When to appeal a parking ticket

Summary

You can appeal a ticket if you think you were parked correctly. For example, if a parking attendant thinks you stayed too long when you were in fact within the time limit. By law, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) or Excess Charge Notice (ECN) from the council – issued on public land, such as a high street – must be cancelled if you didn’t break the parking rules. You can check these rules on GOV.UK or on signs near where you parked. When you park on private land, such as a supermarket car park, the parking rules (the terms and conditions of using the car park) should be made clear on nearby signs. If you’re given a Parking Charge Notice and can prove you stuck to these rules, your ticket should be cancelled. This is because the parking company can’t argue that you didn’t stick to their terms and conditions. When you appeal, you should explain that you didn’t break any parking rules and send evidence to prove this. See appealing a parking ticket for the types of evidence you can use. All car parks and roads with parking restrictions must have signs or road markings that make this clear. Your ticket should be cancelled if you can prove: * you couldn’t see any road markings or signs *.

Key information

• •you couldn’t see any road markings or signs
• •the signs or markings were hard to read – for example they’d faded or were hidden by trees
• •the signs were misleading or confusing
• •there weren’t any signs saying parking was suspended
• •it’s difficult for you to walk because you’re disabled
• •you have a very young baby
• •You can appeal a ticket if you think you were parked correctly. For example, if a parking attendant thinks you stayed too long when you were in fact within the time limit.
• •By law, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) or Excess Charge Notice (ECN) from the council – issued on public land, such as a high street – must be cancelled if you didn’t break the parking rules. You can check these rules on GOV.UK or on signs near where you parked.
• •When you park on private land, such as a supermarket car park, the parking rules (the terms and conditions of using the car park) should be made clear on nearby signs. If you’re given a Parking Charge Notice and can prove you stuck to these rules, your ticket should be cancelled. This is because the parking company can’t argue that you didn’t stick to their terms and conditions.
• •When you appeal, you should explain that you didn’t break any parking rules and send evidence to prove this. See appealing a parking ticket for the types of evidence you can use.
• •All car parks and roads with parking restrictions must have signs or road markings that make this clear. Your ticket should be cancelled if you can prove:
• •* the signs or markings were hard to read – for example they’d faded or were hidden by trees

Practical guidance

• •Source: [When to appeal a parking ticket](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/parking-tickets/when-to-appeal-a-parking-ticket/)

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