Citizens Advice on when you can appeal a parking ticket and how to do it

Returning to your car to find a fine stuck to your windscreen, or having a parking ticket land through your letterbox, is a huge inconvenience.

Having to fork out for leaving your car in the wrong place or returning to it too late is something we all try to avoid. But, we all get caught out sometimes.

Research published at the start of 2022 revealed that drivers are being handed an average of more than 22,000 tickets every day by private parking firms. Companies issued a whopping 4 million tickets to British motorists between April and September last year.

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However, if you've been slapped with a parking fine, you might be able to appeal it. There are plenty of situations which could result in your fine being cancelled, as long as you can prove you weren't in the wrong. If you couldn't spot any signs or road markings, if you were unable to pay for your ticket, or even if you were just a few minutes late back to your vehicle, you could end up paying nothing at all.

Citizens Advice has provided a comprehensive guide on when you might be eligible to appeal a parking ticket and how to go about it. Here's everything you need to know.

There are several reasons you can appeal a parking ticket, according to Citizens Advice. Making an informal appeal is free to do - you simply have to contact whoever issued it to you.

If you make an informal appeal, you can't be taken to court. However, if your appeal is unsuccessful and you don’t pay the ticket or appeal to a tribunal, you may be summoned.

Here are the reasons you may appeal your ticket.

Your parking ticket was given to you more than 14 days after parking

Check if the notice says