Appealing to the tribunal
The independent adjudicators are lawyers who don't work for the council. They decide whether the PCN should stand. You can only appeal after a Notice of Rejection.
Which tribunal?
| PCN issued by | Tribunal |
|---|---|
| A London borough, the City of London or TfL | London Tribunals (Environment and Traffic Adjudicators) |
| A council in England outside London (and in Wales) | Traffic Penalty Tribunal |
How to appeal
- Use the verification code on your Notice of Rejection to appeal online (or use the paper form sent with it).
- Choose the statutory ground(s) that apply. They're printed on the form and listed in our formal representations guide.
- Write a short, clear statement: what happened, which ground applies and why, and why the council's rejection is wrong.
- Upload your evidence. Number it and refer to it in your statement.
- Read the council's evidence pack when it arrives, and reply to anything new.
- Choose how the appeal is decided (online/e-decision, phone or in person, depending on the tribunal).
Need a statement? Our generator lays out the grounds, facts and evidence in a format adjudicators can follow.
Create tribunal statementWhat the adjudicator can do
- Allow the appeal if a statutory ground applies, and direct the council to cancel the PCN and refund you.
- Refuse the appeal. You then normally have 28 days to pay before a charge certificate (SI 2022/71 reg 21).
- For Traffic Management Act PCNs, recommend cancellation for compelling reasons even when the appeal is refused. The council must reply within 35 days, and if it doesn't, it's taken to have accepted (SI 2022/576 reg 7(8)-(13)).
Adjudicators can't cancel a PCN just because the circumstances were sympathetic. Mitigation goes to the council, or to a "compelling reasons" recommendation where that's available.
Tips
- Stick to the facts and the grounds. Short and organised beats long and angry.
- Photos of signs and lines taken from the driver's view are often decisive.
- For camera PCNs, watch the footage. You're entitled to view it or get still images.
- Past decisions don't bind adjudicators, but the tribunals publish key cases and these show how rules are applied.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to go to court to appeal a PCN?
No. Tribunal appeals are not court hearings. Most are decided online or by phone.
Can I appeal to the tribunal without first challenging the council?
No. You must make formal representations to the council first and receive a Notice of Rejection.
Official sources
- London Tribunals: Preparing your appeal
- Traffic Penalty Tribunal (England outside London, and Wales)
- The Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Representations and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/576)
- The Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/71)
- GOV.UK: Appeal against a penalty charge notice
More guides
Informal challenge: the first stepNotice to Owner and formal representationsGot a Notice of Rejection?Charge Certificate and Order for RecoveryOrder for Recovery: witness statement (TE13 / TE9)Hire companies: transfer liabilityFines and discountsPrivate parking tickets
Not legal advice. This site gives general information about council PCNs in England, based on official sources (last reviewed 21 October 2026). Rules and amounts change and every case is different. Always check the notice you received, your council's website and the official sources, and consider independent advice for complex cases. PCN Codes is not connected to any council, TfL, London Tribunals or the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.