First: check which kind of “PCN” you have
A council PCN comes from a local authority (or TfL in London) — a yellow ticket fixed to the windscreen, or a letter by post if you were caught on camera. If your notice is from a company like ParkingEye or Euro Car Parks, it’s a private parking charge with completely different rules — read our private parking charge guide instead.
The deadlines that matter
| Within… | What happens |
|---|---|
| 14 days | Pay at a 50% discount — or better, make an early informal challenge (see below) |
| 28 days | Deadline to pay or challenge the PCN |
| After 28 days | A “Notice to Owner” can be sent to the registered keeper — you then have 28 days to make formal representations |
| If ignored | The charge increases by 50%, and eventually a charge certificate and enforcement follow — never just ignore a council PCN |
The discount is protected if you challenge early. Make an informal challenge within 14 days and, if the council rejects it, statutory guidance says they should re-offer the 50% discount for another 14 days from the rejection. An early challenge usually costs you nothing.
Step 1 — the informal challenge
If the ticket was left on your windscreen, you can challenge before any “Notice to Owner” arrives. Write to the council (most have an online form — it’s faster and gives you a receipt) explaining why the PCN should be cancelled. Attach evidence: photos of the signs, your ticket or permit, a repair invoice if you’d broken down.
Step 2 — formal representations
If your informal challenge is rejected (or the PCN arrived by post), the registered keeper will get a Notice to Owner. You then have 28 days to make formal representations. The statutory grounds include:
- The contravention did not occur (including inadequate signs or road markings)
- You weren’t the owner at the time (vehicle sold or transferred)
- The vehicle was taken without your consent
- The penalty has already been paid
- The charge exceeds the amount applicable
- Procedural impropriety — the council got the process or paperwork wrong
Mitigating circumstances (a breakdown, a medical emergency) aren’t formal grounds, but councils have discretion to cancel — always include them.
Step 3 — the independent tribunal (free)
If the council rejects your formal representations, you’ll receive a Notice of Rejection with details of your right to appeal to the independent adjudicator: London Tribunals for London PCNs, the Traffic Penalty Tribunal everywhere else in England and Wales. It’s free, done online or by post or phone hearing, and the adjudicators are lawyers who are independent of the council. A large share of the appeals that get this far succeed — councils often don’t even contest well-argued cases.
The grounds that win most often
- Signage: missing, obscured or contradictory signs and worn-out road markings. Photograph everything from driver height.
- Loading/unloading: permitted in most places for a reasonable period — keep delivery notes or receipts.
- Valid ticket or permit: tickets that fell face-down, app sessions with a typo in the registration — councils regularly cancel these.
- Procedural errors: wrong dates, wrong location, late notices, incorrect amounts. Strict rules apply to the council, not just to you.
Never let a deadline pass while waiting for a reply. If the next formal notice arrives while your challenge is outstanding, respond to it as well — the timetable doesn’t stop automatically.