How to appeal a parking ticketParking ticket enforcement

Parking tickets issued in council car parks

Some council car parks have parking attendants who can issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), which you can challenge in the same way as a PCN parking ticket issued to a vehicle parked on the street.

In areas where decriminalised parking enforcement hasn't been introduced, some local authorities issue Excess Charge Notices (ECNs) or Standard Charge Notices (SCNs) in their car parks or in metered or pay-and-display bays on the street. 

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Like PCN parking tickets, these parking tickets are processed by the local council and enforcement takes place in the local Magistrates’ Court if there's a dispute or problem.

Parking tickets issued in private car parks

Car parks run by private companies aren't covered by the same rules as council-run ones are. Instead they are governed by contract law.

Car-park operators can decide which types of vehicle can use their spaces, how long they can stay, how much they must pay, and enforce special bays (such as for Blue Badge holders) and where vehicles may not park.

If you break the terms of the car park you could be given a parking ticket. However, car park operators must have signs that state their terms clearly. If you've been given a parking ticket for breaching a term that you weren't made adequately aware of, you may be able to challenge the parking ticket with the car-park operator or in the county court.

If your car is clamped

Getting a wheel clamp removed can be a costly business

Returning to your car to find a parking ticket is galling – discovering you've been clamped is even worse. Your rights if this happens depend on who fitted the clamp.

In Scotland, you shouldn't have a problem with clamping – the courts have ruled that the practice is akin to extortion and have banned it altogether.

If you're clamped by the council

If you're clamped by a council parking attendant, they should do so only if a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) has been issued and 30 more minutes have passed. For persistent offenders, this time limit is reduced to 15 minutes.

If you believe your car was unfairly clamped, you can appeal, but you'll have to first pay the release fee to free your car, and then appeal later. You appeal using the same system that deals with PCNs.

If you're clamped on private land

If your car is clamped by a private security officer on private land, there is no centralised system of appeals. 

Private parking enforcement firms have to be licensed by the Security Industry Authority, so most firms have their own appeals process, which will be explained on your clamping or parking notice.

If the private security firm rejects your appeal, you can make a claim at the small claims court to get your money back. See our Small Claims Court report for more about this.

Speeding tickets

For information on dealing with speeding fines, read the Which? guide to speeding tickets.

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