Expert explains if you have to pay a private parking ticket

Nothing can ruin a fun day trip with your mates like getting back to your car to find a big yellow parking ticket slammed on the window.

Or even just walking back to your wheels round the corner after a nice little dinner out and seeing you’ve been ticketed.

You probably didn’t even realise you were parking in an area you couldn’t. Or, perhaps just as likely, you knew exactly what you were doing and were cocky that you’d get away with it.

A ‘private parking ticket’ in the UK is also known as a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) and typically happens when you park on a private companies’ land, like a hospital or supermarket.

These aren’t necessarily backed by the law and work more like invoices for breaking a contract. And if you get it paid early, you often get a discount.

Absolute nightmare. (Getty Stock Image)

But then if you just don’t pay, you could end up facing court action.

An expert at MoneySuperMarket have explained if you do need to pay for these private tickets.

The site explains that the private fines require ‘legal backing to enforce payment’.

And if the ticket comes from the police or council, you need to pay.

“Private company-issued tickets are a different beast—they're essentially invoices for perceived contract breaches,” it says. “Ignoring them isn't wise, as they can escalate to a small claims court.”

However, there are options for challenging a private parking ticket.

MoneySuperMarket says to first ‘check if the company is a member of a trade body like the BPA or IPC.

“If so, follow their official appeals process, which usually starts with an appeal to the firm itself,” it explains. “If that fails, you can take it to the trade body's appeals service.”

Probably just to play it safe. (Getty Stock Image)

If you receive a private parking fine from a company that isn’t affiliated with a trade body then you should ‘proceed with caution’.

“Consider seeking legal advice before ignoring their tickets,” the experts advise.

You should of course also check the ticket is justified and hasn’t been given to you by mistake.

The experts at MoneySuperMarket also has some tips for avoiding tickets altogether because let’s face it, they’re an absolute headache.

So: “Steer clear of parking on double yellow lines or in clearways. Always display your parking ticket or permit clearly. Familiarise yourself with local restrictions and never assume disabled parking is exempt from rules.”

The site assures you should not ignore tickets and if you do decide to appeal, then ‘act swiftly, gather your evidence and follow the proper channels’.