It can be incredibly annoying to return to your vehicle and discover a parking penalty stuck to the windscreen – particularly when you’re uncertain what you’ve done wrong or whether you’re actually obliged to pay it. Experts and consumer groups suggest that while some charges are valid and enforceable, others can be challenged, and in certain circumstances may not require any action at all, depending on who issued them and whether the firm has followed proper procedures.
The consumer group Which?, one of Britain’s leading consumer rights organisations, reports that the number of privately issued parking charges is continuing to climb. It reveals that car park management firms made over five million requests for vehicle keeper details from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) during the first half of 2023, increasing by a further 600,000 in the second half of that year.
More recent figures suggest this pattern has persisted, with RAC analysis showing that approximately 7.2 million requests were made in just the six months leading up to September 2024. Based on that data, private parking companies are now estimated to be on course to issue around 14 million parking charges annually across Britain, reports the Liverpool Echo.
View 2 ImagesThis is how you can challenge a parking fine(Image: Copyright Unknown)
Which? has previously outlined some of the grounds that enable motorists to challenge certain parking tickets, alongside guidance on the procedure. In a social media video, Which? said: “Some parking tickets can go straight in the bin. Really. And the rest can be disputed. So let’s break it down.
“You can appeal if the signs aren’t clear, if you’re charged more than £100, or if you have a mitigating reason like ill health or your vehicle broke down.
“So the big question is: is the parking company a member of an accredited trade association – either the British Parking Association (BPA) or the International Parking Community (IPC)?
“If it’s not, ignore it because it won’t be able to get your details from the DVLA to make you pay. If the parking company is accredited, write an appeal letter to it, including evidence of mitigating circumstances and photos of poor signage.
“For members of the BPA, you have 28 days after rejection to appeal to Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA). For the IPC, you have 21 days after rejection to take it to the Independent Appeals Service.
“Then, if the independent adjudicator disagrees with you, your final option is to take the parking company to court. But do this and lose and you’ll have to cover its legal costs too. For more information, head to which.co.uk.”
Which? offers free template letters on its website for drivers looking to challenge a parking fine.
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In April 2025, the RAC revealed that private parking firms are on course to issue a record-breaking 14.5 million penalties to motorists across Britain within a single year, according to fresh analysis.
The RAC, which carried out the research, found that just five companies were responsible for issuing nearly half of all tickets. Research revealed that in the six-month period prior to September 2024, parking management firms submitted a staggering 7.2 million requests to the DVLA.