How Long Does a Parking Company Have to Send a Fine?

How Long Does a Parking Company Have to Send Your Fine?

The timeline for sending a parking charge is one of the most important aspects of parking law, because getting it wrong can make the entire charge unenforceable. The rules differ between private operators and councils.

The 14-Day Rule for Private Operators

Under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (POFA 2012), Schedule 4, a private parking operator must serve a Notice to Keeper (NtK) on the registered keeper of the vehicle within the "relevant period." The relevant period is defined as 14 days beginning with the day after the day on which the vehicle was parked.

This means if your vehicle was parked on 1 March, the NtK must be served by 15 March. "Served" in this context means posted, not received. However, the operator must prove that the NtK was posted within the 14-day period.

Why the 14-Day Rule Matters

If the operator fails to serve the NtK within 14 days, they lose the right to pursue the registered keeper. This is one of the most powerful defences available, because it completely removes keeper liability. The operator can still pursue the driver, but since they often cannot identify the driver, the charge effectively becomes unenforceable.

This rule only applies when the driver was not given a ticket at the time (a windscreen ticket or handed ticket). If a ticket was given to the driver, the 14-day NtK rule does not apply because the driver has been directly notified.

How to Check NtK Timing

To check whether the NtK was served in time, you need two dates: the date of the alleged contravention (shown on the charge notice) and the date the NtK was posted (shown on the envelope postmark or the letter itself).

Count 14 days from the day after the contravention date. If the NtK was posted after this date, it is late. Be precise about the dates; even one day late is sufficient to invalidate the NtK.

Council PCN Timing

Council PCNs have different rules:

Windscreen PCN: If the PCN was placed on the windscreen, there is no specific posting deadline; the PCN is served when it is fixed to the vehicle.

Postal PCN (CCTV): If the PCN was issued by CCTV or camera, it must be served within 28 days of the contravention in England (outside London) and within 14 days in London. Missing this deadline means the PCN is invalid.

ANPR-Only Enforcement

Most private parking charges are issued via ANPR cameras, meaning the driver is not identified at the time. The operator relies on DVLA data to identify the registered keeper and sends the NtK by post. This is exactly the scenario where the 14-day rule applies.

If you were not given a ticket at the time (no windscreen ticket, no warden handed you anything), and the NtK arrived more than 14 days after the date of the alleged contravention, the charge fails.

Common Operator Excuses

Operators sometimes argue that postal delays caused the NtK to arrive late but it was posted in time, that the "relevant period" should be calculated differently, or that the NtK was "served" when posted, not when received. The correct interpretation is that the NtK must be posted (not received) within the 14-day period. If the postmark or letter date shows it was posted after the deadline, it is late regardless of when it arrived.

Proving Late Service

To prove the NtK was late, check the postmark on the envelope (keep the envelope), check the date printed on the NtK letter itself, and compare both with the date of the alleged contravention. If either date is more than 14 days after the contravention date, raise this as your primary ground for appeal.