Councils might issue parking fines if, for example, you’ve parked dangerously or in a prohibited area. Find out what to do if you get a fine from your local council.
If you’ve received a penalty charge notice
A penalty charge notice (PCN) is issued by the council on public land – such as a council car park or high street.
Fines range from £45 to £160. They depend on where you are in the country and how serious your parking offence was.
It’s important not to ignore a PCN. If you haven’t paid within 28 days, you’ll get a ‘charge certificate’ – and you’ll have 14 days to pay the original fine plus 50% more.
You’ll get a court order demanding payment if you don’t pay a charge certificate within 14 days. Find out more on GOV.UKOpens in a new window
To understand more about what action an enforcement agent can take, see the guides to bailiffs (known as sheriffs in Scotland):
in England and Wales, at Citizens AdviceOpens in a new window
in Scotland, at Citizens AdviceOpens in a new window
in Northern Ireland, at nidirectOpens in a new window
If you’re within the 28-day limit and think the PCN was unfair, you can appeal. If you do it within 14 days and your challenge is rejected, you might only have to pay 50% of the fine.
Follow the steps on your ticket as appeal rules can vary - Citizens Advice have a guide to help you with what to say.
Private or police parking fines
It’s important to check what kind of parking fine you have. This is because the rules for dealing with missed payments are different.
A private parking charge is issued by a private company. Shopping centre and supermarket car parks will often be run by private companies.
Private parking tickets are not official fines. If you receive one and you think it’s unfair, you can appeal it with the independent adjudicator Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA).
Find more information on parking on private land appeals at POPLA
If you need help making your appeal, find a free guide with template letters on the MoneySavingExpert site
You might receive a police parking penalty – sometimes called a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).
For useful guidance on what to do, go to the Citizens Advice site
I can’t afford to pay my fine – what should I do?
Have you decided not to appeal and can’t find a way to pay your parking fine? Then it’s best to get advice as soon you can, especially if you’ve got other debts as well.
See our guide on How to prioritise your debts to help you work out which ones to pay off first
Have you missed a payment?
Use our Debt advice locator tool to find free and confidential debt advice online, over the phone or near to where you live.
What to do if you’ve missed payments for a penalty charge notice
If you’re within the 28-day limit, find out if they’ve extended their discount payment periods. Or if they can extend the date by which you need to pay it.
If you’ve had multiple parking fines, your council might set up a payment plan or stagger when you make individual payments.
It will help your case if you can explain how much you can afford to pay by setting your personal budget.
Make an emergency budget
If you’ve lost control of your finances, creating a budget can help you get back on track. If you’ve got little or no money left to make up the shortfall of higher living costs, find out about other sources of income and support available to help you manage your money.
Find out what benefits you might be entitled to using the Turn2us Benefits calculatorOpens in a new window
Take a few minutes to check which benefits you can claim and how much you could get a month with our Benefits calculator.
If you’re worried about your finances, look at what you’re spending and what income you have coming in.
Use our Budget planner tool to help you do this.
Help with the cost of living
Worrying about money because of rising rents, high energy bills or debt? If so, we're here to help.
Take the first steps to find your way forward with our guides to help you with the cost of living.
