Blogs / What is a PCN?
11 October 2026
What is a parking charge notice — and is it actually a fine?
If you have just opened a scary-looking letter about a parking charge, the first thing to know is: a private Parking Charge Notice is not a criminal fine. It is a bill. It is sent by a private parking company — not the police, not the council, and not a government department. You are allowed to challenge it, and a lot of people do.
Ready to challenge? Get your appeal letter for £3.99. We have a 75% success rate for the PCN.
There are two types of "PCN"
This is where it gets confusing. The letters "PCN" are used for two very different things:
- A council Penalty Charge Notice — this one IS from the council. It comes from a traffic warden or camera and is a proper penalty for parking on a yellow line, in a no-stopping zone, or in a pay-and-display bay without paying. It is backed by law and harder to walk away from.
- A private Parking Charge Notice — this one is from a private company, like ParkingEye, Euro Car Parks, NCP, or APCOA. It is NOT a fine. It is an invoice — basically a bill — claiming you broke the rules of a privately-owned car park. Think of retail park car parks, hospital car parks, supermarket car parks, and hotel car parks.
Always check the top of the letter. If it says a company name like "ParkingEye Ltd", it is a private charge. If it says your council or "London Borough of...", it is a council penalty.
So if it's not a fine, can I just ignore it?
Technically, a private parking charge cannot be enforced in the same way as a council fine. You will not get points on your licence and you will not be arrested. However, ignoring it is usually not a good idea, because:
- The amount often doubles — private operators routinely send a reminder at a higher amount (for example £60 going up to £100 or £170).
- It may go to a debt recovery company, who will send more letters and may add their own charges.
- In some cases, the operator can apply to a court for a County Court Judgement (CCJ), which affects your credit record.
The smart move is to appeal it quickly while the lower amount still applies.
Why do private companies get your address?
Private parking companies use cameras (called ANPR — Automatic Number Plate Recognition) to photograph your car entering and leaving. They then contact the DVLA and pay a fee to get the registered keeper's name and address. This is legal, but it also means the letter is addressed to the keeper of the car — not necessarily the driver. That matters, because the rules for who is actually responsible are complicated.
What is a "Notice to Keeper"?
Most private parking letters are called a Notice to Keeper. This is the company's way of saying "we could not find the driver, so we are asking the registered keeper." There are strict rules about when and how this notice must be sent. If the company gets it wrong — for example, sends it too late, or leaves out required information — you may not be legally liable to pay, even if you were the one who parked there.
What does a parking appeal do?
An appeal is a formal letter you send back to the company saying "I am challenging this charge, here is why." You do not pay anything while you are appealing. The company must respond and, if they reject you, must give you access to an independent appeals service (POPLA for most private companies, including ParkingEye). If the appeal fails there, you can still choose whether to pay or let it escalate — but the earlier you appeal, the better position you are in.
Euro Parks Appeal builds your appeal letter from the details of your notice. You describe what happened, tick the points that apply to your situation, and the letter is drafted for you. We have a 75% success rate for the PCN.