Yes. There is no fee for the motorist. The operator pays the adjudication fee regardless of outcome.

Is the POPLA decision final?

It is binding on the operator — if you win, they must cancel the charge. It is not technically binding on you, but if you lose, the operator can pursue through County Court.

Can I submit new evidence at POPLA that I didn't include at Stage 1?

Yes. POPLA considers all evidence submitted, including new material not raised at Stage 1.

Complete Guide to POPLA Appeals

By GetRighted Legal Research TeamLast updated July 2026

Summary

POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals) is the independent adjudication service for private parking charges from BPA-member operators. You can only access POPLA after the operator rejects your Stage 1 appeal. Around 40–50% of POPLA appeals are decided in the motorist's favour (source: POPLA published statistics). The adjudicator reviews written evidence — there is no hearing. The decision is binding on the operator. Key to success: submit clear photos of signage, a timeline of events, and cite specific legal grounds (POFA 2012, BPA Code, Beavis proportionality). You have 28 days from the operator's rejection to submit.

What POPLA is and when it applies

POPLA handles Stage 2 appeals for private parking charges from BPA-member operators (ParkingEye, APCOA, NCP, Horizon, etc.). After the operator rejects your Stage 1 appeal, they must provide a POPLA verification code. You use this to submit your POPLA appeal online. POPLA adjudicators are independent — they are not employed by the operator or the BPA.

POPLA appeal timeline

Key dates:

1Operator rejects Stage 1 → provides POPLA code
228 days to submit POPLA appeal
3Operator submits response (14 days)
4You can reply to operator's response (7 days)
5Adjudicator decides (typically 2–4 weeks after final submission)

What to include in your POPLA submission

Evidence that wins:

✓Photos of signage from driver's perspective
✓ANPR entry/exit timestamps vs permitted time
✓Postmark/envelope if challenging Notice to Keeper timing
✓Receipts if claiming genuine customer
✓Clear statement of legal grounds — cite POFA 2012, BPA Code, or Beavis

Common POPLA mistakes

Do not submit emotional appeals — stick to facts and legal grounds. Do not miss the 28-day deadline. Do not forget to respond to the operator's counter-submission — you get 7 days to reply and this is your last chance to address their arguments.

Success rate

Approximately 40–50% of POPLA appeals are allowed. Cases with clear POFA non-compliance or signage evidence have the highest success rates. Source: POPLA published statistics.

Key legal references for POPLA
POFA 2012, Schedule 4 (keeper liability requirements). ParkingEye v Beavis [2015] UKSC 67 (proportionality and signage). BPA/IPC Single Code of Practice 2024 (grace period, charge caps, signage standards).

Sources

POFA 2012, Schedule 4
ParkingEye v Beavis [2015] UKSC 67
BPA/IPC Single Code of Practice 2024
POPLA published statistics

Frequently Asked Questions

Is POPLA free?: Yes. There is no fee for the motorist. The operator pays the adjudication fee regardless of outcome.
Is the POPLA decision final?: It is binding on the operator — if you win, they must cancel the charge. It is not technically binding on you, but if you lose, the operator can pursue through County Court.
Can I submit new evidence at POPLA that I didn't include at Stage 1?: Yes. POPLA considers all evidence submitted, including new material not raised at Stage 1.

pofa-non-compliance
inadequate-signage
grace-period

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