Parking tickets (Penalty Charge Notices)
If you have received a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), more commonly known as a parking ticket, the following information will help you to pay it. You can also challenge it, or make a representation about it.
Paying a parking ticket (PCN)
Information on how to pay is given on the reverse side of the parking ticket (PCN).
You can pay the ticket online at this link:
Payments may also be made by phone or by post.
When paying by post using crossed cheque or postal order (made payable to the Department for Infrastructure):
- complete and include the tear-off slip at the bottom of the parking ticket
and
- write the parking ticket number on the back of the cheque or postal order
You can find the phone numbers and address for payment on the Parking Enforcement Processing Unit page.
Lost PCN
If you have lost the parking ticket (PCN) number of a ticket issued in Northern Ireland, you should telephone the Parking Enforcement Processing Unit to get advice on how to make payment.
Challenging or appealing a parking ticket
If you have received a parking ticket or Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and want to challenge it, it must be in writing.
PCN information will normally be available on the same day the PCN has been issued. If it isn't, contact the Parking Enforcement Processing Unit.
How to challenge
A parking ticket (PCN) can be challenged in either of two ways:
- online: Challenge a parking ticket (Penalty Charge Notice)
- in writing to the Parking Enforcement Processing Unit
If a challenge to the parking ticket (PCN) is received within 14 days, the discount period will not end while the challenge is considered.
When the challenge has been dealt with, and if the parking ticket (PCN) is upheld, you will be informed of a new discount deadline date in the letter of reply.
If a challenge is received after the expiry of the discount period, the full charge will apply if the parking ticket (PCN) is upheld.
After a challenge
If the challenge is successful, the parking ticket (PCN) will be cancelled and the case will be closed. You will be informed of this in writing by the Parking Enforcement Processing Unit.
If the challenge is refused, you will be informed in writing. You can then either pay the parking ticket (PCN) or, if you are the registered keeper and you wish to continue to contest the parking ticket (PCN), you should await the issue of a Notice to Owner.
When a Notice to Owner has been issued, the registered keeper of the vehicle may make a representation, which will be considered by the Parking Enforcement Processing Unit.
Making a representation about a parking ticket (PCN)
If, as the registered owner of a vehicle, you receive a Notice to Owner about a parking ticket (Penalty Charge Notice), you can either choose to pay it or contest it. If you choose to contest it, you can make a representation.
A representation is how you state the reason(s) why you feel you should not have to pay the parking ticket. It will be considered by the Parking Enforcement Processing Unit.
The grounds for making a representation are listed in the Notice of Owner document you receive.
You can make a representation at this link:
You can also make a representation by writing to the Parking Enforcement Processing Unit.
If a representation is successful, the parking ticket will be cancelled and the case will be closed. You will be informed of this in writing.
If a representation is refused, you will be informed in writing and you will receive information about how to appeal to an independent adjudicator. You can then either pay the parking ticket or appeal.
Adjudicator appeals
To appeal to an adjudicator, you must first have received a Notice of Rejection of representation from the Parking Enforcement Processing Unit. At that time you will also receive information about how to appeal.
You will be given the opportunity to explain fully why you feel the parking ticket should not have been issued.
You may make a request for a personal hearing to be arranged so that you can present your case directly to the adjudicator, or you may choose to have the matter dealt with by post.
In either case the adjudicator will consider the material provided by both the person appealing and by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) before reaching a decision.
Both the person appealing and DfI will be informed in writing of the adjudicator’s decision.
If you lose an appeal
If an adjudicator decides the parking ticket was correctly issued, it must be paid within 28 days of the adjudicator’s decision.
If it isn’t paid, a Charge Certificate which increases the amount from £90 to £135 will be issued.
Statutory Declarations
A Statutory Declaration is a sworn written statement, signed by either a solicitor, Commissioner of Oaths, Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, or Resident Magistrate/ Lay Magistrate. It is an offence to knowingly or wilfully make a false statement.
When a Notice of Enforcement of Charge Certificate is served, it must explain that the liable person (the registered keeper of the vehicle) may send a Statutory Declaration to an adjudicator within 21 days.
A Statutory Declaration may be made on one of the following grounds:
- the person appealing did not receive a Notice to Owner
- the person appealing sent a representation to DfI but did not receive a Notice of Rejection
- the person appealing sent an appeal to an adjudicator but did not receive a notice of his/ her decision
Statutory Declarations are dealt with by an adjudicator.
Non-payment of a parking ticket (PCN)
If a parking ticket (PCN) is not paid or is not cancelled as a result of challenge, representation, or appeal, the amount not paid will be pursued using debt recovery procedures.
The amount may be pursued through the procedures of the Enforcement of Judgements Office and/ or may result in vehicle clamping and removal operations.
If there are any additional fees and costs as a result of debt recovery procedures (including clamping/ removal/ storage), these will be added to the amount not paid.
Penalty Charge Notice (PCN)
The amount of a parking ticket (PCN) is £90.00, however if you pay within 14 days, a 50 per cent discount is applied and you may pay £45.00.
If a parking ticket (PCN) is not paid within 28 days, a Notice to Owner will issue to the registered keeper of the vehicle.
When a Notice to Owner has been issued, the parking ticket (PCN) must be paid within 28 days or a Charge Certificate will be issued. The effect of a Charge Certificate is to increase the amount from £90.00 to £135.
Getting a Notice to Owner but didn't get a PCN
If you did not get a parking ticket (PCN) but have now received a Notice to Owner requesting that you pay £90.00, the discounted rate of £45.00 is not available, as it only applies for 14 days from the date of the parking ticket (PCN).
Processing of parking tickets (PCNs)
All parking tickets (PCNs) are processed by DfI staff at the Parking Enforcement Processing Unit. All correspondence about parking tickets should be sent to the Parking Enforcement Processing Unit.
Enquiries about a parking ticket (PCN)
Enquiries about a parking ticket (PCN) may be made by phone or by writing to the Parking Enforcement Processing Unit.
When writing or enquiring by telephone, you should provide the following information:
- parking ticket (PCN) number
- vehicle registration
Payment and enquiries is given on the reverse side of the parking ticket (PCN).
Once issued, a parking ticket (PCN) can't be cancelled
Once a parking ticket (PCN) is issued, it cannot be cancelled by a traffic attendant. If you feel it should be cancelled, you must write to the Parking Enforcement Processing Unit at the address given on the reverse side of the parking ticket (PCN).
Traffic attendant allowed me to park and then issued PCN
A traffic attendant is not responsible for directing or advising people as to where they may or may not park.
Parking a vehicle is the sole responsibility of the driver, regardless of any advice offered by a traffic attendant.
That said, where the driver is in the vehicle, a traffic attendant will usually speak with the driver before issuing a parking ticket (PCN).
If you feel, however, that a traffic attendant deliberately issued misinformation or acted improperly, you may have grounds for complaint against the traffic attendant.
Getting a PCN for a vehicle you no longer own
The most likely reason is that you are the registered keeper of the vehicle with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The registered keeper of the vehicle at the time a parking ticket (PCN) is issued is responsible for the parking ticket.
If you are no longer the registered keeper of the vehicle, you need to tell DVLA.