Appeals go to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
Appeal a Aberdeen City Council Penalty Charge Notice
Aberdeen City Council PCN appeals are decided by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service if the council rejects you. Challenging is free, and appealing does not cost you anything beyond the charge you already face.
- Discount period
- 14 days from the date of the PCN
- If rejected
- the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
- Challenge online
- https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/roads-transport-and-parking/appeal-a-parking-penalty-charge-notice
- parkingappeals@aberdeencity.gov.uk
- Challenge by post
- Parking and Bus Lane Appeals Team, PO Box 10505, Aberdeen, AB12 9EWchecked 2026-09-14
Worth knowing
Scottish appeals are decided by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. Allow up to 56 days for a response.
No account, no card, nothing stored.
The three stages
- 1
Informal challenge
Made within 28 days of the PCN, before a Notice to Owner is issued. Do it within the first 14 days and most authorities keep the 50% discount open for a further 14 days if they say no.
- 2
Formal representations
Made after a Notice to Owner arrives, within 28 days. These must be decided against the statutory grounds.
- 3
Appeal to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
Free, independent, and available once you have a Notice of Rejection.
Grounds worth checking first
The contravention did not occur
Ask Aberdeen City Council for the enforcement officer's contemporaneous notes, all photographs, and the Traffic Regulation Order in force that day.
Signs or markings were not compliant
They must meet the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions and be visible to a driver taking reasonable care. Faded lines and hidden plates are common.
You were loading or unloading
Most restrictions carry a loading exemption, and a pause in activity while goods are carried does not end it.
You held a valid permit
If a permit was validly held and registered, no contravention occurred, even if it was not on display.
Procedural impropriety
If the notice arrived far later than it should have, the authority may have failed a statutory requirement in serving it.
Common questions
How do I challenge a Aberdeen City Council PCN?
Challenge in writing as soon as possible. If you challenge within 14 days and Aberdeen City Council rejects it, most authorities extend the 50% discount for a further 14 days from the date of their decision. The quickest route is their online portal. You cannot challenge by telephone.
What are the statutory grounds for challenging a PCN?
The grounds include that the contravention did not occur, that you were not the owner at the time, that the vehicle had been taken without consent, that the penalty exceeded the amount applicable, that the Traffic Regulation Order is invalid, and procedural impropriety by the authority. Unclear or non-compliant signs and road markings usually fall under the first ground.
What happens after a Notice to Owner?
If you do not pay or challenge within 28 days, Aberdeen City Council sends a Notice to Owner. You then make formal representations. If those are rejected, you get a Notice of Rejection which unlocks the right to appeal to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.
Does appealing cost anything?
No. Challenging the council is free, and an appeal to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service is free for motorists. The only cost is that if you lose after the discount period has passed, you pay the full amount.
Write your Aberdeen City Council challenge now
Answer a few questions and get a letter citing the right statutory ground for your situation.
Start my challengeOther councils
Voidly produces a draft letter to help you appeal. It is not legal advice. Always check the letter and the deadline on your notice before sending. Addresses are checked periodically but can change, so use the one printed on your notice.