Applies to private parking charges and council PCNs
The notice arrived too late
Timing rules are the cleanest way to defeat a private parking charge, because they do not depend on what happened on the day. If the operator missed the statutory deadline, keeper liability fails entirely.
No account, no card, nothing stored.
Why this works
No windscreen ticket: 14 days
Where nothing was left on the vehicle at the time, the Notice to Keeper must be given within 14 days of the alleged contravention. A notice arriving on day 20 cannot found keeper liability.
Windscreen ticket given: 28 to 56 days
Where a Notice to Driver was affixed to the vehicle, any Notice to Keeper must arrive no earlier than 28 days and no later than 56 days after it. Outside that window the conditions are not met.
Councils have their own timing obligations
A Penalty Charge Notice served very late may amount to procedural impropriety, which is a statutory ground for representations.
Evidence to attach
- The envelope the notice arrived in, showing the postmark
- A photograph of the notice showing its stated date of issue
- Any tracking or delivery record if it came by recorded post
More appeals fail on missing evidence than on weak arguments. Send copies, never originals, and keep a proof of posting.
Common questions
Can I appeal a parking ticket if the letter arrived weeks later?
Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 sets strict windows for serving a Notice to Keeper. Miss them and the operator cannot hold the registered keeper liable, whatever the driver did. Challenging costs nothing, and if the issuer rejects you the escalation to an independent adjudicator is also free.
How long do I have to appeal?
Usually 28 days from the date on the notice, but the deadline that matters is often 14 days. Challenge within that window and most councils keep the 50% discount open for a further 14 days if they reject you. Private operators normally offer a reduced sum for the same period.
What evidence should I send?
The envelope the notice arrived in, showing the postmark. A photograph of the notice showing its stated date of issue. Any tracking or delivery record if it came by recorded post.
Does it cost anything to appeal?
No. Challenging the issuer is free, and escalating to POPLA, the Independent Appeals Service, the Traffic Penalty Tribunal or London Tribunals is free for motorists. Voidly does not charge you either.
Write your appeal now
Answer a few questions and Voidly assembles the right grounds for your case, with a checklist of what to attach.
Start my appealOther reasons people appeal
- The signs were not clear
- You were not the driver
- You paid but mistyped your registration
- Your vehicle was never at that location
- You were only a few minutes over
- The payment machine was not working
- You had a Blue Badge
- You were at a hospital
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.