How to appeal a parking ticket

Local councils make millions of pounds every year from issuing parking tickets to motorists.

New data shows that the biggest-earning authorities rake in more than £10 million a year from charges and on average 63 drivers a day are issued with a parking ticket, jumping to 10 times that in some council areas.

With tickets costing an average of £37, it's a bill most motorists could do without. While the simple answer might be to stick to the rules, thousands of drivers are wrongly or unfairly hit with tickets every year, showing it's not just rule-breakers who are being hit.

So what do you do if you’ve been given a ticket you don’t think you deserve? Read on for our guide to appealing.

When to appeal

There are certain circumstances when you can legitimately appeal a ticket:

• The ticket is wrong - If the ticket includes the wrong information, such as the car details or where the contravention occurred, or if it is incomplete
• Unclear signage - if the signs were unclear or misleading or if relevant road markings weren’t visible
• The vehicle was stolen or you weren't the owner when the contravention occurred
• The Traffic Regulation Order was invalid. For example, if a council adds a new restriction, such as a yellow line, without following procedures then it cannot enforce the regulation
• Mitigating circumstances such as health issues or a vehicle breakdown
• A privately-issued ticket was disproportionately high compared with the usual charges or the loss suffered by the landowner
• The parking meter/payment machine was out of operation and there was no other way to pay
• The private firm isn’t a member of an accredited trade association - if it’s not it can’t obtain your details from the DVLA

Spot the difference

First check if your ticket has been issued by a local authority, private firm or the police. They all look similar but are worded differently.