Challenging a penalty charge notice

If you feel that you have been issued with a Penalty Charge Notice incorrectly, you may challenge it in writing only within 14 days:

• online on our parking tickets portal
• by post (‘Parking’ on our contact page)

If you challenge a PCN but aren’t successful, you will still be able to pay at the discounted rate – as long as your appeal is made within 14 days of us issuing the PCN.

If your challenge is unsuccessful, the registered owner/keeper of the vehicle can appeal further. This can be done following the issue of the Notice to Owner, which is sent after we receive their details from the DVLA.

If this appeal is not upheld, the registered owner/keeper may refer the case to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal for an independent judgement.

If you receive a PCN because your vehicle had broken down you will need to send in evidence with your appeal. This could be an invoice confirming repairs to your vehicle, or proof of vehicle parts purchased.

Running out of fuel is not treated as a vehicle breakdown and is not a valid reason for cancelling a PCN.

If you are a blue badge holder and you receive a PCN, this may have been issued because you incorrectly displayed your blue badge. It might also be because you didn’t display the time clock when required.

You will need to send a copy of the front and back of the valid blue badge with your appeal.

This only applies when a notice has been issued for parking on double yellow lines, in a pay and display area or limited wait including residents parking bays. It doesn’t apply in areas where loading/unloading, bus stop clearway or taxi rank restrictions are in force.

We will normally only cancel the PCN the first time this happens. If you receive further notices for the same reason they may not be cancelled.

If you are loading or unloading goods into your vehicle and you receive a PCN then your appeal will need to include evidence of the goods you were loading or unloading. This could be a delivery note.

Please note that loading or unloading has to be ongoing. Once the goods are delivered or collected, your vehicle must be moved into an unrestricted area.

You can’t leave your vehicle for any period of time in an area where loading or unloading is not permitted.

If you receive a PCN for not displaying a valid pay and display ticket this may have been because the ticket was displayed incorrectly or it may have fallen to the floor.

You will need to send a copy of the valid pay and display ticket with the appeal. We will normally only cancel the PCN the first time this happens. If you receive further notices for the same reason they may not be cancelled.

If you parked in a pay and display area and you couldn’t purchase a ticket because the machine wasn’t working, then you should tell us this in your appeal. We can check whether any machines were not working at any time. If a fault is found then we may cancel your notice. If there is an alternative working pay and display machine close by, you are expected to use this.

If you receive a PCN for not displaying a valid permit/scratchcard this may have been because it was displayed incorrectly or it fell to the floor.

You will need to send a copy of the valid permit/scratchcard with the appeal. We will normally only cancel the PCN the first time this happens. If you receive further notices for the same reason they may not be cancelled.