Private Parking Tickets Explained

Why private parking tickets keep landing on windscreens

Private parking tickets are no longer a rarity - they are routine. Across Great Britain, private firms issued an estimated 14.4 million tickets in the year to March 2025, roughly double the volume seen before the 2019 legislation that aimed to tidy up the sector. In the spring of 2025 alone, around 4.3 million tickets were issued, averaging 48,000 a day. If each were charged at the typical £100 headline rate, that would represent a potential £4.8 million daily burden on drivers. Forecasts indicate the totals could climb again this year, pointing to more than 14 million tickets nationwide.

What is fuelling the surge? Several forces are at play. A delayed government Code of Practice has left rules patchy, while operators say more car parks and rising car ownership naturally create more incidents. High-volume firms request millions of vehicle keeper records from the DVLA every month to chase alleged breaches in private car parks from supermarkets to retail parks and hospitals. The result is a system that catches out busy motorists with confusing signage, time limits that are easy to misjudge, and payment machines that do not always feel intuitive.

From a driver’s perspective, the risk is financial as well as administrative. Miss a discounted window and a £60 early payment may become £100 or more. Ignore letters and you could face debt collection and potential county court claims in England and Wales. Yet not every ticket is watertight. Poor or misleading signage, faulty machines, grace period disputes and incorrect keeper liability procedures can all undermine enforceability, especially where the operator has not followed required steps.

Understanding a private parking ticket is not about fear - it is about clarity. Know the rules, the timelines, and the routes to challenge.

This guide sets out how private tickets work, your rights across England, Scotland and Wales, and realistic choices if one arrives on your windscreen or through the post. We will show you how to spot weak tickets, when to appeal, when to settle at a discount, and how to avoid repeat problems in the first place.

Is this for you?

If you have returned to your car to find a yellow envelope, received a Notice to Keeper through the post, or keep tripping over unclear time limits at retail parks, this is for you. It is equally relevant if you are simply trying to prevent future tickets - perhaps after moving house, changing cars, or using new car parks.

The guidance covers Great Britain. In England and Wales, keeper liability rules can make the registered keeper responsible if the driver is not identified and the operator follows strict timelines. In Scotland, liability sits differently and operators face a higher bar to pursue keepers. Either way, your smartest move is to understand the deadlines, gather evidence early, and act within the appeal windows.

Your choices right now

1. Pay the discounted amount within the early window (often 14 days).

2. Submit an appeal to the operator with clear evidence and timelines.

3. Escalate to an independent appeals service where available (POPLA for BPA members, IAS for IPC members).

4. Complain to the landowner or store manager and request cancellation.

5. Challenge poor signage or processes, citing consumer contract principles and grace periods.

6. Keep meticulous records: photos, receipts, timestamps, and correspondence.

7. If a Letter of Claim arrives, respond on time and seek legal advice if needed.

Pounds and pitfalls at a glance

Who qualifies and when a ticket is enforceable

Private tickets rely on contract law. By entering a private car park and seeing clear signage, you are offered terms - time limits, tariffs, and rules. If the operator can show those terms were prominent and fair, they may seek the stated charge when rules are breached. In England and Wales, the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 enables operators to pursue the registered keeper if they do not know the driver, but only if they follow strict notice wording and timing. A Notice to Keeper typically must arrive within set timeframes and include defined information. Get these details wrong and keeper liability may not apply.

In Scotland, the landscape differs. Keeper liability is not identical to England and Wales, so operators often need to identify the driver or rely on other pathways. Across GB, typical grounds to challenge include unclear or missing signage, lack of a proper grace period at entry or exit, machine faults, and errors in the notice. Blue Badges do not carry statutory force on private land, though many sites offer concessions - check the signs.

If you plan to appeal, do it within the operator’s window and keep evidence. If a retailer invited you to park, receipts and timestamps help. If you paid, a bank statement can corroborate. Kandoo cannot cancel tickets, but we can help you think clearly about the costs versus benefits of settling early or appealing - especially if the ticket would derail your monthly budget.

Step-by-step: take control fast

1. Photograph signs, entrances, lines, and your dashboard.

2. Keep receipts, payment confirmations, and phone location logs.

3. Check operator membership (BPA or IPC) and deadlines.

4. Decide: pay discount or prepare a factual appeal.

5. Submit appeal with evidence within the stated window.

6. If rejected, escalate to POPLA/IAS where available.

7. Respond to any Letter of Claim promptly and formally.

Weighing it up

Before you act: key watchouts

Private operators differ from councils. A private Parking Charge Notice is an invoice under contract law, not a criminal fine. However, if you ignore it in England and Wales, the operator may pass your details to debt collectors and could issue a county court claim. Dates matter: keep an eye on the early discount period, the operator appeal deadline, and the independent appeal window if available. Late action can remove options and raise costs.

Check the signage photos taken on the day - not stock images. Are terms readable at normal approach speeds? Are tariffs and penalties prominent? Is there proof of a grace period at entry and exit? If a payment app failed, screenshot errors. If a machine was not working, record it. Consistency is your ally: keep everything in one folder and write a short timeline of events while it is fresh. Finally, distinguish private tickets from council Penalty Charge Notices - the rules, appeal routes and time limits are different.

Alternatives if you keep getting tickets

1. Use parking apps with start-stop reminders and tariff alerts.

2. Choose car parks with clearer signage or longer grace periods.

3. Park-and-ride or rail for routine city visits.

4. Consider cycling or car-sharing on congested routes.

5. Ask employers about parking permits or travel schemes.

6. Build a small monthly parking buffer in your budget.

FAQs

Q: Is a private parking ticket the same as a council fine? A: No. Private tickets rely on contract terms. Council Penalty Charge Notices follow statutory rules and different appeal processes.

Q: Should I name the driver? A: In England and Wales, naming the driver can affect liability. If you do not, operators may pursue the keeper if they followed strict Protection of Freedoms Act timelines and wording.

Q: What evidence helps most in appeals? A: Clear photos of signs and bays, entry/exit timestamps, receipts, bank statements, and proof of machine or app faults strengthen your case.

Q: Can I ignore debt collector letters? A: Treat them seriously and keep records. If a Letter of Claim or court papers arrive, respond in time. Ignoring can increase costs and risk a judgment in England and Wales.

Q: Do Blue Badge rules apply on private land? A: Not automatically. Many sites recognise badges, but terms depend on the operator. Always read the signs and keep evidence if concessions apply.

Q: Will new rules reduce charges? A: The government is working on a new Code of Practice that may cap charges, improve appeals and curb aggressive wording. Timelines are subject to consultation.

Q: Can shops cancel tickets? A: Often, yes. Supermarkets and retail parks can instruct their operator to cancel for genuine customers. Take receipts and ask swiftly.

How Kandoo can help

Kandoo cannot cancel private tickets, and we would never suggest financing a disputed charge. What we can do is help smooth your wider car costs when cash flow is tight - from essential repairs to insurance excesses. By matching you with reputable UK lenders, we help you compare options confidently so an unexpected parking issue does not derail your month.

Important notes

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Private parking rules differ between England, Scotland and Wales and evolve with new regulation and case law. Always check your paperwork, act within deadlines, and seek independent advice for complex or contested claims.