A parking charge notice (PCN) from a supermarket, hospital or retail car park is a private charge for breaking the site's terms, not a council fine, but you can't safely ignore it: unpaid charges can be chased and taken to court. You appeal to the operator first, then to POPLA or the IAS if they reject you.
The confusing part is the initials. Councils issue penalty charge notices, which are also called PCNs, and private firms issue parking charge notices, often also shortened to PCN. They look alike, but who issued it decides your rights, your deadlines and who you appeal to.
The rules also changed on paper in October 2026. On 20 October 2026 the government laid a new Private Parking Code of Practice in Parliament with grace periods, a cap and a list of mistakes that must be cancelled on appeal. Here's what that means in practice.
Council fine or private charge? How to tell
| Council or police notice | Private parking charge | |
|---|---|---|
| Who issues it | Local council, police or DVSA | A private company, for example a supermarket car park operator |
| What it's called | Penalty charge notice or fixed penalty notice | Parking charge notice, notice to keeper or similar |
| Legal status | A civil penalty or a fixed penalty | A claim that you broke the car park's contract terms |
| Who you appeal to | The council, then an independent tribunal | The operator, then POPLA or the IAS |
| If you ignore it | A charge certificate adding 50% more, then a court order | Reminder letters, possible debt recovery fees and a court claim |
GOV.UK says that with a council PCN you usually have 28 days to pay and, in some cases, the fine is cut if you pay within 14 days. If you don't pay within 28 days, you get a charge certificate and 14 days to pay the original fine plus 50% more.
What the new Private Parking Code changes
The code applies to private parking in England, Wales and Scotland. Its own text says it comes into force at the end of 21 days from the day it's issued, so check the GOV.UK page for the date it's live. These are the headline protections, as of October 2026:
- a minimum 5-minute consideration period before you're treated as having parked, except for pre-booked parking
- a 10-minute grace period after your time ends before any enforcement, except in short stay car parks
- a cap of £100 on a parking charge, which operators can go under but not over
- a cap of up to £70 that can be added to an overdue charge for debt recovery
- charges cancelled on appeal for things outside your control, such as a medical emergency, a breakdown or a broken ticket machine
- a reduced charge of £20 on appeal for small slip-ups, like a valid permit you forgot to display or mistyping your registration
The insight most drivers miss is that the code isn't directly enforceable in court. The explanatory memorandum says compliance is secured through powers to restrict an operator's access to DVLA keeper data. In plain English: an operator that breaks the code risks losing the ability to look up who owns your car, which is how most private charges get chased in the first place.
How to challenge a private parking charge
- Read the notice and work out who issued it. Check whether it's a council PCN or a private parking charge.
- Gather evidence straight away: photos of signs, your ticket or app receipt, permit, Blue Badge, or proof of a breakdown.
- Appeal to the operator first using the method on the notice. Under the code, the first-stage appeal window is 28 days.
- If the operator rejects you, appeal to the independent service. GOV.UK says that's POPLA if the operator is in the British Parking Association, or the IAS if it's in the International Parking Community.
- Keep copies of everything and note every date, including when letters arrived.
The code also sets the circumstances where a £20 reduced charge applies after a first-stage appeal, for example supplying a copy of a permit that would have been valid. So if your mistake was a slip rather than overstaying, say so clearly in the appeal and attach the proof.
When you should just pay
If you overstayed, there's no slip to point to, and the charge is within the cap, paying within any discount window is often the cheapest outcome. The government's explanatory memorandum notes appeals after payment are only allowed in limited circumstances, so decide before you pay. If you rely on parking apps to avoid this altogether, my roundup of the best parking apps covers ones that remind you before your time runs out.
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My verdict
Never bin a private parking charge, and never pay one on reflex either. Work out who sent it, appeal within 28 days if you've got evidence, and use the new code's list of cancel and £20 cases in your wording. Confusing signs in customer car parks are a common ground for appeal, so photograph them before you leave. For your wider rights when a business treats you unfairly, my guide to the Consumer Rights Act 2015 is a useful next read. Rules differ in Northern Ireland, and for a disputed court claim get advice from Citizens Advice or a solicitor.
Frequently asked questions
Do you legally have to pay a private parking charge notice?
It isn't a criminal fine, but it's a contractual charge the operator can pursue, including through the courts. Appeal if you have grounds rather than ignoring it.
How long do I get to appeal a private parking charge?
Under the Private Parking Code of Practice the first-stage appeal to the operator must be made within 28 days. If that fails you can go to POPLA or the IAS, depending on the operator's trade association.
What is the maximum private parking charge?
As of October 2026, the new Private Parking Code of Practice caps a parking charge at £100, with up to £70 that can be added for debt recovery on an overdue charge.
What is the grace period in private car parks?
The code sets a minimum 5-minute consideration period before you're treated as parked and a 10-minute grace period after your time ends, with exceptions for pre-booked and short stay parking.
What's the difference between a penalty charge notice and a parking charge notice?
A penalty charge notice comes from a council and is a civil penalty. A parking charge notice comes from a private company and is a claim under the car park's terms.
