Last reviewed: 30 April 2026 | Sources: BPA/IPC Single Code of Practice (Oct 2024), Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, National Debtline
TL;DR — Quick Summary
A private Parking Charge Notice (PCN) is NOT a criminal fine. It is a contractual invoice. You have 14 days to pay at a 40% discount (£60 on a £100 charge) or to appeal — and appealing freezes the clock. Paying immediately surrenders your right to appeal. Ignoring it risks county court action but does NOT create a criminal record.
Key Facts
- Maximum charge: £100 (capped by BPA/IPC Code of Practice, Oct 2024)
- Early payment discount: 40% if paid within 14 days — so £60 on a £100 charge
- Grace period mandatory: 10 minutes after permitted parking period expires
- Appeal Stage 1: to the operator directly — must be acknowledged within 14 days, responded to within 35 days
- Appeal Stage 2: POPLA (BPA members) or IAS (IPC members) — free, within 28 days of Stage 1 rejection
- Appealing freezes the clock — you do not lose the 14-day discount while your Stage 1 appeal is pending
What is a private parking charge notice?
A private Parking Charge Notice (PCN) is issued by a private company managing land such as a supermarket car park, hospital site, retail park or private estate. It is fundamentally different from a council-issued Penalty Charge Notice (also called a PCN — the same abbreviation is used for two legally distinct notices). A private PCN is a civil contractual invoice; a council PCN is a statutory civil penalty. The distinction determines your rights, your appeal route, and the consequences of non-payment.
Private parking operators who are members of the British Parking Association (BPA) or International Parking Community (IPC) must follow the Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice, which came into force on 1 October 2024. All new sites must comply immediately; existing sites have until late 2026 to fully comply. The Code caps charges at £100, requires a mandatory 10-minute exit grace period, mandates clear signage, and requires an independent appeals process.
The 14-day rule explained
Under the BPA/IPC Code of Practice, operators must offer a minimum 40% discount if the charge is paid within 14 days of issue. On a £100 charge this means paying £60. The 14-day window runs from the date of the Notice to Driver (if a physical ticket was placed on the windscreen) or from the date of the Notice to Keeper (if sent by post after ANPR camera enforcement).
Critically: if you submit a Stage 1 appeal to the operator within the 14-day window, the clock is frozen. You retain the right to pay at the discounted rate for a further 14 days after receiving the operator's rejection — even if the total time elapsed is more than 14 days from the original notice. This protection is built into the Code: the operator cannot allow the discount window to expire while your appeal is pending.
Your options on receipt of a private PCN
| Option | When | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Pay at 40% discount | Within 14 days | Matter closed. You cannot appeal after payment. |
| Appeal to operator (Stage 1) | Within 28 days (14 days to keep discount alive) | Clock frozen. Operator has 35 days to respond. Discount preserved if appeal submitted within 14 days. |
| Appeal to POPLA or IAS (Stage 2) | Within 28 days of Stage 1 rejection | Free independent review. Discount no longer available at this stage. |
| Ignore completely | — | Charge escalates. Debt collection letters follow. County court claim possible. No criminal record. |
What happens if you ignore a private parking charge?
Ignoring a private parking charge does not result in a criminal record, points on your driving licence, or police involvement. Private parking charges are civil contractual matters. However, ignoring them creates real risks:
- The operator will add debt collection fees — typically up to £70 — to the original charge, pushing the total to £170 or more
- Debt collection agencies will write to you with increasingly formal letters
- The operator may issue a County Court claim (small claims track). If they obtain a County Court Judgment (CCJ) and you do not pay within 30 days, the CCJ appears on your credit file for 6 years
- Bailiffs can only be instructed after a CCJ — not before
In practice, most operators do not pursue small unpaid charges through court due to filing costs and the risk of a defended hearing. However, ParkingEye and other high-volume operators have been known to issue County Court claims routinely. Taking the risk is a personal decision based on the specific operator and the strength of your legal position.
The mandatory 10-minute grace period
Under the October 2024 Code of Practice, operators must allow a minimum 10-minute grace period after the permitted parking period expires before issuing a charge. This applies at the exit — if ANPR records your departure within 10 minutes of permit expiry, the charge should not have been issued. If you received a charge and ANPR data shows you left within 10 minutes of your time expiring, this is a strong grounds for appeal under the Code.
There is also an entrance grace period — a reasonable time on arrival to read signage and decide whether to park. The Code does not specify a fixed duration for the entrance grace period but requires it to be reasonable. In practice, 5–10 minutes is accepted as reasonable by POPLA assessors.
How to submit a Stage 1 appeal
- Locate the operator's name and appeals contact details on the PCN
- Write clearly: your name, vehicle registration, PCN reference, and site address
- State your grounds: grace period breach, signage failure, ANPR inaccuracy, keeper liability failure under PoFA 2012, or mitigating circumstances
- Attach evidence: photos of signage, pay-and-display receipts, proof of blue badge if applicable
- Submit by email or the operator's online portal — keep a copy and proof of submission
- Do not pay while your appeal is pending
Mitigating circumstances: reduced to £20
Under the new Code of Practice, operators must reduce a charge to £20 (payable within 14 days) where mitigating circumstances exist. Recognised mitigating circumstances include: medical emergencies, breakdown evidenced by a call-out receipt, genuine signage confusion, pay machine failure evidenced by an out-of-order notice, and similar events outside the driver's reasonable control. The £20 reduction is not automatic — you must raise the circumstances in your Stage 1 appeal with supporting evidence.
Frequently asked questions
Is a private PCN the same as a council PCN?
No. A council Penalty Charge Notice is a statutory civil penalty issued under the Traffic Management Act 2004. A private PCN is a contractual invoice. They use the same three-letter abbreviation but have completely different legal bases, appeal routes, and enforcement powers. Council PCNs escalate to Traffic Enforcement Centre warrants; private PCNs escalate to county court claims only.
Can a private parking company send bailiffs?
Only after obtaining a County Court Judgment and if you fail to pay within 30 days of the judgment. Bailiffs cannot be instructed without a CCJ. Threatening bailiff action without a CCJ is a breach of the Consumer Rights Act and the FCA's debt collection rules — report it to the Financial Ombudsman if it occurs.
What if someone else was driving my car?
Under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (PoFA), operators can pursue the registered keeper if they cannot identify the driver — but only if they followed strict procedural requirements. You are not legally obliged to name the driver. However, if you have already identified the driver in writing, PoFA keeper liability protections are lost.
Does appealing stop the charge escalating?
Yes — during an active appeal (both Stage 1 and Stage 2) the operator must freeze the charge and not add escalation fees. This is a requirement of the Code of Practice. If you receive escalation letters while an appeal is in progress, write back immediately referencing your active appeal reference number.
What is the maximum a private car park can charge in 2026?
£100, capped by the BPA/IPC Single Code of Practice (October 2024). All new sites must comply with this cap. The 40% early payment discount (14 days) means the effective amount paid by most motorists is £60. Operators cannot add further charges on top of the £100 until a court judgment is obtained.
Sources: BPA/IPC Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice, 1 October 2024 | Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Schedule 4 | National Debtline — Parking charge notices guide | Which? — New private parking code of practice, October 2024 | BPA — Code of Practice, Approved Operator Scheme.
Informational only — not legal advice. See our UK Fines and Appeals hub for all guides.
