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 and/or printed parking ticket every time you park and file it in a safe place.
2) The firm sending you the charge usually won’t be the owner of the car park, so you could also write to the landowner. For example, with a supermarket you could try a two-pronged approach, in writing to the manager of the store and the parking firm, asking for the PCN to be cancelled.
3) You can appeal for a variety of reasons, including that the fee has already been paid, poor or no signage, you broke down, there was an emergency or the car owner details are incorrect. You will need to provide evidence for any of these possible reasons.
4) When the charge comes from the company, follow their appeals process. This will usually be an appeal internally. Then, if they are a member of either the British Parking Association (BPA) or International Parking Community (IPC), you can appeal to one of those organisations.
5) If the firm is not a member, it cannot get your name and address details from the DVLA which means they can’t take you to court if you don’t pay! Don’t write to the firm, as it will then have the address details it needs to pursue you.
Remember that it does not cost you any money to appeal a parking ticket, so it is always worth trying!
@thecomplainingcow How to complain, how to appeal a parking ticket #ParkingTicket #ParkingTickets #appeal #parkingenforcement #parkingfine
Further help with complaining effectively
See Top 20 Tips on how to complain effectively
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.
101 Habits of an Effective Complainer to help you become more skilled and assertive when making complaints.
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.
