Appeal a Parking Ticket
Built on the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, BPA Code of Practice, and Supreme Court precedent
Private parking operators issue over 8 million tickets a year in the UK. Around half of all POPLA appeals succeed — but fewer than 1% of tickets are ever appealed. We tell you honestly whether yours is worth fighting.
How the parking appeal process works
Enter your ticket details
Tell us which operator, your PCN reference, when and where it happened. Takes 60 seconds.
Get an honest verdict
We match your situation against known defense grounds and give you a clear verdict: strong, workable, weak, or pay.
We draft your appeal
If you have a case, we generate a formal Stage 1 appeal letter citing the specific legislation and code provisions that apply.
Example appeal letter
This is the quality of letter we generate — proper legal citations, not a generic template.
Dear Sir or Madam,
I write to formally appeal Parking Charge Notice AB12345678, issued on 15 April 2026 at Westfield Shopping Centre, London W12. I submit that this charge has been issued in error and request that it be cancelled for the following reasons.
Ground 1 — Inadequate Signage (BPA Code of Practice, para 17.3)
The British Parking Association Code of Practice (January 2024), paragraph 17.3, requires that signage must be "prominently displayed at each entrance to the car park and at regular intervals throughout." I attended the site on 18 April 2026 and observed that the signage at the north vehicle entrance was substantially obscured by overgrown foliage, rendering the terms and conditions not reasonably visible to motorists entering from that direction. I attach photographic evidence of the obscured signage taken on 18 April 2026.
In ParkingEye Ltd v Beavis [2015] UKSC 67, the Supreme Court held that parking charges are enforceable as contractual terms only where the terms are clearly and prominently communicated to the motorist at the point of entry. Where signage is inadequate, no binding contract is formed and the charge cannot stand.
Ground 2 — Non-compliance with POFA 2012, Schedule 4
The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Schedule 4, paragraph 3, imposes strict requirements on the Notice to Keeper. In this case, the Notice to Keeper was dated 28 April 2026, which falls outside the 14-day statutory window prescribed by paragraph 3(2)(a). A late Notice to Keeper extinguishes the operator's right to recover the charge from the registered keeper, and this ground alone is sufficient to require cancellation of the charge.
Common defense grounds for parking tickets
These are the most common technical grounds we identify in private parking cases.
Inadequate signage
The BPA Code of Practice requires clear, prominent signage at all entrances and throughout the car park. Obscured, missing, or non-compliant signs can invalidate the charge.
Grace period not given
The BPA Code of Practice mandates a 10-minute grace period after expiry of paid-for time. If you were ticketed within the grace period, the charge is invalid.
Late Notice to Keeper
Under POFA 2012, Schedule 4, the operator must send the Notice to Keeper within 14 days. A late notice extinguishes the right to recover from the registered keeper.
Genuine customer
If you were a genuine customer of the premises served by the car park and overstayed due to queues or other factors, the charge may be disproportionate and challengeable.
Payment machine fault
If the payment machine was out of order and no alternative payment method was clearly communicated, you cannot be penalised for failing to pay.
Mitigating circumstances
Medical emergencies, breakdowns, or being directed by staff can all constitute valid grounds. Supporting evidence strengthens these grounds significantly.
Key legislation
Private parking appeals are governed by different rules than council PCNs.
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
Schedule 4 governs keeper liability. Strict requirements on Notice to Keeper timing and content.
BPA Code of Practice
Mandatory for BPA members. Covers signage standards, grace periods, and complaint procedures.
ParkingEye v Beavis [2015] UKSC 67
Supreme Court: parking charges are enforceable only where terms are clearly communicated.
IPC Code of Practice
Governs IPC-member operators. Weaker adjudication than BPA — lower historical success rates.
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