Parking fines might not be something out of the ordinary in your life, but if you’ve received a parking fine for parking in a permit holders only space, you might be confused about where this leaves you. Luckily, you’re not the only one that’s been in this situation, which is why we’ve put together a guide that will explain:
- What a permit holders only space means.
- Whether you have to pay.
- If you can appeal a permit holders only fine.
- How you can avoid getting a permit holders only fine to begin with.
Getting a parking fine can be disruptive in and of itself, so let’s take a look at how you can navigate through receiving a permit holders only fine.
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What does permit holders only mean?
Some parking around the UK requires motorists to have a permit to show that they are allowed to park in the allocated spaces. Permit holder spaces are often used in residential or office spaces to allow residents or employees to park easily by their home or place of work.
Spaces that are allocated for permit holders only must show clear signage to show other motorists that permit holders only can park in that space.
You might sometimes find that permit holders only spaces have a time limit, and if that is the case, the signage will display this. For example, if an office has parking spaces for their employees, the signage might read “Permit Holders Only 9am-6pm”. If this is the case, you will be able to legally park in that space outside of those hours if you don’t have a permit.
When will I get a permit holders only fine?
Put simply, you’ll receive a permit holders only fine if you’ve parked in a permit holders space without a permit or inside of the hours stated on the signage.
Keep in mind that you might receive a permit holders only fine from your local council or a private parking company. However, the latter is usually the case.
You’ll normally be left with a parking ticket attached to your car, but if you were caught on CCTV parking in a permit holders only space without a permit, you might receive your parking ticket through the post.
How much is a permit holders only fine?
The price can vary, but for many councils around the UK, you’ll often be charged £70 for parking in a permit holder only space. In busier areas like London, it could even be as high as £130!
Private parking fine charges may also differ. However, if you decide to pay up and pay within 14 days, you’ll receive a discount on both council and private parking fines.
Popular parking misconceptions that can result in a parking fine
One of the biggest mistakes that many motorists make is believing that certain spaces become free to everyone at the weekend or on bank holidays. However, this is rarely ever true and could lead to you being issued with a permit holders only fine.
Your best bet, when parking anywhere, is to read the signage carefully to see what the rules are around parking in the spot you’ve chosen. If you believe the signage might be misleading, take a picture as it could be grounds for appeal if you are issued a parking ticket.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if you’re not sure if you’re breaking any rules, you might be better off finding another parking space to avoid even the risk of getting a parking ticket.
How do I pay my permit holders only fine?
For both private and council issued permit holders only fines, there will be information on the parking ticket itself about how you can pay.
In most cases, there will be an online portal that will give you the option of either paying, or starting an appeal. We’ll talk more about appealing shortly.
The parking ticket will also detail any other ways you could pay, such as over the phone or by post. There will also be a full list of payment methods you can choose from, such as paying by card or mailing a cheque.
It’s worth keeping in mind that if you are choosing to pay your fine, you’ll need the reference number from the PCN as well as the registration number of the vehicle that you were driving on the day of the offense.
In most cases, you’ll have 28 days to pay the fine. However, if you pay within 14 days, you’ll get up to 50% off the fine, so it’s worth trying to make the payment as quickly as you can.
Can I appeal my permit holders only fine?
Yes!
If you believe that you weren’t wrongly parked in a permit holders only space, or indeed you have a permit, you have the right to appeal.
Remember that if you are choosing to appeal against your permit holders only fine, you’ll need as much evidence as you can gather, such as signage and time stamped photos of when you parked in the space. Or of course, if you are a permit holder, that would be great evidence too!
The parking ticket you were issued will also detail how you can make an appeal against a permit holders only fine. The process is likely to be similar to appealing either a council related parking ticket or a privately issued one. We have full guides on both as well as other useful information to keep in mind.
Source: Money Saving Expert
As you can see, this motorist might have grounds for appeal because the signage wasn’t obviously visible to them. It might be worth your time to check out other valid reasons for appealing a parking ticket in the UK – it might just save you some money!
What happens if my appeal is rejected?
If your appeal is rejected, you can now make what’s known as a “formal representation”. This might sound daunting, but it’s not as complicated as you might think. The details on how to do this will be on the rejection letter you receive, and you can use our handy template to appeal your permit holders only fine.
If your formal representation is rejected, you’ll then receive what’s known as a Notice to Owner (NtO). This essentially orders you to pay the fine that you were given initially. From there, you have a further 28 days to pay or appeal. If you don’t pay, your fine could rise another 50%, which could end up costing you a lot more than you’d bargained for.
If you still choose not to pay your permit holders only fine, then further action such as going to court, debt collectors, or even bailiffs could be used against you.
What are the permit holders only rules?
The rules around parking in a permit holder only space might be different depending on your location or what the permit space is used for. For example, if it’s used for office hours, you might find that the rules state “Permit Holders Only – Monday – Friday 9am-5pm”. If this is the case, you cannot park there between those hours on those days.
Outside of the allocated times, you should be able to park in those spaces without a permit. However, it might be in your best interest to take a photo of the signage to prove that you weren’t trying to break any rules!
Can I ignore a permit holders only fine?
In short, no.
Even though privately owned car park fines aren’t legally enforceable to begin with, they could escalate the matter. And, as we’ve talked about in previous posts about penalty charge notices, they are legally enforceable fines, and you could end up in court!
If this happens, you could be left with more charges to pay, such as court costs and late fees. Your best bet is to either pay the permit holders only fine, or start an appeal. We have a useful parking ticket appeal letter template that you can download and use for free! It will help you make sure you’ve got all of the information you need to make a successful appeal!
While it might be bothersome getting a permit holders only fine, you should never ignore the problem all together. Check out our other in-depth guides on your rights as a motorist, plus lots of other useful information!