Appealing against a parking ticket when someone else was driving

Summary

You might have got a parking ticket in the post because your car wasn’t parked correctly after it was stolen. Or your licence plate might have been copied and used on another car – known as ‘car cloning’. You’re not responsible for this ticket, so you should appeal. Write back to whoever contacted you about the parking offence. Their contact details will be on the notice or letter they sent you. Explain that the car was stolen or cloned when the offence happened. You might only find out that your licence plate has been cloned when you get the ticket in the post. You should report the cloning to the police and DVLA straight away. You'll have been given a crime reference number when you reported the theft to the police. If you report cloning to the police, they will also give you a reference number. Include the reference number in your appeal as this will prove that you weren’t driving the car when it was wrongly parked. Once you’ve proven you weren’t driving, the notice against you must be cancelled. Contact your nearest Citizens Advice if the ticket isn’t cancelled – they can help you get legal advice. You might have been sent a parking ticket in the post because your car’s.

Key information

• •the date you bought the car
• •the full name and address of the previous owner – or the company that sold you the car
• •a copy of the DVLA registration certificate (V5C)
• •a copy of the receipt or invoice from when you bought the car, if you have it
• •the full name and address of the new owner – or the company that sold them your car
• •a copy of the receipt or invoice for the sale, if you have it
• •You might have got a parking ticket in the post because your car wasn’t parked correctly after it was stolen. Or your licence plate might have been copied and used on another car – known as ‘car cloning’.
• •You’re not responsible for this ticket, so you should appeal.
• •Write back to whoever contacted you about the parking offence. Their contact details will be on the notice or letter they sent you. Explain that the car was stolen or cloned when the offence happened.
• •You might only find out that your licence plate has been cloned when you get the ticket in the post.
• •You should report the cloning to the police and DVLA straight away.
• •You'll have been given a crime reference number when you reported the theft to the police. If you report cloning to the police, they will also give you a reference number. Include the reference number in your appeal as this will prove that you weren’t driving the car when it was wrongly parked.

Practical guidance

• •Source: [Appealing against a parking ticket when someone else was driving](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/parking-tickets/appealing-a-parking-ticket-when-someone-else-was-driving/)

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