Applies to private parking charges and council PCNs
Your vehicle was never at that location
Automatic number plate recognition misreads characters that resemble one another. A single misread character sends a notice to a keeper who has never been near the site.
No account, no card, nothing stored.
Why this works
Ask for the original images
Request the unenhanced camera images at full resolution, and ask them to confirm the make, model and colour of the vehicle photographed. If it is a different car, the matter ends.
Argue nothing else
Do not also say the signs were unclear or that you were only a few minutes over. Every additional argument implies you were present and undermines the one that wins.
The correct keeper should be found
Ask them to cancel the notice and obtain the correct keeper details from the DVLA rather than pursuing you further.
Evidence to attach
- Anything placing your vehicle elsewhere: a receipt, a fuel purchase, a work record
- A photograph of your vehicle showing the plate and its appearance
- Nothing else. Do not offer explanations about the site
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 camera read the wrong plate?
If you were not there, this is a complete answer. It is also the one situation where adding other arguments actively harms you. 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?
Anything placing your vehicle elsewhere: a receipt, a fuel purchase, a work record. A photograph of your vehicle showing the plate and its appearance. Nothing else. Do not offer explanations about the site.
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
- You were only a few minutes over
- The payment machine was not working
- You had a Blue Badge
- You were at a hospital
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.