Getting back to your car to discover a PCN on the windscreen is frustrating, especially when you know you’ve done nothing wrong. The good news? If your ticket was issued unfairly, there’s a strong chance you can get it cancelled. In this guide, we’ll walk you through:
- what to do the moment you receive the ticket
- how to check if you’re eligible to appeal
- the exact steps (and templates) you’ll need to dispute it successfully
Step 1: Make sure you have the grounds to appeal a parking ticket
- You can’t appeal if you overstayed, forgot to pay, or simply disagreed with the rules.
- You can appeal on official grounds if:
- Wrong signage / the info was not visible
- Traffic warden / council made an error
- You’ve already paid the fine
- The council did not give you the ticket within 14 days of the offence
- The council made an error on the ticket
- You had sold the car before the offence occurred
- Your car was stolen
- You have been overcharged
- You can also appeal on mitigating circumstances:
- Bereavement
- Your car was broken down
- Tending to an emergency or clearing an obstruction in the road
- Dropping off an ill patient at the hospital
- You couldn’t get back to your car because you are either disabled, pregnant, or have a very young baby
Step 2: Gather clear evidence to appeal your parking fine
Collect as much information as you can as soon as possible:
- Photos of the bay, signs or valid tickets
- Witness statements (if applicable)
- Any emails or letters you’ve received
- Proof of mitigating circumstances (e.g. hospital letter)
Step 3: Start the appeals process
If you received a paper ticket, you can start with an informal appeal. This is useful because, if it’s rejected, you can still pay within the 14-day window and get the 50% discounted rate.
If the ticket was sent in the post, you’ll need to go straight to a formal appeal. These take longer to process, which means you risk losing the discount if the appeal isn’t upheld.
Informal Appeal (paper tickets)
- Send a letter or email to the issuer.
- Include all of your evidence to give yourself the best chance of success.
- If rejected, you can either pay the fine at the 50% discounted rate, or escalate it to a formal appeal.
Formal Appeal
- Complete the official appeal form and resubmit your evidence (as the case is reviewed by someone new).
- The council has up to 56 days to respond.
- If they reject your appeal, you can still take it to an independent adjudicator (over email/phone) and your fine won’t increase unless the claim is considered clearly unreasonable.
Independent Adjudicator
- Submit all of your evidence again so the adjudicator can review the full case.
- No court visit is required; this is usually handled online or over the phone
Templates for Emails You Can Send in Your Appeals Process
INFORMAL APPEAL
Subject line: R.E. Parking Ticket: 12345567766
To Whom it may concern,
I was issued a parking ticket at Birch Road shopping centre on the 8th of July 2025. My car had been parked there between 12:15pm-3:23pm and I had been charged £60.
I believe that this ticket was issued unfairly, and so I do not believe that I should pay it because the signage informed me that I could park at the shopping centre for free for up to 4 hours.
I have enclosed the following evidence of the signage to support my claim. It was taken on the day the ticket was issued and shows that I was able to park there for 4 hours without a charge.
I look forward to hearing back from you in regard to this matter.
Kind Regards,
Jenny
FORMAL APPEAL
Subject line: R.E. Parking Ticket: 12345567766
To Whom it may concern,
I’m writing to make a formal appeal to a parking ticket I was issued on the 8th of July 2025. This letter is in addition to the completed appeals form which is attached below. I received the ticket at Birch Road shopping centre, my car had been parked there between 12:15pm-3:23pm and I had been charged £60.
I believe that this ticket was issued unfairly, as the signage informed me that I could park at the shopping centre for free for up to 4 hours.
Along with the completed appeals form, I have also enclosed photo evidence of the signage to support my claim. It was taken on the day the ticket was issued and shows that I was able to park there for 4 hours without a charge.
I look forward to hearing back from you in regard to this matter and for the ticket to be cancelled.
Kind Regards,
Jenny
INFORMAL ADJUDICATION
Subject line: R.E. Parking Ticket: 12345567766
Dear Sir/ Madam,
I’m writing to submit adjudication on my formal appeal in regard to the above parking ticket, issued on the 8th of July 2025 at Birch Road shopping centre. I have attached my appeals form for your consideration.
I believe that this ticket was issued unfairly, as the signage informed me that I could park at the shopping centre for free for up to 4 hours.
Along with the completed appeals form, I have also enclosed photo evidence of the signage to support my claim. It was taken on the day the ticket was issued and shows that I was able to park there for 4 hours without a charge.
I look forward to hearing back from you in regard to this matter and for the ticket to be cancelled.
Kind Regards,
Jenny
Extra Tips for a Successful Appeal
- Never pay if you plan to appeal: Paying the fine admits liability and closes the case, only pay if you’ve decided not to continue with the appeal. (Just don’t ignore it completely, as the fine will increase after 14 days for paper tickets or 21 days for postal tickets.)
- You can’t be taken to court during an informal appeal: While you’re informally appealing a ticket, your case cannot go to court and your credit score will not be affected.
- Collect evidence right away: The closer to the incident you gather your evidence, the stronger your case. Take photographs immediately and make note of anything that could support your argument (e.g. signage, road markings, valid tickets, etc.).
- Keep copies of everything you send or receive: Keep all emails, letters and forms in one place so you have a full record if the appeal goes to the next stage.
How to Avoid Parking Fines Going Forward
Once you’ve successfully appealed your ticket, the next goal is to make sure it never happens again. That’s where JustPark can help.
With secure, bookable spaces, JustPark guarantees you a spot for as long as you need it and in many cases, you can even come and go throughout the duration of your booking (just double-check your confirmation first).
Better still, the JustPark app sends automatic reminders before your session expires. So if you lose track of time while hunting for the perfect gift for Auntie Gloria, you’ll get a helpful nudge so you can simply extend your stay in-app and avoid an unnecessary fine.
For more advice from JustPark, see “What should I do if I get a parking fine (PCN)?”.
(And yes, Joe Lycett’s approach to disputing a parking ticket is iconic... but probably not one we’d recommend following.)
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