Applies to private parking charges and council PCNs

You were at a hospital

Nobody controls how long a hospital appointment takes. NHS guidance expects hospital parking charges to include concessions, and operators managing those sites are expected to apply them.

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New private parking rules · October 2026

Overrunning appointments cancelled on appeal

Overrunning medical appointments are on the list of charges that should be cancelled on appeal at private car parks, with evidence.
So are emergencies beyond your control, and illness of the driver or a passenger.
A letter or text from the department showing your appointment and when you left is the evidence that works.

This is from the government's new Private Parking Code of Practice, which covers private car parks only. Council tickets are not affected. It applies once the code comes into force, around the end of 2026 at the earliest, so do not wait for it before appealing. Read the full new rules

Why this works

Concessions exist and are often not applied

Guidance expects concessions for disabled people, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of children staying overnight, and staff on shifts. Ask which scheme operates at the site and why it was not applied.

Overruns are foreseeable, not exceptional

An operator managing a hospital car park knows appointments run late. A charging structure that penalises that is worth challenging on its own terms.

Get confirmation of attendance

Most departments will confirm the times you were there. That single document turns a plea into evidence.

Evidence to attach

Your appointment letter showing the scheduled time
Written confirmation of attendance from the department
A copy of your Blue Badge if one applied

More appeals fail on missing evidence than on weak arguments. Send copies, never originals, and keep a proof of posting.

Common questions

Can I appeal a parking ticket if a hospital appointment overran?

Time at a hospital is rarely within a patient's control. Appointments overrun, treatment takes as long as it takes, and a driver cannot leave in the middle of it to feed a machine. Challenging costs nothing, and if the issuer rejects you the escalation to an independent adjudicator is also free.

How long do I have to appeal?

Usually 28 days from the date on the notice, but the deadline that matters is often 14 days. Challenge within that window and most councils keep the 50% discount open for a further 14 days if they reject you. Private operators normally offer a reduced sum for the same period.

What evidence should I send?

Your appointment letter showing the scheduled time. Written confirmation of attendance from the department. A copy of your Blue Badge if one applied.

What do the new 2026 private parking rules say if a hospital appointment overran?

Overrunning appointments cancelled on appeal. Overrunning medical appointments are on the list of charges that should be cancelled on appeal at private car parks, with evidence. So are emergencies beyond your control, and illness of the driver or a passenger. A letter or text from the department showing your appointment and when you left is the evidence that works. The new Private Parking Code of Practice was laid before Parliament on 20 October 2026 and applies once it comes into force.

Does it cost anything to appeal?

No. Challenging the issuer is free, and escalating to POPLA, the Independent Appeals Service, the Traffic Penalty Tribunal or London Tribunals is free for motorists. Voidly does not charge you either.

Write your appeal now

Answer a few questions and Voidly assembles the right grounds for your case, with a checklist of what to attach.

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Other reasons people appeal

See every reason

Voidly produces a draft letter to help you appeal. It is not legal advice. Always check the letter and the deadline on your notice before sending.