Drivers stung with hefty parking fines are being told of ways they can appeal or reduce costs.
As parking fines once again hit the headlines, car insurance experts at price comparison site Quotezone.co.uk have shared tips following new rules designed to help drivers who have been caught out by private car park owners.
New rules were introduced in October 2024 for the Private Parking Code of Justice, which has changed the ways private car parks are able to charge drivers.
The new code introduced a ten-minute grace period, a cap on charges, uniform signage and regulations and an Appeals Charter for contesting fines.
These changes were welcomed in response to driver’s concerns over lack of regulation for rules governing privately owned car parks.
But as a result of these changes, some drivers may not be aware of the best ways to reduce or appeal their fines if they do get caught out.
Greg Wilson, CEO and car insurance expert at Quotezone said: “We welcome the changes to the Private Parking Code of Justice, as it gives motorists a chance to appeal or reduce fines if they were caught out in situations which are sometimes out of their control.
“The ten-minute grace period is an especially important and positive step forwards, making any penalty charges illegal if issued before the grace period ends.
“We want to make sure drivers know exactly what to be aware of with the new rules and how they can get a reduction on their fine or make an appeal.”
Here’s Quotezone.co.uk’s step-by-step guide to appealing a private parking ticket:
1.Check the type of parking ticket
Official bodies and private companies have different appeal procedures, so it’s important to find out which one you’re dealing with. Official tickets are called Penalty Charge Notices, Excess Charge Notices or Fixed Penalty Notices and you can find the name of the issuing authority on the ticket. All other tickets are issued by private companies. The appeals process for a council-issued versus privately-issued parking fine may differ, so it is important to ensure you are following the correct process.
2.Pay early
New rules for private companies means their charges cannot exceed £100. If you were fined by a private parking company and the charge is justified, you can reduce the cost owed by making the payment early. The amount owed must be reduced by a minimum of 40% if the payment is made within 14 days of the issue of notice.
3.Appeal your ticket
The new Private Parking Code of Justice provides motorists with an Appeals Charter. This outlines circumstances where fines should either be waived completely or reduced to just £20 if paid within a 14 day period (before rising again). Circumstances in which parking tickets could be waived completely include:
- If you pause momentarily on a private road to check directions.
- Make a minor error when registering your vehicle, for example typing an I instead of a 1.
- If you stopped in a ‘no stopping zone’ to avoid an accident or give way to an emergency vehicle.
4.Reduce your fine
You could have your fine reduced if it meets certain criteria. Remember to always gather as much evidence as possible to back up your claim and increase your chances of a reduction. You need to remember that fine reductions are only valid for 14 days, so pay or appeal quickly in order to benefit from the allowance.
Circumstances for a reduced fine include if your vehicle broke down, if you failed to present a permit to park at the time but you supplied a copy of the permit at a later date as evidence, or if one or more payment machines were out of use, there were no alternative payment options available and you could not be expected to have accessed any of the other machines still in operation.
Quotezone.co.uk helps over 4 million people every year find savings on all sorts of everyday bills and essentials such car, van and fleet insurance. CompareNI.com can help drivers in Northern Ireland.
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