Private Parking Tickets vs Council Tickets: What Is the Difference?
A ticket from a council and a ticket from a private car park company look alike, but they are different things with different ways to appeal.
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Two yellow envelopes can look almost the same. One is a Penalty Charge Notice from a council. The other is a Parking Charge Notice from a private company. Knowing which one you have tells you how to appeal and what happens if you do nothing.
Council Ticket (Penalty Charge Notice)
- Given on streets and in council car parks
- Says "Penalty Charge Notice" and names the council
- A civil penalty set by law
- Appeal to the council, then to an independent tribunal
Private Ticket (Parking Charge Notice)
- Given in places like supermarket, hospital and retail park car parks
- Says "Parking Charge Notice" and names a company
- A charge the company says you agreed to by parking
- Appeal to the company, then to POPLA or the IAS
Appealing a Council Ticket (England)
- Make an informal challenge to the council within 14 days (21 days if the ticket came by post). Many councils keep the 50% discount open while they consider it.
- Make formal representations if the council sends a Notice to Owner. You have 28 days, and it is free.
- Appeal to the independent tribunal if the council rejects you: the Traffic Penalty Tribunal outside London, or London Tribunals in London.
More detail: challenge a council parking ticket.
Appealing a Private Ticket
- Check the company is in a trade association: the British Parking Association (BPA) or the International Parking Community (IPC).
- Appeal to the company first, with photos of signs, your pay and display ticket or anything else that helps.
- If it says no, appeal free to POPLA (BPA members) within 28 days, using the code the company gives you, or to the Independent Appeals Service (IPC members) within 21 days.
- Do not ignore it. A private company cannot fine you, but it can take you to court for an unpaid charge.
More detail: appeal a private parking charge, and if you were not driving, parking charge: I was not the driver.
The steps above are for England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own councils' processes and appeal bodies, and the rules on pursuing the registered keeper of a car for a private charge apply only in England and Wales. Check the notice for the right route.
Sources (checked 18 October 2026)
- Appealing a parking ticket (Citizens Advice, England, checked 18 October 2026)
- Parking PCN and appeal process (Traffic Penalty Tribunal)
- Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Schedule 4 (legislation.gov.uk)
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