Private parking tickets are different
Both are often called a "PCN", but a Parking Charge Notice from a private company (supermarket, retail park, hospital car park run by an operator) is not a council Penalty Charge Notice.
| Council Penalty Charge Notice | Private Parking Charge Notice | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | A council or TfL | A private parking operator, on behalf of the landowner |
| Legal basis | Traffic Management Act 2004 and regulations | Contract law and trespass. Keeper liability under Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Schedule 4 |
| Contravention codes (01, 12, 52M...) | Yes | No (operators use their own wording) |
| Independent appeal | London Tribunals / Traffic Penalty Tribunal | The operator's appeals service: POPLA (British Parking Association members) or IAS (International Parking Community members) |
| Unpaid | Charge certificate, then court registration at the TEC | Debt collection letters, then possibly a county court claim |
What to do with a private ticket
- Appeal to the operator first, following the instructions on the notice, within its deadline.
- If it's rejected, use the independent appeals service named in the rejection.
- Don't ignore court papers. A county court claim needs a response.
The government has published a Private Parking Code of Practice, and appeal arrangements are changing. Check the operator's notice for the current appeals service.
This site covers council PCNs. We may add a private parking section later.
Frequently asked questions
Is a private parking ticket a fine?
No. A private Parking Charge Notice is a charge claimed under contract by the operator, not a statutory penalty. It is challenged through the operator and an independent appeals service, not the council tribunals.
Official sources
- Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Schedule 4 (private parking keeper liability)
- GOV.UK: The Private Parking Code of Practice
- POPLA (appeals for British Parking Association members)
- Independent Appeals Service (appeals for IPC members)
- GOV.UK: Parking fines and penalty charge notices
More guides
Informal challenge: the first stepNotice to Owner and formal representationsGot a Notice of Rejection?Appealing to the tribunalCharge Certificate and Order for RecoveryOrder for Recovery: witness statement (TE13 / TE9)Hire companies: transfer liabilityFines and discounts
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.