing so is an absolute 'no lose' scenario. If you think the ticket's unfair, you may as well give it a try.
But as the chart below shows (there's a text version of this too), the risk jumps if you make a formal parking ticket challenge – after that, if you end up paying the fine, you'll pay full price. So you may as well take it all the way if you make it this far.
Our flowchart starts at the point a Penalty Charge Notice is issued.
It shows that you have two options: fight or pay.
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If you pay, you can do so at half-price within 14 days of the ticket. Though if you make an informal challenge and lose, you can still pay at half-price within 14 days of the rejection letter. After this point, you must pay the full fine.
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If you fight, step 1 is to make an informal challenge. If you win, there's no fine; if you lose, as above, you can still pay half-price within 14 days of the rejection letter.
Step 2 is to make a formal challenge. Win and you pay nothing, while lose and you must pay the full fine.
Step 3 is to appeal to the independent adjudicator (56% of people win here). Win and you pay nothing; lose and you must pay the full fine.
Text description of parking ticket appeals process
How to appeal against a Penalty Charge Notice
Here's a step-by-step guide to appealing against a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) in England and Wales.
The rules are similar in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with small differences. For precise info, go to the First-Tier Tribunal for Scotland site or the Northern Ireland Traffic Penalty Tribunal site.
(If you've been given a Fixed Penalty Notice or Excess Charge Notice, the rules are different.)
Step 1. Make an informal challenge
If you've found a ticket on your car, it's worth first making an informal challenge – but do so within 14 days. That way, if you lose, most councils and Transport for London will still allow you to pay the fine at the reduced rate, so you won't have lost anything.
(If you had a ticket by post, there's no informal appeals procedure, so go straight to making a formal appeal.)
There should be an address or email address on the back of the ticket to challenge the penalty. As this is an informal process, there are usually no set grounds for appeal. You can send a letter or email, or some councils have an online informal appeals form.
Not sure what to write? Use our free template letter:
[Insert date]
[Insert name and address of parking ticket issuer]
Dear Sir or Madam,
Parking ticket number: [insert ticket reference number]
Vehicle registration number: [insert vehicle registration number]
[Include this section if you received a ticket on your car or delete]
I received a parking ticket on [insert date] but I believe [select 'the ticket was wrongly issued' or 'there are mitigating circumstances to explain why I had parked where I did'] and I would like to submit an appeal for the following reasons:
[Important: fill in the sections below and delete any bullets that don't apply]
I was not driving the car. I was not driving the vehicle at the time and am therefore not liable for any costs.
My car had been stolen. I was not driving my vehicle at the time of the alleged contravention because my vehicle had been stolen. Please see the enclosed correspondence from the police as evidence.
The alleged contravention did not occur. The parking attendant got it wrong and I was not parked inappropriately at the time the ticket was issued. This is due to the fact [insert reason here]. Please see attached evidence, [include and explain any evidence here], as proof of my appeal.
There was insufficient signage. I couldn't determine what the relevant parking restrictions were because there was no clear signage to explain them. Please see attached evidence, [include and explain any evidence here], as proof of my appeal.
Mitigating circumstances. There are mitigating circumstances to explain why I parked where I did so I am requesting that the fine be waived.
Please see attached evidence, [include and explain any evidence here], as proof of my appeal.
I cannot afford to pay the fine. I am a law-abiding citizen and I made an honest mistake but I cannot afford the fine. Please see attached proof of my financial position as evidence.
[Enter any further reasons to support your appeal and include as much detail as you can]
Yours faithfully,
[Insert your signature, if it's a letter]
[Insert your name (printed, if it's a letter)]
[Enclose ALL relevant evidence for your claim]
Our FREE informal council parking ticket appeal letter (PCN) ✉️
Step 2. Make a formal appeal
The next stage is a formal PCN appeal. If you've got this far, you'll have been sent a Notice to Owner (NTO), which demands full payment and also has a formal appeals form on it (see full details of ). This'll be for one of three reasons:
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You didn't make an informal appeal. If you ignored the ticket for the first 28 days and have been sent an NTO, it's too late to do an informal appeal. NTOs can take a while to come through, but you can still do a formal appeal.
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Your informal appeal was turned down. At this point, the council sends an NTO to the registered keeper. Once you receive it you've 28 days to pay or appeal, or the penalty could increase by another 50% and you'll lose the chance to appeal.
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Your ticket was posted to you. Here you'll be sent an NTO straightaway. If you appeal within 14 days, or 21 if seen on CCTV, you'll usually get the opportunity to pay the reduced rate if your appeal is rejected. These are the full details of what a . In addition, where you're recorded on CCTV, you can ask for any photographs or other evidence the council has.
This is the key decision point. If you believe the ticket is unfair, remember that 56% of people who go all the way win. There's no reason to stop after this step – the fine will stay the same amount, so you might as well continue.
How to write your parking fine appeal
Fill in the form with all the details – it should include a space for you to put the grounds for appeal, but it's easier to write a separate letter outlining your appeal to ensure you've enough space to get all your points across. Here's a template to help:
[Insert name and address of parking ticket issuer]
Dear Sir or Madam,
Parking ticket number: [insert ticket reference number]
Vehicle registration number: [insert vehicle registration number]
I am writing to make a formal appeal regarding the parking ticket above. This letter is in addition to my completed appeal form, which is enclosed. I am making my appeal due to the following reasons:
[Important: fill in the sections below and delete any bullets that don't apply]
I was not driving the car. I was not driving the vehicle at the time and am therefore not liable for any costs.
My car had been stolen. I was not driving my vehicle at the time of the alleged contravention because my vehicle had been stolen. Please see the enclosed correspondence from the police as evidence.
The alleged contravention did not occur. The parking attendant got it wrong and I was not parked inappropriately when the ticket was issued. This is due to the fact [insert reason here]. Please see attached evidence, [include and explain any evidence here], as proof of my appeal.
There was insufficient signage. I couldn't determine what the relevant parking restrictions were because there was no clear signage. Please see attached evidence, [include and explain any evidence here], as proof of my appeal.
Mitigating circumstances. There are mitigating circumstances to explain why I parked where I did, so I am requesting that the fine be waived.
Please see attached evidence, [include and explain any evidence here], as proof of my appeal.
I cannot afford to pay the fine. I am a law-abiding citizen and I made an honest mistake but I cannot afford the fine. Please see attached proof of my financial position as evidence.
[Enter any further reasons to support your appeal and include as much detail as you can]
Yours faithfully,
[Insert your signature]
[Insert your name (printed)]
[Enclose ALL relevant evidence for your claim]
Our FREE formal council parking ticket appeal letter (PCN) ✉️
If you made an informal appeal, resend all that information as it may be reviewed by someone who hasn't seen the original details. Some councils also allow you to view any photographic evidence they have on their websites.
The council has 56 days to respond to a formal parking fine appeal or you win by default.
Step 3. Make a final appeal to the independent adjudicator
If your formal appeal wasn't successful, you'll be sent a 'Notice of Rejection of Representations' letter, and a form called a 'Notice of Appeal' which allows you to challenge the ticket at an independent tribunal if you want to.
At this point, you've lost the chance of paying half-price anyway, so there's no harm in continuing to the next stage.
That said, in a tiny number of cases, the independent tribunal can award costs to a council if it rejects your appeal and thinks you've made a "frivolous, vexatious or wholly unreasonable" appeal. For instance, if you blatantly blocked a hospital entrance and appealed anyway.
You need to submit the form within 30 days of its date.
Why you shouldn't worry about going to the adjudicator
Don't be put off by the idea of going to the adjudicator. First off, it'll be independent and appointed by the Government, not any council or authority. And most importantly, it's free and NOT like a court hearing – it can be done by post, phone or online.
You do have the option of a personal hearing (and in some cases, a phone hearing) if you'd like to explain yourself. But for most people, a written appeal will be enough provided you supply the relevant evidence to support your case.
Which body you need to appeal to
You need to apply to the relevant body in the country where you'd been parked:
England or Wales (not London): Traffic Penalty Tribunal
Scotland: First-Tier Tribunal for Scotland
Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Traffic Penalty Tribunal
Again, submit every last smidgeon of evidence, as the adjudicator won't have seen what you previously submitted. As with the formal appeal, it's worth sending a separate letter attached to the form outlining your case. Here's a template:
[Insert name and address of parking ticket issuer]
Dear Sir or Madam,
Parking ticket number: [insert ticket reference number]
Vehicle registration number: [insert vehicle registration number]
I am writing to submit my formal appeal for adjudication regarding the parking ticket above. This letter is in addition to my completed appeal form, which is enclosed. I am making my appeal due to the following reasons:
[Important: fill in the sections below and delete any bullets that don't apply]
I was not driving the car. I was not driving the vehicle at the time and am therefore not liable for any costs.
My car had been stolen. I was not driving my vehicle at the time of the alleged contravention because my vehicle had been stolen. Please see the enclosed correspondence from the police as evidence.
The alleged contravention did not occur. The parking attendant got it wrong and I was not parked inappropriately at the time the ticket was issued. This is due to the fact [insert reason here]. Please see attached evidence, [include and explain any evidence here], as proof of my appeal.
There was insufficient signage. I couldn't determine what the relevant parking restrictions were because there was no clear signage to explain them. Please see attached evidence, [include and explain any evidence here], as proof of my appeal.
Mitigating circumstances. There are mitigating circumstances to explain why I parked where I did so I am requesting that the fine be waived.
Please see attached evidence, [include and explain any evidence here], as proof of my appeal.
I cannot afford to pay the fine. I am a law-abiding citizen and I made an honest mistake but I cannot afford the fine. Please see attached proof of my financial position as evidence.
[Enter any further reasons to support your appeal and include as much detail as you can]
Yours faithfully,
[Insert your signature]
[Insert your name (printed)]
[Enclose ALL relevant evidence for your claim]
Our FREE independent tribunal parking ticket appeal letter (PCN) ✉️
What happens if I lose?
You need to pay the penalty within 28 days or the fine can increase by 50%.
In some limited circumstances, you may be able to take things further – this will be explained if you lose your appeal.
For more on what happens after the adjudicator's decision, see the Traffic Penalty Tribunals for England and Wales or Northern Ireland, or the First-Tier Tribunal for Scotland.
What if there are mitigating circumstances?
Sometimes, the appeal's dismissed but the adjudicator deems that there are compelling reasons why the penalty should not be paid. This is usually due to mitigating circumstances.
The adjudicator can't force the council to waive the penalty but can ask it to. The council has 35 days to tell you and the adjudicator its decision. If it doesn't respond in time, you win by default.
Got an Excess Charge Notice or Fixed Penalty Notice? The rules are different
In rare cases, your parking ticket may be an Excess Charge Notice (still issued by a few councils) or a Fixed Penalty Notice (issued for various traffic and motoring offences, from speeding to not wearing a seatbelt).
These notices operate under criminal law rather than civil law, so there are different rules for appealing.
What should I do if I get an Excess Charge Notice from a council?
There's up to a three-stage process...
Stage 1. Make an informal appeal
Whether you have seven or 14 days to appeal depends on the council, so check the ticket carefully. If you submit an appeal on time, most councils will still allow you to pay the reduced ticket rate if the appeal is rejected.
At this point, there's generally no form to fill in (though it's worth checking the council's website, in case there is one), so you'll need to send a letter. Here's a template to help:
[Insert date]
[Insert name and address of parking ticket issuer]
Dear Sir or Madam,
Parking ticket number: [insert ticket reference number]
Vehicle registration number: [insert vehicle registration number]
[Include this section if you received a ticket on your car or delete]
I received a parking ticket on [insert date] but I believe [select 'the ticket was wrongly issued' or 'there are mitigating circumstances to explain why I had parked where I did'] and I would like to submit an appeal for the following reasons:
[Important: fill in the sections below and delete any bullets that don't apply]
I was not driving the car. I was not driving the vehicle at the time and am therefore not liable for any costs.
My car had been stolen. I was not driving my vehicle at the time of the alleged contravention because my vehicle had been stolen. Please see the enclosed correspondence from the police as evidence.
The alleged contravention did not occur. The parking attendant got it wrong and I was not parked inappropriately at the time the ticket was issued. This is due to the fact [insert reason here]. Please see attached evidence, [include and explain any evidence here], as proof of my appeal.
There was insufficient signage. I was unable to determine what the relevant parking restrictions were because there was no clear signage. Please see attached evidence, [include and explain any evidence here], as proof of my appeal.
Mitigating circumstances. There are mitigating circumstances to explain why I parked where I did so I am requesting that the fine be waived for this reason.
Please see attached evidence, [include and explain any evidence here], as proof of my appeal.
I cannot afford to pay the fine. I am a law-abiding citizen and I made an honest mistake but I cannot afford the fine. Please see attached proof of my financial position as evidence.
[Enter any further reasons to support your appeal and include as much detail as you can]
Yours faithfully,
[Insert your signature]
[Insert your name (printed)]
[Enclose ALL relevant evidence for your claim]
Our FREE informal council parking ticket appeal letter (ECN) ✉️
Take it any further than this, and you'll probably lose your chance to pay a reduced fee
Double-check with the council – even if you believe in the justice of your case, it's worth balancing what you'll gain by winning with the time and cost of losing.
Stage 2. Appeal to a more senior parking official
Some councils may then let you appeal again to a more senior parking official. You'll be told whether this is the case for you in your rejection letter – it's also worth checking the council's website for more details.
If you're not able to, move on to the next stage.
Stage 3. Appeal to the ombudsman
At this point, the council will send a letter demanding payment. You have the option of appealing to the relevant ombudsman service, which is free – you can ask it to investigate if you feel the council got it wrong or failed to show discretion regarding mitigating circumstances.
An ombudsman can only usually intervene where there has been a procedural error. Yet, as few cases are black and white, it's worth at least contacting the ombudsman for guidance.
There are four relevant services, depending on where the fine was issued:
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In England: Use the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman.
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In Wales: Use the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.
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In Scotland: Use the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
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In Northern Ireland: Use the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman.
You could also take your council to court if it applied the law incorrectly. However, this will cost you serious money should you lose. Seek legal advice before you take this nuclear option.
What if I've got a Fixed Penalty Notice from the police?
This is usually a one or two-stage process. Unfortunately, if you have a police ticket your chances of success are likely to be lower than with a council ticket.
Stage 1. If allowed, make an informal appeal
Officially, appeals against police tickets can only be made via the courts, but some forces may allow informal appeals. The notice or vehicle release form may indicate whether you can informally challenge the parking ticket. If it's not clear, call the issuing police force or any number listed on the ticket to check.
Usually, you'll be writing to a department called the 'Central Ticket Office' which deals with many types of police fines. There are no forms to fill in; you just send a letter. Make sure you submit all supporting evidence to give yourself a greater chance of winning, and include your address, your vehicle registration number and the ticket number. Here's a template to help:
[Insert date]
[Insert name and address of parking ticket issuer]
Dear Sir or Madam,
Parking ticket number: [insert ticket reference number]
Vehicle registration number: [insert vehicle registration number]
[Include this section if you received a ticket on your car or delete]
I received a parking ticket on [insert date] but I believe [select 'the ticket was wrongly issued' or 'there are mitigating circumstances to explain why I had parked where I did'] and I would like to submit an appeal for the following reasons:
[Important: fill in the sections below and delete any bullets that don't apply]
I was not driving the car. I was not driving the vehicle at the time and am therefore not liable for any costs.
My car had been stolen. I was not driving my vehicle at the time of the alleged contravention because my vehicle had been stolen. Please see the enclosed correspondence from [insert name of police force] as evidence.
The alleged contravention did not occur. The parking attendant got it wrong and I was not parked inappropriately at the time the ticket was issued. This is due to the fact [insert reason here]. Please see attached evidence, [include and explain any evidence here], as proof of my appeal.
There was insufficient signage. I was unable to determine what the relevant parking restrictions were because there was no clear signage. Please see attached evidence, [include and explain any evidence here], as proof of my appeal.
Mitigating circumstances. There are mitigating circumstances to explain why I parked where I did so I am requesting that the fine be waived for this reason.
Please see attached evidence, [include and explain any evidence here], as proof of my appeal.
I cannot afford to pay the fine. I am a law-abiding citizen and I made an honest mistake but I cannot afford the fine. Please see attached proof of my financial position as evidence.
[Enter any further reasons to support your appeal and include as much detail as you can]
Yours faithfully,
[Insert your signature]
[Insert your name (printed)]
[Enclose ALL relevant evidence for your claim]
Our FREE informal police parking ticket appeal letter (FPN) ✉️
If the police force rejects your appeal it will inform you in writing. If you win, that's fantastic. If not, move on to the next stage.
Stage 2. The formal appeals process – you'll have to go to court
If your appeal is rejected or you're unable to make an informal appeal, you'll get a Notice to Owner form with the following options:
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Pay the charge
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Give another driver's name (mainly for hire companies, as the owner's responsible)
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Request a hearing at a magistrates' court
If you don't act within 28 days, the fine will increase by 50% and you'll get a court summons.
If you want to contest it, you can opt for a hearing. This isn't an easy thing to do, and for all but the most determined or legally aware, it's probably better to simply accept the parking ticket fine.
If you do decide to continue, you may want to consider legal advice as you'll have to attend a hearing to set out your case. In addition, if you lose, you may have to pay court costs.
I can't afford the fine – what should I do?
Lost your appeal? Paying the fine may be difficult if you're struggling with your finances and/or in debt.
If you're in this situation, know that help is out there. Our Debt help guide can show you how to assess your situation and point you towards free support, among other helpful tips.
Parking ticket appeal FAQs
If you believe that you HAVEN'T parked illegally, and that your ticket's unfair, do challenge your Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), which is what this guide helps with.
However, if you HAVE parked illegally, then yes, you have to pay the PCN.
You will usually have 28 days to pay, and in some cases, the fine is reduced if you pay within 14 days.
If you DON'T pay within 28 days, you'll get a 'charge certificate', and the fine is increased by half. If you don't pay this within 14 days, you'll receive a court order demanding payment (aka an 'order of recovery'), and you'll then get an extra 21 days to pay the PCN or challenge the court order before the bailiffs are sent round.
No, parking tickets (Penalty Charge Notices) do NOT go on your driving or criminal record, as they are civil fines and have no reflection on how safe a driver you are.
However, as Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) and Excess Charge Notices (ECNs) are issued for criminal offences, one could appear on your criminal record IF you refused to pay the fine and were convicted in court. Don't let it get to this stage.
You won't get points on your driving licence for an ECN, but could get anywhere between two and 11 points for an FPN.
We've more on the different types of parking fines.
A parking ticket will only affect your credit rating if you fail to pay it. In this instance, you could end up with a County Court Judgment (CCJ), a court order demanding that you pay a fine. A CCJ will appear on your credit report and stay there for six years – but you can have the judgment removed if you pay the money within one month.
Having a CCJ on your credit report can significantly lower your credit score and affect your ability to borrow. So, DON'T IGNORE a parking ticket – the best thing to do is either pay it or challenge it if you think it's unfair.
This depends on the type of parking ticket you get.
A Penalty Charge Notice usually won't affect your car insurance premium. This is because insurers focus on offences such as speeding and not wearing a seatbelt when considering a driver's history.
A Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN), however, could affect your premium, depending on the offence you got it for.
If it's for something minor, where you're fined and not given penalty points on your licence, it's unlikely to have an impact on your car insurance. But if you do also receive penalty points as a result of your FPN – which can be given for parking on zigzag lines – your premium could rise at renewal.
As a rule of thumb, let your insurer know if you get an FPN and penalty points added to your licence.
For help keeping your car insurance costs to a minimum, see our Cheap car insurance guide.
Generally speaking, a parking ticket will set you back anywhere between £50 and £160.
How much a ticket costs depends on factors such as:
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The ticket type. For example, a Penalty Charge Notice can cost you up to £160, whereas a Fixed Penalty Notice could be as much as £300 (though fines for parking offences tend to be between £50 and £100).
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The severity of the offence. You can be charged more for parking on a double yellow line than overstaying in a pay and display bay, for instance.
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The location. Public parking tickets are more expensive in London than elsewhere.
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How early you pay. Most councils offer a 50% discount if you pay the fine within 14 days.
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If you pay late. If you don't pay a fine within 28 days, it may go up.
Do I have to pay a Penalty Charge Notice?
Do parking tickets go on your record?
Can parking tickets affect your credit rating?
Do parking tickets affect insurance?
How much is a parking ticket?
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