Pay or Appeal Parking Fines on Private Land? Quick Guide

Have you been given a parking fine for parking on private land? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Each month, over 32,000 people visit us for guidance on tickets and fines. It can seem a bit scary, but there’s no need to panic.

In this guide, we’ll show you:

• Why parking fines are given on private land.
• How to appeal against your ticket and maybe even win.
• If parking fines on private land are the same as penalty charge notices.
• What happens if you don’t pay your parking ticket on private land.
• How soon you must pay or appeal your parking fine.

Our team has helped many people who were in the same boat as you, so we know just how it feels to get a parking ticket, and we’re here to help you. Let’s dive in and learn how you can handle your parking fine.

Why do operators issue parking fines on private land?

Many landowners pay private operators to manage their car parks, such as Tesco, Aldi, and many others, including the healthcare and private sectors. Landowners authorise operators to issue parking charge notices on their behalf.

When you use a private car park, you enter into a ‘contract’ with the operator. The Terms and Conditions for parking should be sign-posted at entrances. You’re supposed to read the T&Cs before you park.

If you break the rules, the operator issues you with a parking charge notice. Very often for a minor parking infringement. You might get the ticket on your windscreen or through the post. Many car parks have CCTV or ANPR, meaning parking infringements are recorded and then posted to the registered keepers.

An accredited operator gets your details from the DVLA. That’s if you’re the registered keeper. Hence the parking ticket lands on your doorstep sometime later.

Are parking fines on private property enforceable?

No. Parking fines on private land are not immediately enforceable. An operator must take you to a small claims court and win to get you to pay. In short, only a court can order you to pay the parking fine you get on private land.

Should you pay a parking fine on private land straight away?

You could pay a parking charge notice straight away, and it does mean you pay a discounted parking fine. But don’t pay unless you’re sure the fine is yours and the information on the parking fine is correct.

You have fourteen days to check the details, and providing you pay within the 14 days, you’ll get to pay up to 40% less.

Should you appeal parking fines on private land?

You can challenge a parking fine on private land, and many motorists do. Mistakes happen, and overzealous parking attendants get it wrong. Plus, ANPR technology is not always foolproof.

Moreover, you may have entered one wrong digit when paying a ticket machine. If so, you could argue it was a genuine error, and the parking fine should be cancelled.

How do you appeal parking fines on private land?

Private operators must provide clear information on how to appeal parking tickets they issue. This includes how you can pay and how you could benefit from paying a discounted amount together with the timeframes.

Try to provide as much evidence to support your appeal as possible. Private operators will reject appeals which don’t have valid reasons for not paying a parking fine.

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When do parking fines on private land have to be issued?

The rule of thumb is for operators to issue parking fines on private land within 14 days of an alleged infringement. But if the DVLA is slow to respond to an accredited operator’s request for a registered keeper’s details, the timeframe could be extended.

What are the valid reasons for appealing parking fines on private land?

You can appeal parking fines on private land when you have a valid reason for having the fine cancelled. You could say:

• A medical emergency prevented you from getting back to your vehicle in time
• Your vehicle broke down, and you were waiting for assistance
• You didn’t commit a parking infringement
• You received the parking fine more than fourteen days after the infringement was recorded
• The parking fine contains errors. For example, your details are incorrect

Should you ignore parking fines on private land?

You may want to ignore a parking fine on private land, and you may succeed in not paying the operator. But if a car park management company takes you to court, it could get messy, not to say expensive.

You have two choices when you get a parking ticket on private land. You can either pay the fine and move on. Or you could file an appeal against the parking ticket.

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Are parking fines on private land the same as penalty charge notices?

No. Although both parking tickets have the same acronyms and look the same, they are not. In short, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is issued by an authority. The police, council or Transport Agencies issue the penalties for minor traffic and parking offences.

In short, a PCN is backed by UK law. However, parking fines on private land are not!

What happens when you don’t pay a parking ticket on private land?

An operator would chase you for the money when you don’t pay a parking fine you got on private land. Each letter is a payment reminder, although it does come across as threatening. Particularly when the letter tells you the operator’s intention to take you to court.

You could find yourself facing a small claims hearing. 

If the operator wins the case, a court order is issued, and you’ll have no choice but to pay! You’ll likely have a County Court Judgement registered on your credit history. A CCJ will impact your ability to get credit cards, a mortgage or take out loans.