How Much Does a PCN Affect the Cost of Car Insurance?
If you’ve got a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), you might be worried about your car insurance. Will it cost more? Can you still get insurance? These are common worries, but this guide will help to answer your questions.
Each month, over 32,000 people come to this site for advice about tickets and fines. Here’s what you’ll learn from this article:
- What is a PCN and why you might get one.
- How to try and win if you appeal your PCN.
- Why you might have to pay a PCN.
- What could happen if you don’t pay a PCN.
- If a PCN can affect your car insurance.
Getting a PCN can feel scary, but many people go through the same thing. This guide is here to help you understand what to do next. Take a deep breath and let’s learn together about what a PCN means for you and your car insurance.
Do You Have to Pay?
In some circumstances, you might have a legitimate reason not to pay your fine.
It’s a bit sneaky, but the last time I needed legal advice, I paid £5 for a trial to chat with an online solicitor called JustAnswer.
Not only did I save £50 on solicitor feeds, I also won my case and didn’t have to pay my £271 fine.
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How Much is a Penalty Charge Notice?
Penalty Charge Notices can differ in cost depending on the type of alleged contravention and the location. They usually range from £60 to £120, but this amount can be reduced by 50% if you pay the issuing authority within 14 days.
Do you have to pay a Penalty Charge Notice?
You are given 28 days to pay or appeal a Penalty Charge Notice.
You can make an informal appeal to the council and then escalate the appeal if it gets rejected.
Ignoring the Penalty Charge won’t make it go away. In fact, it could make you end up paying more.
What happens if you don’t pay a Penalty Charge?
If you don’t pay within 14 days you will lose the chance to get 50% off the penalty fine. If you don’t pay by the 28-day deadline, the issuer will send a charge certificate. This is a notice that your fine has been increased by 50%.
For example, If your original fine was £80, it would now cost £120. This needs to be paid within 14 additional days.
Not paying the inflated fine by the new deadline can be costly. The council can take legal action to get a court order which makes you have to pay. This adds more fees to what is now considered a debt.
The council may then engage the services of bailiffs to come to your home to collect the money or seize goods. The bailiffs charge their own fees as per the law, but these are expensive.
Successful Appeal Case Study
Situation
| Initial Fine | £100 |
| Additional Fees | £171 |
| Total Fine | £271 |
The Appeal Process
Scott used JustAnswer, online legal service to enhance his appeal. The trial of this cost him just £5.
| Total Fine | £271 |
| Cost of legal advice | £5 |
JustAnswer helped Scott craft the best appeal possible and he was able to win his case.
Scott’s fine was cancelled and he only paid £5 for the legal help.
In partnership with Just Answer.
Do you have to tell insurance about PCN?
Car insurance companies don’t typically ask about Penalty Charge Notices or other parking tickets. But if they do you must be honest to ensure the insurance policy is valid for all named drivers.
They will usually ask if you have penalty points on your licence and if you have any unspent driving convictions. You’ll have these if you recently received a Fixed Penalty Notice from the police or a court summons for a recent motoring incident.
How much does a PCN affect car insurance?
PCNs don’t usually affect your ability to get insured or the cost of insurance policies, so you have nothing to worry about.
Does a Fixed Penalty Notice affect insurance?
A Fixed Penalty Notice is a fine from the police and an administrative alternative to being prosecuted in court for a motoring offence. They’re issued for a wide range of offences of differing levels of seriousness.
The Fixed Penalty Notice and the penalty points you received (if applicable as not all FPNs come with penalty points) will affect your insurance. The more points you have the more likely that your insurance premiums will increase.
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Does a PCN go on record?
A Penalty Charge Notice is a fine for a minor road offence. They don’t typically result in a criminal conviction or criminal record.
Does a PCN affect your licence?
You’re not given penalty points on your driving licence for a Penalty Charge Notice. You’re only given penalty points for some motoring offences that result in a Fixed Penalty Notice from the police, such as speeding or dangerous driving.
Back to appealing a Penalty Charge…
There are a lot of reasons you could appeal a Penalty Charge Notice and get the parking fine overturned. I discuss these and provide help making an appeal on my How to Appeal a Ticket guide. Check it out for free now!
Hire a Parking Solicitor for less than a coffee.
If you’re thinking about appealing your parking ticket then getting some professional advice is a good idea.
Getting the support of a Solicitor can make your appeal much more likely to win.
For a £5 trial, Solicitors from JustAnswer can look at your case and help you create an airtight appeal.
In partnership with Just Answer.
