15.9 million Parking Charge Notices issued this year – here’s how to appeal

How to appeal a parking ticket

Research published this week shows that in the year up to September 2025 an average of around 44,000 private parking tickets were issued every day, or 15.9 million annually. This figure is up from 13.6 million in the previous year, an increase of 17%.

The dreaded parking ticket – also known as a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) – is the bane of every motorist! Most people don’t know how to appeal.

Consumer expert here to help you challenge that parking ticket!

1) Keep evidence of payment. All of it! The actual payment, so screenshot a payment acknowledgement, the bank transfer/credit card statement etc. Keep the receipt printed by the parking ticket machine.

2) The firm sending you the charge usually won’t be the landowner, so you could also write to the landowner. If, for example, the landowner is a supermarket you could try a two prong attack and write to the manager of the store as well as to the parking firm.

3) You can appeal on a number of things. Possible defences include: poor signage (take photos as evidence), broken pay and display machine (again take photo at the time with date and time shown), you broke down, there was an emergency, the notice concerns a different vehicle, you were not responsible for the alleged parking event. Additionally, the operator may not have met the requirements for holding you liable or has sent the notice to the wrong person, for example because you sold the vehicle before the parking event.

4) Follow the parking operator’s internal appeal process first. If rejected, follow the instructions for an independent appeal to POPLA or the Independent Appeals Service (IAS), as appropriate, within the stated deadline.

5) Check whether the parking company belongs to the BPA or IPC’s accredited operator scheme. A non-member cannot get your details from the DVLA. If a non-member leaves a notice on your windscreen, seek advice before contacting it. Do not ignore a letter before claim or court papers.

Remember that it does not cost you any money to appeal a parking ticket, so it is always worth trying!

Below is a clip from an appearance on Channel 5 News regarding parking forms. I regularly appear in the media talking about motoring, retails, travel and finance consumer rights and topical consumer issues see Helen Dewdney – Consumer Rights Expert & Media Commentator

Fighting private parking firms

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Further help with complaining effectively

See Top 20 Tips on how to complain effectively

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If you need help with complaining effectively and making sure you are never fobbed off. GET THE BOOK! How To Complain: The ESSENTIAL Consumer Guide to Getting REFUNDS, Redress and RESULTS! Includes information and templates on challenging parking fines and parking charges and templates.

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101 Habits of an Effective Complainer to help you become more skilled and assertive when making complaints.

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Purchase downloadable templates to gain redress including parking template letters.

Let me know below any questions or stories you have about fighting and challenging a PCN.

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