Parking Tickets on Private Land — Your Rights

Last updated: March 2026

A parking ticket issued on private land is not a fine. It is a contractual charge — and that distinction gives you significantly more rights than most motorists realise. This guide explains what private operators can and cannot do, and when you should fight back.

It Is Not a Fine — It Is an Invoice

When you park on private land — a supermarket car park, a retail park, a hospital, or a residential estate — the operator cannot issue a “fine” because they have no legal authority to penalise you. Only councils, TfL, and the police can issue genuine fines. What private operators issue is a “parking charge notice” (note the lowercase), which is essentially an invoice for an alleged breach of contract.

The legal theory is that by driving onto the land and seeing the signage, you entered into a contract with the landowner or their agent. If you breach the terms (overstaying, parking in the wrong bay, not displaying a ticket), the operator claims you owe them a pre-estimated loss — the parking charge.

The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (POFA)

Before POFA, private operators could only pursue the driver, not the registered keeper. Since most tickets are issued via ANPR cameras rather than handed to the driver in person, operators often could not identify who was driving. POFA changed this by introducing keeper liability: if the operator follows the correct procedure, the registered keeper becomes liable for the charge even if they were not driving.

However, POFA imposes strict requirements on operators. To transfer liability to the keeper, they must:

• Obtain the keeper’s details from the DVLA.
• Send a “Notice to Keeper” (NtK) within 14 days of the alleged contravention (or within 14 days of receiving the DVLA data if they did not have it immediately).
• Include specific prescribed information in the NtK.

If the operator fails any of these steps, keeper liability does not apply. This is one of the most common and effective grounds for appeal. For more detail, see our guide to private parking companies and your rights.

What Private Operators Cannot Do

Despite the threatening language in their letters, private parking companies have far fewer powers than they imply:

• They cannot clamp your vehicle. Clamping on private land has been illegal in England and Wales since POFA came into force in 2012.
• They cannot send bailiffs. Bailiffs (enforcement agents) can only be instructed after a County Court Judgment (CCJ). Most operators never pursue court action because the costs outweigh the charge amount.
• They cannot affect your credit score unless they obtain a CCJ against you and you fail to pay it. Debt collection letters do not appear on your credit file.
• They cannot force you to identify the driver. Unlike council PCNs, there is no legal obligation to name the driver of a vehicle on private land (though failing to do so may mean the keeper is pursued instead).

When to Pay vs When to Appeal

Consider Paying If:

• The signage was clear and you genuinely breached the terms.
• The charge is reasonable (£60–£100 is typical) and there is a discount for early payment.
• You do not want to spend time on an appeal that may not succeed.

Consider Appealing If:

• The signage was absent, obscured, or confusing.
• The NtK was sent late (more than 14 days after the event or after DVLA disclosure).
• The charge is disproportionate (£100+ for a minor overstay).
• You were not the driver and the operator has not followed POFA requirements.
• The ANPR evidence is unclear or shows the wrong vehicle.

How to Appeal a Private Parking Charge

Start by appealing directly to the operator. If rejected, escalate to the independent appeals service — POPLA for BPA members or IAS for IPC members. These services are free and their decisions are binding on the operator (but not on you — if you lose, you can still choose not to pay and wait to see if the operator takes court action). For a full walkthrough, see our private parking charge appeal guide.

Related Guides

• Private Parking Companies — Your Rights
• How to Appeal a Private Parking Charge
• Council vs Private Parking Ticket — Key Differences
• Parking Fine Debt Collectors — Your Rights