Last reviewed 20 October 2026. General information only, not legal advice.
A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is issued by a local authority under civil parking enforcement law. It can be placed on your vehicle, handed to you, or posted if the contravention was caught on camera.
How the process works
- Informal challenge – write to the council, usually within the discount period (often 14 days).
- Notice to Owner – if you don't pay or your challenge is rejected, the registered keeper is sent a formal notice.
- Formal representations – you can make formal representations to the council within 28 days of the Notice to Owner.
- Independent adjudication – if those are rejected, appeal to London Tribunals (in London) or the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (in the rest of England and Wales).
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Different appeal bodies and procedures apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Check the council's notice for the correct route.
MyParkedCar is an information and referral website. Parking bookings and specialist services are provided by third parties.