How to Overturn an Unfair Parking Ticket 

Drivers are encouraged to challenge their parking tickets if they’ve got valid reasons to think that they’ve been fined unfairly, as data shows that more than sixty per cent of the appeals succeed. 

Approximately 35,000 people dispute their tickets yearly with the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, and 64% of those appeals are successful.

Experts at one of the UK’s leading price comparison sites, Quotezone.co.uk, have identified the situations in which you can successfully challenge a parking ticket and have provided a step-by-step guide on how to do so.

It’s well worth trying to get the penalty overturned, as it’s free to make an informal appeal and if done quickly, motorists may still be entitled to a 50% discount that applies to those who agree to pay the fine.

However, if motorists decide to appeal, there must be clear grounds to prove that they were fined unfairly.

Motorists might be eligible for an appeal if they got a Parking Charge Notice more than two weeks after parking, if they can prove they didn’t break any parking rules, if the signs or road markings were unclear, if there was no way to pay, or if were charged too much.

Among the list are situations where someone else was driving the car, motorists couldn’t get back to their vehicle, or the car broke down, and it’s also worth issuing a dispute when only 5 to 10 minutes late.

Greg Wilson, Founder of car insurance comparison website Quotezone.co.uk, said: “If any of these situations above apply to you, then there are sufficient grounds to appeal against the parking ticket.

“Many drivers are reluctant to go through the appeal process and fear missing out on the reduced fine. However, with a surprising two-thirds of the appeals proving successful, it’s worth considering.

“Where you park can also significantly affect your car insurance cost. 36% of households across the UK have at least two cars, making street parking a reality for many families and can increase premiums by £140 on average.”

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

1. Check What Type of Parking Ticket It Is

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.

2. Act Quickly

If you don’t want to miss out on the 50% discount, you must act quickly, as the discount will be frozen and should still apply if you file your appeal within 14 days of receiving your ticket.

3. Find Evidence

To make your case more robust, it’s good to have evidence to support your claim. Providing photo or CCTV evidence is the easiest way to prove that no parking rules were broken.

If that’s not possible in your situation, then it would help to get some witness statements. You should get a doctor’s note when a medical emergency or condition excuses your illegal parking.

4. Make the Right Type of Appeal

There are three types of appeals that you can file: informal, formal and one with an independent adjudicator.

Informal appeals only apply to Penalty Charge Notices left on windscreens. All you have to do is send your appeal to the local authority and include any evidence you have.

If the informal appeal is unsuccessful or the fine was sent by post, you’ll have to go through the formal appeal process, where you need to submit a form if you want to get your penalty overturned.

If the dispute fails in the formal stage, you can take your appeal to the private adjudicator for free. You can opt for a personal hearing or complete the process over email, phone or post.