You may have heard the term “5 minute parking ticket rule” circulating when it comes to getting out of paying a parking ticket, but what does it actually mean? Is it real, or was it invented by a hopeful motorist that wanted to avoid paying for their parking ticket?
In today’s article, we’re going to uncover what the 5 minute parking ticket rule is and whether it’s real or not, as well as a bunch of other useful information that might just come in handy when appealing a parking ticket in the future!
What is the 5 Minute Parking Ticket Rule?
The infamous 5 minute parking ticket rule was a law brought into effect by the Government back in 2015. It allows motorists to return to their vehicles with a few minutes of overstay to get into their vehicles and leave the space without risking a fine.
However, the law actually allows motorists up to 10 minutes of grace period to get into their vehicles and leave the parking space.
Is the 5 Minute Parking Ticket Rule Real?
Yes, the parking ticket rule is real. However, you’re actually allowed a 10 minute grace period by law, not a 5 minute one. Essentially, this means that you have anywhere between 0 and 10 minutes of overstay, but your vehicle must be out of the car parking space by that time.
This means that if you’ve been issued a parking ticket before that grace period is up, you have solid grounds for appeal.
Where does the 10 Minute Grace Period apply?
The law for the 10 minute grace period actually extends pretty far. It applies to:
- Council run car parks.
- Privately owned and managed car parks (when signed up for the Approved Operator Scheme) such as hospitals, supermarkets and other shopping centres.
- On street parking.
However, you will need to make sure that you’re parked correctly, have paid the fine (where applicable) and that you’re not crossing over any road markings.
Do Parking Attendants have to give you the Grace Period?
Yes, but only if you’re parked correctly. If you’ve parked in a restricted area such as a red zone, over zig-zags or even double yellow lines, they don’t legally have to grant you the grace period.
How can I avoid getting a parking ticket in the first place?
Getting a parking ticket isn’t ever something people intend to do, but it can easily happen! However, there are some really easy ways to avoid getting one in the first place, such as:
- Make sure you park in a designated bay. If your vehicle is crossing over any markings, you could end up with a parking ticket! If you have a wide vehicle that doesn’t fit into one space, we recommend buying two tickets and displaying both.
- Pay the correct fee when parking. If you’re unsure how long you’ll be away from your vehicle, you’re going to be better off paying for a longer stay. While you do get a 10 minute grace period, you might save yourself some money if you accidentally run over!
- Make sure you read and understand the parking signs. All car parks must have proper signage that explains the terms and conditions you automatically agree to when you park there. You might even benefit from taking a photo of that signage in case you need it in the future.
- Set reminders on your phone or watch to return to your vehicle. It takes very little time and could help you avoid a parking ticket!
- Keep hold of any tickets or receipts so that you have proof you paid if needed in the future.
- Display the ticket clearly and correctly. This is usually on the dash of your vehicle, but it needs to be visible to parking attendants.
What if I received my ticket through the post?
Sometimes you may not know that you’ve received a parking ticket until it arrives through the post, but that doesn’t mean you can’t leverage the 10 minute grace period. If you’re able to prove that you left the car park before your period was up, you should still be able to appeal.
You might be able to prove this through time stamps on your GPS, or through arriving at another car park and buying another ticket. As long as you know you got back to your vehicle in time, you may even be able to ask the issuing authority to pull up CCTV to account for that.
Can I appeal if I only overstayed a small amount?
Yes, you can appeal if you overstayed for up to 10 minutes.
If you want to appeal under the grounds that your grace period had not yet expired, we’d advise you to keep hold of your parking ticket. This is because once your parking ticket is issued, you should be able to align the exact times and prove that you still had time left on your grace period.
NOTE: If you parked in a privately owned car park that isn’t a member of an Approved Operator Scheme, you might not be offered a grace period. However, because they aren’t a member of an AOS, they won’t be able to legally get your details from the DVLA, so you may never hear from them again!
What happens if my appeal is rejected?
We have in depth guides on council issued fine appeals and privately issued fine appeals that detail how you can appeal the type of ticket you’ve received. The following outlines what you can do if your appeal is rejected for both types of ticket.
Council related parking fine or a Penalty Charge Notice appeal rejection
If the council that issued the parking charge notice to you rejects your formal appeal, you’ll receive what’s known as a notice of rejection. Basically, this will entail why your appeal has been rejected, and where you can appeal further if you disagree with their decision.
You’ll now need to contact the General Regulatory Chamber to make a further appeal. Make sure you keep hold of all of the evidence and correspondence to back up your appeal.
Private related parking fine or a Parking Charge Notice appeal rejection
If your private related parking fine is rejected, don’t worry! If you want to appeal your case further, this is where a formal appeal comes into play. You’ll need to ask an independent tribunal to look at your case. There are two independent groups you can use:
- Independent Appeals Service (IAS)
- Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA)
The independent group you end up using will depend which ATA the private parking company is a member of:
- You’ll use the Independent Appeals Service (IAS) if the company is a member of the International Parking Community.
- You’ll use Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA) if the company is a member of the British Parking Association.
What is the 5 Minute Parking Ticket Rule and is it Real? (RECAP)
Essentially, the 5 minute parking ticket rule is in fact a 10 minute grace period. This was put into place by the Government in April 2015 to help motorists avoid hefty fines for being just a few minutes late back to their vehicle.
So yes, it’s a real rule and as an added bonus, you get 10 minutes instead of 5!
Remember if you’ve broken any of the other rules and regulations laid out by the car park’s signage, then your 10 minute grace period may no longer be valid!