How to challenge a parking ticket (PCN) in the UK

Got a parking ticket you think is unfair? You can challenge it. ONLYWAY NEWS has gathered the appeal steps and deadlines from the GOV.UK portal.

What kinds of tickets are there?

The most common is a penalty charge notice (PCN), issued for parking and some traffic offences such as driving in a bus lane, and also for not paying the London congestion zone, a low emission zone, or the Dartford Crossing charge on time. Separately there is a fixed penalty notice (FPN), issued by the police, a local council or the DVSA. There are also standard or excess charge notices from councils, and tickets from private companies, such as supermarket car parks.

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How long to pay, and is there a discount?

You usually have 28 days to pay. In some cases the fine is reduced if you pay within 14 days. If a PCN is not paid after 28 days, you receive a charge certificate: you then have 14 days to pay the original fine plus 50%. Ignore that and it leads to a court order. An unpaid FPN after 28 days also means paying 50% more, and non-payment can lead to prosecution.

How do you make an informal challenge?

You have 28 days to challenge a PCN. If you got the ticket on the spot — for example on your windscreen — you first make an informal challenge to the council. If you challenge within 14 days and it is rejected, you may only have to pay half the fine. If the challenge is accepted, you do not pay.

What if the challenge is rejected?

If the informal challenge is rejected, you will get a notice to owner, which explains how to pay or make a formal challenge. For PCNs received by post, the notice to owner is the first document you receive.

After the notice to owner you have 28 days to make a formal challenge, called a representation. Set out your reasons in as much detail as possible and include copies of any evidence. If it is accepted, you do not pay the fine.

How do you reach an independent tribunal?

If the formal challenge is rejected, you will receive a notice of rejection. From that point you have 28 days to pay or appeal to an independent tribunal. You can only appeal once you have made a formal challenge and had it rejected.

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Outside London, appeals are heard by the Traffic Penalty Tribunal — including PCNs from the Dartford Crossing (Dart Charge). In London, this is handled by London Tribunals. If you do nothing after the rejection, a late penalty called a charge certificate is added.

Note: an FPN is challenged differently — through a magistrates' court, and you will be sent a summons for a hearing.

The essentials in a minute

• Time to challenge a PCN: 28 days.
• Paying within 14 days if a challenge is rejected may mean half the fine.
• Formal challenge: 28 days after the notice to owner.
• Appeal to a tribunal: 28 days after the notice of rejection.
• Tribunals: Traffic Penalty Tribunal outside London, London Tribunals inside London.

Always check the exact deadlines and forms on GOV.UK: the process differs by ticket type.