Common myths about private parking tickets

There is a lot of information online about private parking tickets, but not all of it is accurate. Through the appeals we receive at POPLA, we see how misunderstandings about private parking rules can affect the decisions motorists make after receiving a Parking Charge Notice.

Here are some of the common misconceptions motorists should be aware of.

A private Parking Charge Notice is the same as a council parking fine

Although both are often shortened to “PCN”, they are different.

A Parking Charge Notice is issued by a private parking operator where it believes the terms and conditions of parking have been breached. A Penalty Charge Notice is normally issued by a council or other pulic authority under legislation and follows a different appeals process.

POPLA considers appeals about Parking Charge Notices issued on private land by operators in the British Parking Association’s Approved Operator Scheme. Our guide explains the difference between Parking Charge Notices and Penalty Charge Notices in more detail. 

Private parking charges can simply be ignored

Some online advice suggests motorists should ignore private Parking Charge Notices because they are not council fines. That can carry risks.

Private parking charges are civil charges and, where they remain unpaid, an operator may choose to pursue the matter through the county court. If you believe a charge has been issued incorrectly, it is better to understand your appeal options and act within the relevant deadlines.

Everyone automatically gets a ten-minute grace period

Grace periods do apply in many circumstances, but they are not universal.

A consideration period and a grace period are different and serve different purposes. When a motorist first arrives, a consideration period may allow time to find a space, read the parking terms and decide whether to stay. If the motorist chooses to park and accept those terms, the consideration period ends.

A grace period may apply later, at the end of a permitted parking period, to allow a motorist reasonable time to leave the site. It does not begin when the vehicle arrives and cannot be added to any consideration period. Different rules can apply to short-stay areas, unlimited parking, no-stopping zones and other types of parking.

Our guidance on grace periods and appeal deadlines explains when these periods may apply.

Any mistake when entering your vehicle registration means your parking charge will be cancelled

If a driver pays for parking but accidentally enters a '0' instead of an 'O' or a '1' instead of an 'I', the operator should take reasonable steps to identify the mistake before issuing a parking charge. If a charge is issued because the error was not identified by the operator's systems, it should be cancelled on appeal.

However, where several characters have been entered incorrectly and the error is harder to identify, different rules can apply. A reduced charge may be offered rather than the Parking Charge being cancelled completely. Our article on keying errors explains the distinction and what motorists should consider before appealing.

If you believe a Parking Charge Notice is incorrect, check the notice carefully, understand the reason it was issued and provide relevant information and evidence when appealing. You can find more information in our guide to appealing a parking charge.