PCN code 05: meaning and how to appeal
Lower levelOn-street parking
Official description: “Parked after the expiry of paid for time”
What it means
You paid to park in a bay but the vehicle was still there after your paid time ran out.
How much is a code 05 PCN?
Code 05 is a lower-level contravention, so the amount depends on where you were:
| Area | Penalty | Paid early (50%) | After charge certificate (+50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Band A | £110 | £55 | £165 |
| London Band B | £90 | £45 | £135 |
| Outside London (most councils, band 2) | £50 | £25 | £75 |
| Outside London (band 1 areas) | £40 | £20 | £60 |
Sources: London Councils (London amounts from 7 April 2025) and SI 2022/71 Schedule 3 (outside London). Full fines guide.
Deadlines
- PCN on the windscreen or handed to you: 50% discount if paid within 14 days. If you challenge within 14 days and are refused, councils are recommended to re-offer the discount. Full amount due within 28 days, after which a Notice to Owner can be sent.
- PCN posted because you drove away or the officer was prevented from issuing it: 50% discount within 14 days, and 28 days to pay or make formal representations.
- Notice to Owner: 28 days to pay or make formal representations. The council must decide within 56 days or the representations are deemed accepted.
- Notice of Rejection: 28 days to appeal to the tribunal (free).
- Charge certificate: the penalty rises by 50%. Order for recovery: 21 days to pay or file a witness statement.
Common grounds to appeal a code 05 PCN
- You were within the statutory 10-minute grace period: councils must not issue a PCN for overstaying in a parking place by 10 minutes or less.
- Your parking app or receipt shows you had paid (or extended) for the time the PCN was issued.
- The pay machine or app was faulty and there was no other reasonable way to pay.
- The officer's times are wrong (compare with your ticket, app record or a dash-cam).
Also check the PCN itself: are the date, time, location, vehicle and code correct, and was it served on time? Errors can support the statutory grounds, such as procedural impropriety or 'the contravention did not occur'.
Evidence to gather
- Your pay & display ticket or the app's payment history / bank statement.
- Screenshots showing app outages or error messages.
- Ask the council for the officer's photos and notes (or the camera footage) and check they match the PCN.
Code 05 suffixes
The letter after the code shows the type of bay, vehicle or enforcement. Suffixes that apply to code 05:
| Suffix | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 05C | buses only |
| 05G | motorcycle bay |
| 05P | pay & display |
| 05S | shared use bay |
| 05U | electronic (phone/app) payment |
| 05V | voucher |
| 051 | electric vehicles bay |
How to appeal
- Informal challenge if the PCN was put on your vehicle (ideally within 14 days).
- Formal representations within 28 days of the Notice to Owner or postal PCN.
- If rejected, appeal to the tribunal within 28 days.
Write your code 05 appeal letter for free. Pick your grounds, add your facts, then copy, download or print.
Generate a letterHire or lease company? See how to transfer liability to the hirer.
Related codes
No pay & display ticket shownCode 11
Didn't pay (cashless / phone parking)Code 30
Stayed longer than allowedCode 19
Residents'/shared bay with invalid permit or expired time
Frequently asked questions
What does PCN code 05 mean?
Code 05 is “Parked after the expiry of paid for time”. In plain English: You paid to park in a bay but the vehicle was still there after your paid time ran out.
How much is a code 05 PCN?
Code 05 is lower level: £110 in London Band A, £90 in Band B, and usually £50 outside London, halved if paid early.
Can I appeal a code 05 PCN?
Yes. Common grounds include: You were within the statutory 10-minute grace period: councils must not issue a PCN for overstaying in a parking place by 10 minutes or less. Your parking app or receipt shows you had paid (or extended) for the time the PCN was issued. The pay machine or app was faulty and there was no other reasonable way to pay.
How long do I have to challenge a code 05 PCN?
Challenge within 14 days to protect the discount where possible. Formal representations must be made within 28 days of the Notice to Owner or postal PCN, and a tribunal appeal within 28 days of a Notice of Rejection.
Official sources
- London Councils: Penalty Charge Notices contravention code list (v7.0)
- PATROL / Traffic Penalty Tribunal: Contravention codes (England and Wales)
- London Councils: Parking and traffic charges in London
- SI 2022/71 Schedule 3: penalty charge bands outside Greater London
- SI 2022/576 regulation 5: grounds for representations
- DfT statutory guidance: civil enforcement of parking contraventions (updated 20 Oct 2022)