Can I Get a Parking Ticket While in my Car UK?

Have you received a parking ticket while you were sat in your car? You might be wondering if this is fair and if you can appeal. Each month, over 32,000 people visit here for guidance on tickets and fines. They are worried about the cost of the fine and what it might mean if they can’t pay it.

In this article, we’ll explain:

• Why you might get a parking ticket while sitting in your car.
• How to appeal a parking ticket and win.
• The cost of parking tickets in the UK.
• How long a parking warden will wait before giving a ticket.
• If the parking ticket must be put on your car.

We know how it feels to get a parking ticket and the worry it can bring, as we’ve dealt with similar situations in the past. So, sit back and read on to find out how you can handle your parking ticket.

Can you get a parking ticket while sitting in your car UK?

Yes. When you are unlawfully parked in a public place, you risk getting a Penalty Charge Notice even when you’re sitting in your car!

The same is true if you’re sitting in a vehicle in a private car park and you haven’t paid or overstayed an allotted time. That said, if you’re preparing to leave and sitting in a vehicle, you could argue your case and have the parking ticket cancelled.

Here’s an example of motorists getting slapped with a parking ticket with the engine running!

Source: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3850557/parking-ticket-while-sitting-in-the-car

How long will a parking attendant wait before issuing a ticket?

You should be allowed ten-minutes grace by a parking attendant before they issue you with a fine. You could argue your case against the fine if a parking ticket is issued before the ten minutes are up!

So, if you’re sitting in your vehicle and preparing to leave, you should be allowed the grace period to exit the car park. That said, you must be parked correctly/lawfully for a grace period to apply.

In short, if you’re illegally parked or you didn’t pay, you won’t be afforded a grace period!

How much do parking tickets set you back?

You could be fined as much as £100 depending on the seriousness of a parking violation.

That said, you should be offered a discounted rate by an issuer when you pay within two weeks. The discount applies to Penalty Charges and Parking Charges. But a private operator only has to discount a fine by 40% whereas an authority offers a 50% reduction.

Do parking tickets have to be put on vehicles?

No. Whether it’s a Penalty Charge or a Parking Charge, the fine doesn’t have to be put on your car. You could receive the parking ticket in the mail if the incident is recorded on camera.

The council and other authorities access the DVLA database to get the details of a registered keeper. The same is true of accredited car park management companies. So, if you’re the registered keeper, you’ll be sent the parking ticket through the post.

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How do you have to appeal a parking ticket?

You could wait 28 days to appeal a parking ticket which is the deadline. Or you could opt to file an appeal against the charge within 14 days. If the issuer rejects your appeal, you still pay a reduced amount. If you don’t want to escalate your appeal that is!

Make sure you have proof to support your appeal whether it’s against a Penalty Charge or a Parking Charge. The issuer places everything on hold while your appeal is being considered which gains you a little time to pay.

Once a decision is made, you’ll either get a letter of acceptance or one of rejection. If the issuer upholds your appeal, they’ll cancel the fine. But if it’s rejected, you’ll have two choices as detailed below:

• First option is to pay the fine in full within a deadline, Or
• Second option is to escalate your appeal to an independent appeals service

For Penalty Charges, you’d escalate an appeal to a tribunal. But for Parking Charges, the appeal goes to the Independent Appeals Service (IAS) or the Parking on Private Land Appeals service (POPLA).

The decision is final.

So, if the appeals service or tribunal upholds your appeal, the issuer must cancel the charge. But if your appeal is rejected, you’d have to pay the full amount within a deadline.