Private Parking Owners Issuing Hefty Fines: How Drivers Can Appeal

Drivers stung with hefty parking fines are told how to appeal or reduce costs. As parking fines once again hit the headlines, car insurance experts have shared tips following new rules designed to help drivers caught out by private car park owners.

New rules were introduced in October 2024 for the Private Parking Code of Justice, which has changed how private car parks charge drivers.

The new code introduced a ten-minute grace period, a cap on charges, uniform signage and regulations and an Appeals Charter for contesting fines.

These changes were welcomed in response to driver’s concerns over the lack of regulation rules governing privately owned car parks.

However, due to these changes, some drivers may not know the best ways to reduce or appeal their fines if caught out.

Greg Wilson, CEO and car insurance expert at Quotezone, said: “We welcome the changes to the Private Parking Code of Justice, as it gives motorists a chance to appeal or reduce fines if caught out in situations which are sometimes out of their control.

“The ten-minute grace period is a crucial and positive step forward, making any penalty charges illegal if issued before the grace period ends.

“We want to make sure drivers know exactly what to be aware of with the new rules and how they can get a reduction on their fine or appeal.”

Here’s Quotezone.co.uk’s Step-By-Step Guide to Appealing a Private Parking Ticket:

1. Check the Type of Parking Ticket

Official bodies and private companies have different appeal procedures, so it’s essential to determine which one you’re dealing with.  Official tickets are called Penalty Charge Notices, Excess Charge Notices or Fixed Penalty Notices, and you can find the name of the issuing authority on the ticket. Private companies issue all other tickets. The appeals process for a council-issued versus privately-issued parking fine may differ, so it is vital to ensure you follow the correct method.

2. Pay Early

New rules for private companies mean their charges cannot exceed £100. If a private parking company fines you and the charge is justified, you can reduce the cost owed by making the payment early. A minimum of 40% must reduce the amount owed if the payment is made within 14 days of the issue of notice.

3. Appeal Your Ticket

The new Private Parking Code of Justice provides motorists with an Appeals Charter. This outlines circumstances where fines should be waived entirely or reduced to just £20 if paid within 14 days (before rising again). Circumstances in which parking tickets could be waived include entirely:

• If you pause momentarily on a private road to check directions.
• Make a minor error when registering your vehicle, for example, typing an I instead of a 1.
• If you stopped in a ‘no stopping zone’ to avoid an accident or give way to an emergency vehicle.

4. Reduce Your Fine

You could have your fine reduced if it meets specific criteria. Always gather as much evidence as possible to support your claim and increase your chances of a reduction. Remember that fine reductions are only valid for 14 days, so pay or appeal quickly to benefit from the allowance.

Circumstances for a reduced fine include if your vehicle broke down or you failed to present a parking permit at the time. Still, you supplied a copy of the license later as evidence, or if one or more payment machines were out of use, no alternative payment options were available. You could not be expected to have accessed any of the other machines that are still in operation.