How To Appeal A WindScreen PCN

Should you pay or Appeal?

It is easy to see why councils issue tickets first then ask questions later, the hope that the driver will just pay and not make an appeal.

Because most people don’t have any legal experience or time to appeal, often people just pay because this is the easiest thing to do.

Parking Mate UK not only saves time but we will ensure that you have the best possible chance of winning your appeal using legal loopholes and step by step instructions to win your appeal.

Option 1: Appeal The Penalty Charge Notice

You can pay the reduced amount if the council reject your appeal. If you pay right away, you will lose the right to appeal and you will not be able to see if the council have issued the penalty charge notice correctly.

Option 2: Pay The Reduced Amount

Write Your Windscreen PCN Appeal

Parking Mate UK will prepare your appeal letter template to build a strong case and get your parking ticket cancelled.

We highly recommend sending an appeal because even if your case is weak, your appeal can still be won due to council mistakes listed here.

Why You Should Appeal A Windscreen PCN

We recommend challenging your Penalty Charge Notice even if you think you have no chance because often, councils make mistakes and this results in your PCN being cancelled.
Furthermore, if you submit an appeal, your case will be on hold and the amount will not increase until they respond.
When challenging a penalty charge notice, you have to remember that it is the council who have to prove that the penalty charge notice was issued correctly.
You do not have to prove that you parked correctly unless there is a serious problem with the restriction, but the council must prove the case based on legal requirements (See our council checklist).
Failing to issue a penalty charge correctly means the penalty charge notice should be cancelled.

What The Council Must Prove

The council need to issue the penalty charge notice correctly, if not, it must be cancelled
The council need to have a valid TMO to enforce the restriction (legal requirement)
The council must prove that they have obtained your details from the DVLA legally
The council must prove that the correct signage was installed where the restriction is

If the council fail to prove all four requirements, the penalty charge notice should be cancelled. Once you realise that they have made a mistake or if they break rules, then you will be confident and take your case to the tribunal.

Legal Exemptions You Can Use

Our app is already setup to help you use the legal exemptions in your appeal. Simply select the options which apply to you and it will include the correct wording.

Some common exemptions are:

Loading and loading of goods
Vehicle break down
Blue badge holders
10 minutes grace period after parking expires
Settling down or picking up passengers is allowed
A vehicle being used to move furniture to or from a building
If a vehicle is stopped by a police officer
Parking with permission from the property owner
Medical emergencies where you can prove it

Sending your PCN appeal To The Council

Once you have written your appeal letter, our website will either send it by email or it will provide instructions on how to submit your appeal to the council.

We will also provide you with instructions on what to do if your appeal is rejected.

Being guided with your appeal means you will feel confident about winning your case.

What If Your PCN Appeal Is Rejected

If the council reject your appeal, the you can either pay the PCN or wait for a Notice to Owner.

Please read our guide on responding to a notice to owner and see how to use the additional guidance to see if the council have responded correctly.

Remember, any mistake by the council should result in the penalty charge being cancelled.

Penalty Charge Notice Legislation

Traffic Management Act 2004

The Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (England) General Regulations 2007

Parking Mate UK
Updated 08 October 2022

Parking Mate UK