At some point during our time behind the wheel, many of us may find ourselves on the receiving end of either a parking charge notice or a penalty charge notice. While both can result in a financial penalty, they are issued by entirely different bodies and under very different circumstances.
The RAC has warned, however, that confusion frequently arises because both are commonly shortened to “PCN”, meaning motorists need to take care not to mix one up with the other.
The motoring organisation has helpfully outlined the key difference between the two, so drivers know when a charge must be paid and are less likely to be caught out by the similar terminology.
Addressing the issue, RAC Head of Policy Simon Williams clarified that while a Penalty Charge Notice is issued by local councils, Parking Charge Notices are handed out by private parking firms when drivers have left their vehicle on private land, reports the Express.
View 3 ImagesPCN can either mean a Penalty Charge Notice or Parking Charge Notice (stock)(Image: Getty)
He explained: “A PCN sent by the council is a fine and must be paid, whereas a Parking Charge Notice issued by a private car park operator is an invoice for an alleged breach of contract.
“The fact both can be put on drivers’ windscreens in an identical bright yellow colour doesn’t help, either. We suspect they’re deliberately designed to look very similar to a council penalty charge notice.
“As there’s so much confusion between the two PCN acronyms, drivers are very supportive of changing the name of private Parking Charge Notices to clear this up and help others understand the important legal difference.”
Furthermore, RAC Consumer Editor Barney Cotton added that drivers “can appeal to either of the appeals bodies set up by the two private parking trade associations”, the Independent Appeals Service or Parking on Private Land Appeals — also known as POPLA.
Barney’s comments came as fresh RAC research revealed that roughly half of all drivers were unaware of the distinction between the two types of PCNs, with their strikingly similar appearance potentially causing widespread confusion.
View 3 ImagesAn example of a Parking Charge Notice (stock)(Image: Getty)
Yet it isn’t only the RAC that has been weighing in on parking matters, with recent research revealing how even choosing what appears to be the ideal parking spot can have an impact on your car insurance premium.
New research carried out by Go Compare found that those who parked their vehicles in garages could actually see their premiums increase — something of a surprise, given that a garage is widely regarded as one of the most secure places to leave a vehicle. It found that the typical annual premium for those using a garage stood at £647, compared with £623 for those who parked elsewhere.
Addressing why this might be the case, Go Compare spokesperson Tom Banks suggested it could be down to the fact that cars are becoming larger, meaning there is a greater likelihood of damage occurring when drivers attempt to squeeze them inside.
He told the Express: “Car insurance is often cheaper for those who park in more secure locations, so it might be a surprise to see that those who park in a garage actually end up with higher costs on average.
Article continues below
“One possible reason for this is likely related to cars increasing in size over recent years. This steady growth has made it much harder to fit cars in garages, which could be leading to an increase in claims for scrapes and bumps while parking in a garage, driving up premiums as a result.”