How to appeal a parking ticket as 15.9 million issued in 2025

This figure is up from 13.6 million in the previous year, an increase of 17%.

The dreaded parking ticket – also known as a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) -can be a minefield for drivers. Many people don’t know how to appeal.

Helen Dewdney, AKA The Complaining Cow, a consumer expert and author, shares her tips on successfully appealing a parking ticket:

1. Keep evidence of payment. All of it. The actual payment, so screenshot a payment acknowledgement, the bank transfer/credit card statement, etc. Keep the receipt and/or printed parking ticket every time you park and file it in a safe place.
2. The firm sending you the charge usually won’t be the owner of the car park, so you could also write to the landowner. For example, with a supermarket you could try a two-pronged approach, in writing to the manager of the store and the parking firm, asking for the PCN to be cancelled.
3. You can appeal for a variety of reasons, including that the fee has already been paid, poor or no signage, you broke down, there was an emergency or the car owner details are incorrect. You will need to provide evidence for any of these possible reasons.
4. When the charge comes from the company, follow their appeals process. This will usually be an appeal internally. Then, if they are a member of either the British Parking Association (BPA) or International Parking Community (IPC), you can appeal to one of those organisations.
5. If the firm is not a member, it cannot get your name and address details from the DVLA which means they can’t take you to court if you don’t pay! Don’t write to the firm, as it will then have the address details it needs to pursue you.

Helen says: “Remember that it does not cost you any money to appeal a parking ticket, so it is always worth trying."