Westminster Code 91 PCN Appeal (2026)

1. What does Westminster Code 91 mean?

Code 91 concerns a car park or area not designated for that class of vehicle. It can involve a coach area, motorcycle space or another class-specific restriction. This differs from code 89, which concerns exceeding a weight or dimension limit, although both conditions can exist at one site.

Contravention

Code 91 concerns a car park or area not designated for that class of vehicle

Category

Council Car Park PCNs

Issuing authority

Westminster City Council

Formal representation deadline

28 days beginning with service of the Notice to Owner or postal parking PCN.

Penalty and discount

Use the charge and discount printed on your PCN; the applicable amount depends on the notice and contravention date.

Initial discount

The initial 50% discount applies for 14 days beginning with PCN service, or 21 days for an approved-device postal parking PCN. An early challenge may lead to a renewed discount if rejected; check the council's policy and the amount and deadline in its reply.

Appeal route

Westminster, then London Tribunals after a formal Notice of Rejection.

2. What must Westminster establish?

Check which vehicles the notice admits and whether it applies to the whole car park or a particular row of bays. Show the vehicle beside the relevant area markings.

Compare the wording with the order's class definition. A coach or motorcycle space does not become general parking merely because it is empty.

• The parking-places order must designate the car park or occupied area for particular vehicle classes at the time of the PCN.
• The signs or conditions should identify the admitted classes and distinguish class-specific spaces from nearby general parking.
• The evidence must establish the vehicle's class using the relevant definition. Appearance or private use alone does not resolve every classification.
• The vehicle must fall outside the admitted class without applicable permission. A separate weight or size limit should not be substituted for this class allegation.

3. Grounds and exemptions for a Westminster Code 91 appeal

The statutory ground must match what happened. These code-specific points explain how to establish it.

Private use, a disability badge or an ordinary parking ticket does not automatically change the vehicle's class. A local permit or specific permission may matter, but it must cover this vehicle and parking area.

• The vehicle qualified under the applicable definition. Supply registration, construction or licensing information relevant to the class, not merely a general description such as private use.
• The vehicle was in an area admitting that class. Use the site plan, signs and parking position to distinguish adjacent coach, motorcycle or general spaces.
• The restriction applied only during different hours or circumstances. Show the complete condition and compare it with the PCN date and time.
• An express permission covered the vehicle, or the class restriction was not adequately identified. Attach the permission or photographs of the actual approach and bay.
• The alleged parking contravention did not happen, including where a relevant exemption applied or the restriction was not adequately signed.
• You were not the owner at the relevant time: you never owned the vehicle, sold it before the event or acquired it afterwards.
• The vehicle was under someone else's control without the owner's consent at the time of the alleged contravention.
• You are a vehicle-hire firm and the vehicle was hired under a qualifying agreement with a signed statement accepting PCN liability. Supply the hirer's name and address.
• The authority is demanding more than the penalty legally applicable to this case.
• The authority failed to comply with a statutory requirement in imposing or recovering the penalty: a procedural impropriety.
• The traffic order relied on is invalid, except an order subject to Part 6 of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
• For a postal PCN relying on prevented service or a qualifying drive-away under regulation 10(2)(b) or (c), nobody prevented the officer from attaching or handing over the PCN. This is not the ground for an approved-device postal PCN.
• The enforcement notice should not have been served because the penalty was already paid in full, or at the valid discounted amount by the applicable deadline. Paying a parking tariff is different from paying the penalty.

4. How to make a formal representation to Westminster

For a parking PCN attached to the vehicle or handed to the driver, send an informal challenge to Westminster. Formal representations are made against the Notice to Owner, or directly against a postal parking PCN, within 28 days beginning with service. Respond to the formal notice even if an earlier informal challenge is unanswered.

The initial 50% discount applies for 14 days beginning with PCN service, or 21 days for an approved-device postal parking PCN. An early challenge may lead to a renewed discount if rejected; check the council's policy and the amount and deadline in its reply.

Westminster's published parking-challenge principles require individual consideration, proportionality and assessment of relevant evidence. They allow discretion for sufficiently strong mitigation, including genuine mistakes or circumstances beyond the motorist's reasonable control; cancellation depends on the particular case.

• The vehicle records establishing the characteristic relevant to the alleged class.
• Photographs and a plan showing the area in which it was parked.
• The class-specific sign and any operating hours or permitted exceptions.
• Written permission or permit terms authorising this class at the location.

1. Open Westminster's PCN service below. Enter the PCN reference and vehicle registration to find the notice and evidence.
2. Enter the full PCN reference and vehicle registration. Westminster's portal accepts notices beginning WE, WM or WS. The council says photographs can take up to 24 hours after issue to appear.
3. Use the challenge portal or send a written challenge to parkingappeals@westminster.gov.uk with the PCN number and vehicle registration. Do not use the general parking enquiry form to challenge a PCN.
4. Westminster says the case remains on hold pending its response and an applicable discount is still offered after an unsuccessful challenge submitted during that discount period. Avoid repeat correspondence unless supplying additional information or evidence.
5. Explain which part of the Code 91 allegation you dispute. Include the PCN reference, vehicle registration, your address and copies of photographs or records supporting each point.
6. Save the full submission, attachments and dated acknowledgement.

5. How long does Westminster have to respond?

Westminster must serve its decision within 56 days beginning with receipt of qualifying formal representations. If it fails to comply, those representations are deemed accepted. This statutory period applies to formal representations, not an informal challenge or a request for photographs.

6. If Westminster rejects your representation

A formal Notice of Rejection explains Westminster's decision and how to appeal to London Tribunals. You have 28 days beginning with service of that notice to pay or register your tribunal appeal.

Compare the reply with the Code 91 grounds and evidence you submitted. Identify any unanswered point, missing evidence or inconsistency between the restriction and the recorded event. Keep the rejection notice and the appeal details supplied with it.

An informal rejection is different: formal representations can be made if a Notice to Owner follows.

7. Taking your Westminster appeal to London Tribunals

London Tribunals is independent of Westminster. Use the registration instructions and verification details in the Notice of Rejection, upload your evidence and explain why the alleged Code 91 contravention or liability is disputed.

There is no fee to register the appeal. If it is refused, the full penalty is normally payable; an earlier discount does not automatically continue. If registering late, explain the delay so the adjudicator can decide whether to accept the appeal.

Read Westminster's evidence pack and respond to the points relevant to your case. Keep to the tribunal's directions and evidence deadlines.

2025 London Tribunals results: shared context

42 of 163 recorded cases were allowed (25.8%).

Full Code 91 PCN Appeal Guide

Read the detailed legislation, signage requirements, exemptions and case analysis for this contravention.