Parked in car park when closedThe official national descriptor for code 93, as published in the Department for Transport statutory guidance list.
What the council has to be able to show
An appeal is not an apology, it is a challenge to the council’s case. For code 93 that case rests on:
- Closing hours stated in the order and on signs at the entrance.
- That the vehicle was there after closing.
Where code 93 tickets go wrong
A closing time on a tariff board at the far end of the car park is not adequate notice. Photograph what is visible from the entrance and from the bay.
Being unfit to drive, a breakdown, or being taken ill are all worth stating. Councils have discretion at the first stage and this is the sort of case where they use it.
If the car park was not actually closed off, ask them how a driver was supposed to know it was closed.
Where a barrier failed or the exit was blocked, that is the operator’s problem. Note the time and any attempt you made to contact them.
What to gather before you write
- A photograph of the entrance signage showing the hours, or their absence.
- A breakdown report, taxi receipt or anything showing why the car stayed.
- Any call log to the car park operator.
Code 93 questions, answered
I left the car because I had been drinking. Does that count for anything?
It counts for a good deal at the first stage, even though it is mitigation rather than a legal ground. Councils have discretion over whether to pursue a notice, and choosing not to drive is the outcome everyone wants. Say it plainly, give the date and where you had been, and ask them to exercise that discretion. It works more often than people expect.
What does contravention code 93 mean?
Parked in car park when closed. In plain terms: Car parks with gates or stated closing hours. Most of these go to people who sensibly left a car behind rather than drive home, which is the awkward part of the code.
How much is a code 93 penalty?
Code 93 sits in the lower band, so it carries the cheaper of the two rates that council uses. Outside London that is commonly around £50; in London £110 in Band A or £90 in Band B. Half is normally taken off if you pay within 14 days, and your notice states the actual figures.
Your notice is definitive. This page explains the national code. Councils use extra codes and local suffixes, and the wording printed on your own notice always takes precedence. Check the deadline on the notice before you do anything else, because the discount usually runs out after 14 days.
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