How Much Do Parking Fines Cost in the UK?

Have you been given a parking fine in the UK? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Every month, over 32,000 people visit us for guidance on parking fines. It can feel scary and confusing but don’t worry; we’re here to help.

In this easy-to-understand guide, we’ll show you:

• The two different types of parking fines in the UK.
• Why you might have got a parking fine.
• How to pay a council parking fine.
• What to do if you don’t want to pay the fine.
• What happens if you don’t pay your parking fine.

We know how it feels to get a parking fine, and we want to help make things easier for you. Below, we’ll explain everything you need to know about parking fines in the UK. Let’s get started!

How much is a parking ticket?

The cost of a parking charge notice varies depending on where you live in the UK. Some offences also have greater penalties than others. Parking fines in London, for example, run from £80 to £130, depending on the offence. However, the majority of councils will waive half of the fee if you pay within 14 days.

The cost of a private parking penalty may vary depending on the landowner, but new Government guidelines have prohibited private car park operators in England, Scotland, and Wales from charging more than £50 in most cases, as well as offering a 50% discount if they are paid within 14 days,

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What about private parking fines?

Private parking fees are a little more complicated and difficult to understand. In theory, under the private parking fines UK law, the private car park operator has the legal right to issue you a parking ticket if you violated the unwritten contract by parking on their lot. 

However, private land parking fines UK are not regarded a legitimate fine. They are instead treated the same as a corporation invoice. If a judge rules in your favour, this invoice may become enforceable (meaning you must pay). As a result, if they take the matter to court, you may be required to pay a private parking fine, which could possibly result in the use of bailiffs or a county court judgement. 

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What happens if I don’t pay a private parking fine?

If you do not pay private parking fines uk, you will most likely receive more payment requests and legal threats. These money demands and legal threats are most likely to take the form of a Letter Before Action. The letter could have been delivered directly from the car park operator, or it could have been outsourced to a debt collecting agency. 

A debt collection agency is not the same as a bailiff firm. Debt collection agencies, like administration firms, are out to get you to pay. A bailiff is a person who enforces debt collection  using a court order that has already been issued. 

Paying the fine

If you can pay the charge in full without causing any financial difficulty, do so. Make sure you get a receipt and keep evidence of the payment.

Parking operators who are members of the BPA or IPC must follow the code of practice produced by their accredited trade association. Both the BPA and IPC say that:

A parking charge notice must be reasonable and not usually for more than £100;

You should be offered a discount of at least 40% if you pay in full within 14 days; and

You can still pay after 14 days, but the amount payable will increase to the original amount.

Appealing the parking fine

If you do not agree that you are obligated to pay the parking fee, write to the parking operator and explain why. This is referred to as ‘making a representation’. 

The address to write to should be listed on the parking charge notification. Send any evidence you have to back up your claim, such as the crime reference number if the vehicle was stolen.

If the parking operator is a member of an accredited trade association, they should not demand payment while they investigate your claim. When they have reached a decision, they should inform you if they:

agree with you and have annulled the charge; partially agree with you and have decreased the charge; or do not agree with you and have rejected your dispute.

If they reject your claim, the parking operator should notify you. This is known as a ‘Notice of rejection’. They must also inform you of your right to challenge their judgement.

Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA) hears appeals against judgements made by BPA members. POPLA offers a free appeals process, and your case will be reviewed by an independent assessor.

You must first dispute the fee with the parking operator before filing an appeal with POPLA. You will need a ‘verification code’ to demonstrate this to POPLA. The verification code can be found on the parking operator’s Notice of Rejection.

You can file an appeal with POPLA either by mail or online. You typically have 28 days from the date of the Notice of Rejection to file an appeal against the parking operator’s decision. 

Parking fines vary in the UK, depending on whether it is a penalty charge notice or a parking charge notice, and is cheaper if you pay within 14 days of receiving the PCN. What you choose to do when your receive the parking fine is up to you – but I recommend making sure you have solid evidence to support your appeal if this is what you choose to do. 

How long does it take the council to issue a PCN?

Penalty Charge Notices should be sent within 14 days, but they must be sent within 28 days. 

There may be exceptions to the 28-day requirement, such as the DVLA failing to respond to a request for the vehicle keeper’s address in a timely manner. 

How to pay a council parking ticket

You will receive your penalty charge notice or UK car parking fines in one of two ways – a ticket left on your windscreen by the issuer, or through the post – the local authority can access your details from the DVLA database. 

There will be a PCN number somewhere on the ticket. Make a note of this, as you will need this to make a payment. Usually, the council who issued it will have an online payment portal for paying the ticket. To find it, follow the instructions on the ticket or simply search for the council e.g. ‘www Westminster gov uk parking fines’ or ‘Norwich gov uk parking fines’.

As well as online, you can often pay council parking fines:

• Over the phone, over a 24-hour automated payment line
• Sending cheques or postal orders through the post
• Paying cash at certain sites, such as council libraries or at paypoints with a QR code

Can I appeal a parking fine from the council?

A parking Penalty Charge Notice can be appealed both informally and formally. Even if your informal appeal is denied or if you do not file one, you may file a formal appeal. A formal appeal is also known as a representation. 

Informal appeals can normally be filed within the first 14 or 28 days of receiving the Notice to Owner. If you file an informal appeal during the first 14 days, the council will normally keep the 50% fine reduction in place until a decision is made. 

So, even if your appeal is denied, you may still be able to pay a lower fine!

A representation can be made after 28 days and the Notice to Owner is sent. The representation should include one or more reasons why you believe the parking fine should be cancelled, and it is often necessary to provide evidence to back up your claims. 

Appealing a council parking fine

A PCN appeal is often lodged via the local council’s website, utilising the same online gateway used to review the evidence against you and pay the fine. 

In some cases, there is a form to fill out for your appeal, and in others, you have to write your own letter – it is dependent on the individual council. 

The letter should include relevant evidence to back up your case against the council parking fee. It could include, for example, a witness account, photographic proof, or even a police criminal reference number.

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What happens if you lose your PCN appeal?

If you lose a formal PCN appeal, you have two options:

1. Accept the ruling and pay the fine within the next 28 days.
2. Take your case to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.

If you believe you should not have lost your appeal, you should consider escalating it. It is a free service, and if the Traffic Penalty Tribunal agrees with you, the council can be forced to cancel your local council parking charge. 

When the council sends a notice of refusal on the initial appeal, they are required to advise you how to use this service.

What happens if you don’t pay a parking ticket issued by the council?

If you fail to pay a Penalty Charge Notice by the date, your fine will be increased by 50% via a charge certificate. You must pay the increased fine within 14 days or you may lose your right to appeal. 

If you still don’t pay, the council will more than likely seek a court order to force you to pay. After that, they will take further action for payment, including the use of bailiffs. This adds more to the bill and is incredibly stressful. 

References:

1. RAC. (2018). Penalty Charge Notices – What are they and how do you appeal one?. Available at: https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/penalty-charge-notices/
2. Citizens Advice. (2019). When to Appeal a Parking Ticket. Available at:

3. GOV.UK. (2019). Challenge a Parking Fine. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/appeal-parking-fine
4. Which?. (2023) Car Sharks: The rise of private parking fines and how to appeal them. Available at: https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/car-sharks-the-rise-of-private-parking-fines-and-how-to-appeal-them-aPYed9L3iwSS
5. British Parking Association. (2019). POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals). Available at: https://www.britishparking.co.uk/POPLA