Applies to council penalty charge notices
Your vehicle was towed
Removal fees and daily storage are separately challengeable from the penalty charge itself, and most people do not realise they can contest them.
No account, no card, nothing stored.
Why this works
Recover the vehicle first
Storage accrues daily. Collect the car and challenge afterwards. Leaving it in the pound to make a point costs you money you may not get back.
Ask why removal was chosen
Request the authorisation for removal, the reason recorded at the time, photographs of the vehicle in position before it was lifted, and the policy under which removal was preferred to a penalty charge.
Notification affects the storage bill
You cannot reduce storage charges if you were never told where the vehicle was. Ask for the date and method of every notification sent to you.
Evidence to attach
- The receipt for the removal and storage charges, needed for a refund
- Photographs of where the vehicle was parked, yours or anyone else's
- Any notification you received about the removal
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 the car was removed to a pound?
Removal is a serious step reserved for vehicles causing obstruction, danger or persistent contravention. It should not follow automatically from an alleged parking contravention. 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?
The receipt for the removal and storage charges, needed for a refund. Photographs of where the vehicle was parked, yours or anyone else's. Any notification you received about the removal.
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.
Start my appealOther reasons people appeal
- The signs were not clear
- The notice arrived too late
- You were not the driver
- You paid but mistyped your registration
- Your vehicle was never at that location
- You were only a few minutes over
- The payment machine was not working
- You had a Blue Badge
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.