Parking & traffic penalties
We check the notice against the rules that apply to it, write the appeal, and take it to the independent appeal service or tribunal if the first answer is no.
Two very different kinds of ticket
A private parking charge is issued by a company that manages private land, such as a retail park, hospital or residential site. It is a claim for money under a contract the company says you agreed to by parking. It is not a fine, and the company can only recover it from the registered keeper if it follows the conditions in Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.
A penalty charge notice (PCN) from a council, or from Transport for London, is a civil penalty under the Traffic Management Act 2004 and related regulations. There is a fixed statutory process with set deadlines, and an independent adjudicator decides appeals.
Getting the type of notice right matters, because the grounds, the deadlines and the appeal body are different for each.
Choose the type of notice
Private parking charges
Charges from parking companies on private land, appealed to the operator and then to POPLA or the IAS.
Read moreCouncil PCNs
Informal challenges, formal representations, and appeals to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal or London Tribunals.
Read moreBus lanes, clean air zones & road charges
Bus lane and moving traffic PCNs, clean air zones and the ULEZ, the Dart Charge and other road user charges.
Read moreDVLA tax and SORN penalties
Late licensing penalties, out of court settlement offers and uninsured vehicle letters, dealt with before any prosecution.
Read moreHospital parking charges
Charges at hospital car parks, where appointments overrun and emergencies happen, and the rules allow for both.
Read moreSupermarket overstay charges
Camera-based overstay charges at supermarkets and retail parks, including double visits and missed entries.
Read moreReceived a court claim?
What a county court claim means, the time limits for responding, and where to get help.
Read more| Private parking charge | Council or TfL PCN | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Contract, plus Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 Schedule 4 for keeper liability | Traffic Management Act 2004 and regulations made under it |
| First appeal | To the parking company | Informal challenge, then formal representations to the council |
| Independent appeal | POPLA (British Parking Association members) or the IAS (International Parking Community members) | Traffic Penalty Tribunal (outside London) or London Tribunals |
| If unpaid and not appealed | Debt collection letters, then possibly a county court claim | Charge certificate, then registration as a debt and enforcement agents |
What we do
- Check the notice, signs, photos and dates against the law and the code of practice that applies
- Write the appeal or representations and send them on your written authority
- Take the appeal to POPLA, the IAS, the Traffic Penalty Tribunal or London Tribunals
- Represent you at a tribunal hearing by phone or video, if you want us to
- Explain your options clearly if a county court claim arrives
What we do not do
- File or send a court defence for you, or write to the court on your behalf
- Accept service of court papers
- Advise on speeding or other criminal motoring offences, or on naming the driver
- Handle notices issued in Scotland or Northern Ireland
If a court claim arrives, see what happens next.
Deadlines and discounts
Most notices offer a reduced amount for early payment and set short deadlines for appeals. Appealing can mean losing the discount if the appeal fails, although councils often re-offer it after an informal challenge. Send us the notice as soon as you receive it so no deadline is missed.
Our status
Appeal Specialists is an independent consultancy, not a law firm. We are not solicitors or barristers and we are not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or any other legal regulator, so you cannot complain about us to the Legal Ombudsman.
We provide non-reserved legal services only. We do not conduct litigation, file or serve court documents, or accept service of court documents for you. Where the law allows, we can speak for you at a small-claims hearing or a tribunal, but only with your agreement and, at small-claims hearings, only if you attend.
What you tell us is not protected by legal professional privilege. We never hold your money. We work on matters in England and Wales only. We do not guarantee any outcome.
All correspondence by email
We deal with everything in writing, so every point and every deadline is on the record. If you are replying to a letter from us, please quote our reference.