Every PCN appeal ground, and the evidence each one needs
Formal representations against a council parking PCN in England must rely on one or more grounds set out in the regulations. There are nine, in regulation 5(4) of SI 2022/576. Anything else is mitigation, which the council can consider at its discretion. This is the list, with the evidence each ground usually needs.
1. The contravention did not occur
The most commonly used ground. Typical situations: you were loading or unloading where that was allowed; the signs or lines were missing, unclear or wrong; you held a valid ticket, permit or Blue Badge that was displayed; the payment machine was out of order; or the vehicle was not where the notice says. Evidence: dated photographs of the signs and lines, the ticket or permit itself, delivery notes, receipts. Our guide to PCN contravention codes explains what each code means and what to check.
2. You were not the owner at the time
You had sold the vehicle before the date, bought it after, or never owned it. Evidence: the V5C, a bill of sale, DVLA records. Leaving the car with a garage or a friend does not move liability: the registered keeper stays liable.
3. The vehicle was taken without consent
For example, it had been stolen. Evidence: a police crime reference covering the date, and any insurance claim.
4. You are a hire firm and the vehicle was on hire
Applies to vehicle-hire firms with a qualifying hire agreement. Evidence: the signed agreement with dates and the hirer's details.
5. The penalty exceeded the amount that applies
The wrong band or level was charged, or the amount went up after you paid on time. Evidence: the council's published charges and your payment receipt.
6. Procedural impropriety by the council
The council did not follow the process the regulations require, for example a notice missing required information, or a step taken out of order. Evidence: every page of every notice, the envelopes, and a dated record of what you sent and received. Our guide to what makes a PCN invalid goes into this.
7. The traffic order is invalid
The order behind the restriction was not validly made. Evidence: ask the council for the traffic regulation order covering the location.
8. The officer was not prevented from serving the ticket
Only for a ticket sent by post because the officer said they were prevented from fixing it to the car or handing it over. Evidence: anything showing the officer could have served it, such as your own timeline or witnesses.
9. The penalty had already been paid
You paid in full (or the discounted amount in time) and are still being pursued. Evidence: the receipt and bank statement.
Mitigation is not a ground
A breakdown, a medical emergency or another compelling reason is not one of the nine grounds, but the council has discretion to cancel for it at any stage. Keep the two apart in your letter: the ground first, then any compelling reasons. At the tribunal, an adjudicator decides on the grounds, and can recommend that the council cancels for compelling reasons.
For the order of the stages and every deadline, see our council PCN guide, stage by stage.
FAQ
- What are the grounds for appealing a council PCN?
- There are nine, set out in regulation 5(4) of SI 2022/576: the contravention did not occur; you were not the owner; the vehicle was taken without consent; a hire firm supplied the hirer's details; the penalty exceeded the amount that applies; procedural impropriety by the council; the traffic order is invalid; for a postal PCN, the officer was not in fact prevented from serving it; and the penalty had already been paid in full.
- Is 'someone else was driving' a ground?
- Not on its own. The registered keeper is liable for a council PCN. You can still ask the council to cancel for compelling reasons, which is a matter for its discretion.
- Why would a PCN be cancelled?
- A council must cancel if it accepts that a ground applies, and it can also cancel at its discretion for compelling reasons. If it rejects your representations, an independent adjudicator decides on the grounds. Nobody can promise the result.
General information about council parking PCNs in England, not legal advice. Sources: Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/71); Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Representations and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/576); Traffic Management Act 2004, Part 6; Traffic Penalty Tribunal and London Tribunals guidance. Last checked 23 October 2026.