FAQs

A Telephone Hearing provides an opportunity for you to explain the circumstances of your appeal, verbally. There may also have been some gaps or uncertainty in the evidence already provided that can be discussed further. Find out more about what to expect at Telephone Hearing.

Submitting an appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal is completely free. The only thing you'll have to pay is the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) in full if you lose your appeal. Find out more about receiving a PCN and the next steps you can take.

The Traffic Penalty Tribunal can help if you need extra support because of your condition or circumstances. Find out about additional help we offer.

Adjudicator's decisions are binding on you and the authority. In exceptional circumstances, the decision can be looked at again by applying for a review, but disagreeing with a decision is not a reason to review it. Find out more about what happens after a decision.

You can provide any information that helps explain why you think you should not have received a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) – from documents and photos to messages and files from your phone. But don't worry if you don't have it all to hand straight away.

Any information you provide to support your case is classed as evidence and will be taken into consideration by the Adjudicator. No form of evidence is necessarily better than another.

Our online appeals management system allows you to upload a large range of evidence directly to an online case file, either when first submitting an appeal or when it is in progress.

Find out more about the types of evidence you can submit.

Receiving a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is never good news, but knowing what to do next and not ignoring it are critical. You can't appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal straight away, but our website provides information on the next steps you can take.

An appeal can only be made to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal once you have first made representations to the authority that issued the PCN. The next steps to take depend on the type of PCN you have received and what stage you are in the enforcement process.

Find out more about the steps for your PCN.

No, you will not have to go to court. Appealing to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal is quick and easy, and can be done fully online. Though every case is different, most cases we see are resolved in just 14 days.

We are highly experienced lawyers, independent of the authority that issued your Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and will decide your appeal fairly, based on the specific facts of your case.

We offer a fully online service, available on desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones, through which you can submit your appeal to us and follow it through from start to finish.

97% of the cases we see are submitted and decided fully online, with more than 50% of cases finalised within 14 days and 75% within 28 days.

Find out more about appealing to the Tribunal.

The Traffic Penalty Tribunal only decides appeals against Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued by local authorities and charging authorities in England (outside London) and Wales. Parking Charge Notices often look like PCNs, but they are not penalties we decide appeals against.

The information included with the Parking Charge Notice or other penalty you have received should state who the private operator is that issued it, how to contact them or make payment and – if necessary – how to challenge the penalty.

Find out where to make contact about the penalty you have received.

The Traffic Penalty Tribunal only decides appeals against Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued by local authorities and charging authorities in England (outside London) and Wales. The PCN documents should state where to make contact, how to pay and – if necessary – how to challenge it.

Find out where to make contact about the penalty you have received.

The Traffic Penalty Tribunal only decides appeals against Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued by local authorities and charging authorities in England (outside London) and Wales. The PCN documents should state where to make contact, how to pay and – if necessary – how to challenge it.

Find out where to make contact about the penalty you have received.

The Traffic Penalty Tribunal only decides appeals against Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued by local authorities and charging authorities in England (outside London) and Wales. The PCN documents should state where to make contact, how to pay and – if necessary – how to challenge it.

Find out where to make contact about the penalty you have received.

The Traffic Penalty Tribunal only decides appeals against Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued by local authorities and charging authorities in England (outside London) and Wales. The PCN documents should state where to make contact, how to pay and – if necessary – how to challenge it.

Find out where to make contact about the penalty you have received

If you have received a Charge Certificate, Order for Recovery or a letter from a Bailiff (now referred to as Civil Enforcement Agents) regarding an unpaid PCN, find out more about the steps you can take here.

The Traffic Penalty Tribunal is an independent, impartial adjudication service between an appellant and the authority that issued the PCN. We cannot provide legal advice about your appeal – whether or not you should submit one, the chances of success or the best evidence to provide.

Whether you have just received a PCN or have already challenged it or made representations to the authority, our website provides comprehensive information on the PCN enforcement process and submitting an appeal.

Find out more about the enforcement and challenge process for your PCN.

Find out more about appealing to the Tribunal.

After receiving a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), you usually have 28 days to either pay the penalty or challenge it (the PCN is normally discounted if paid within 14 days). The process for challenging a PCN varies. What is the enforcement and challenge process for my PCN?

The PCN you have received, or any other documents accompanying it, should provide instructions on how to either pay the penalty charge or challenge it. You can also find the enforcement and challenge process for your PCN here.

If you have already appealed to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal online and have lost your appeal (also referred to as a dismissed appeal), the decision you received should have a link to "PAY THE AUTHORITY NOW?", which will take you directly through to the relevant authority's website to make payment of the PCN. If you need to find details for the local authority that issued your PCN, please follow the link below.

Find contact details for a local authority.

The Adjudicator decision you received from the Traffic Penalty Tribunal should have a link to 'PAY THE AUTHORITY NOW?', taking you directly through to the relevant authority's website to make payment. If you are having problems making payment, you should contact the authority.

If you need to find details for the local authority that issued your PCN, please follow the link below.

Find contact details for a local authority.

The costs associated with submitting an appeal are not usually awarded. There are rare exceptions, if the Adjudicator considers that the authority (or you) were wholly unreasonable in their approach to the case, or – as defined by the law – were ‘vexatious’ or ‘frivolous’.

To ask the Adjudicator to order the other party to pay your costs, you must complete an online form or make an application to us in writing*. The Adjudicator will consider your submission and, if necessary, ask the authority to respond.

*Make sure to include a breakdown of your expenses and time.

Under the law governing civil traffic enforcement, the person liable to pay any Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) issued in respect of a vehicle contravening traffic regulations is its owner. This is presumed to be the Registered Keeper of the vehicle, unless proven otherwise.

The Registered Keeper – according to details registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) – may not necessarily have been the driver at the time of the alleged contravention, but they are legally liable for the penalty charge. The fact that another person was driving the vehicle does not affect the Registered Keeper's liability for any PCN.

A local authority or charging authority will check the Registered Keeper details of a vehicle at the DVLA* as part of the process before issuing a PCN (unless the PCN is fixed to the windscreen of the vehicle or handed to the driver, in the case of Parking PCNs.

All documents further to the PCN during the enforcement process will then be issued to the Registered Keeper of the vehicle.

* The law requires that the DVLA is kept informed about the current Registered Keeper. If a motorist sells a vehicle and fails to complete the relevant part of the vehicle registration document (V5C / 'log book'), they may receive enforcement documents relating to a PCN that are meant for the previous keeper.

Appealing to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal is quick and easy, and can be done fully online. Though every case is different, most cases we see are resolved in just 14 days.

We are highly experienced lawyers, independent of the authority that issued your Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and will decide your appeal fairly, based on the specific facts of your case.

We offer a fully online service, available on desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones, through which you can submit your appeal to us and follow it through from start to finish.

97% of the cases we see are submitted and decided fully online, with more than 50% of cases finalised within 14 days and 75% within 28 days.

Find out more about appealing to the Tribunal.

A Clean Air Zone is a Road User Charging Scheme applying to certain vehicles used within a geographic area of a city centre, with the aim of reducing pollution and improving air quality.

Charges apply to vehicles that have an emissions category that does not meet a standard specified by the particular class of Clean Air Zone that is in operation. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras detect vehicles that are used in a zone.

You can check if your vehicle's emissions mean you must pay a charge and make payment (obtain a license) to use it within a Clean Air Zone online at the GOV.UK Drive in a Clean Air Zone service.

– Payment of the charge must be made for each day a non-compliant vehicle is used within a Clean Air Zone, either up to 6 days in advance of, or by 11.59pm on the 6th day after, using the vehicle in the zone.

– Charges apply daily, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and from midnight to midnight (for example, 2 x daily charges should be paid for a vehicle entering a Clean Air Zone at 11pm and leaving at 1am the following morning.

Payment should be made at the central GOV.UK service, not to the local authority directly, though a number of Clean Air Zone exemptions and discounts apply, which may require a different method of payment.

It depends on the emissions category and type of your vehicle. You can check whether your vehicle's emissions and type mean you must pay a charge and make payment (obtain a license) to use it within a Clean Air Zone online at the GOV.UK Drive in a Clean Air Zone service.

A telephone payment service and helpdesk is also available on 0300 029 8888 (lines open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.30pm), together with an online contact form.

Payment of the charge must be made for each day a non-compliant vehicle is used within a Clean Air Zone, either up to 6 days in advance of, or by 11.59pm on the 6th day after, using the vehicle in the zone.

Charges apply daily, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and from midnight to midnight (for example, 2 x daily charges should be paid for a vehicle entering a Clean Air Zone at 11pm and leaving at 1am the following morning.

Payment should be made at the GOV.UK Drive in a Clean Air Zone service, not to the local authority directly, though a number of Clean Air Zone exemptions and discounts apply, which may require a different method of payment.

Check online to see if your vehicle's emissions mean you are liable for a Clean Air Zone charge at the GOV.UK Drive in a Clean Air Zone service.

If you have any questions regarding the emissions status of your vehicle after checking your number plate through this service, you should contact the GOV.UK helpdesk on 0300 029 8888 (lines open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.30pm) or use the GOV.UK online contact form.

If you don’t agree with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) you have received, you can make Registered Keeper against the PCN to the local authority that issued it, explaining your reasons in as much detail as possible, providing any evidence you can.

The types of vehicles and charges that apply vary for different Clean Air Zones. You can check on the website of the local authority operating the scheme for the charges that apply to a specific scheme.

Alternatively, use the GOV.UK Drive in a Clean Air Zone service to see if your vehicle's emissions mean you would be liable for charge and (if applicable) view the charges that will apply to the vehicle at all operating zones.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras detect vehicles that are used in a Clean Air Zone.

A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) will be issued to the Registered Keeper of a non-compliant vehicle used in the zone if the charge is not paid on time – either up to 6 days in advance of, or by 11.59pm on the 6th day after, the vehicle was used in the zone.

Payment should be made at the GOV.UK Drive in a Clean Air Zone service, not to the local authority directly, though a number of Clean Air Zone exemptions and discounts apply, which may require a different method of payment.

Signage on roads in and around the zone, showing a white cloud symbol within a green circle, will indicate that a Clean Air Zone scheme is in operation. A letter A–D will also be included on the symbol (see images below), denoting the class of zone that applies.

The 4 x ascending lettered classes relate to the different groups of vehicle that are charged, as follows:

• Class A: Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles • Class B: Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles • Class C: Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans, minibuses • Class D: Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans, minibuses, cars (the local authority also has the option to include motorcycles)

Please note that a number of Clean Air Zone exemptions and discounts apply to different zones.

Charges apply daily, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and from midnight to midnight (for example, 2 x daily charges should be paid for a vehicle entering a Clean Air Zone at 11pm and leaving at 1am the following morning.

You can check whether your vehicle's emissions mean you must pay a charge and make payment (obtain a license) to use it within a Clean Air Zone online at the GOV.UK Drive in a Clean Air Zone service.

A telephone payment service and helpdesk is also available on 0300 029 8888 (lines open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.30pm), together with an online contact form.

If you have received a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and do not agree with it, you can make representations to the local authority that issued it, explaining your reasons in as much detail as possible and providing any evidence you can.

If the representations are successful, the PCN will be cancelled. If the representations are unsuccessful, a Notice of Rejection of Representations will be issued, explaining the reasons and providing information on appealing further to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.

A GOV.UK telephone payment service and helpdesk is available on 0300 029 8888 (lines open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.30pm), together with an online contact form. Any questions about using the GOV.UK service should be directed through these channels.

If you have received a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and do not agree with it, you can make representations to the local authority that issued it, explaining your reasons.

If you have received a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and do not agree with it, you can make representations to the local authority that issued it, explaining your reasons in as much detail as possible and providing any evidence you can.

If the representations are successful, the PCN will be cancelled. If the representations are unsuccessful, a Notice of Rejection of Representations will be issued, explaining the reasons and providing information on appealing further to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.

Following Government approval, a local authority can set up a Clean Air Zone as part of its plan to improve air quality through a Clean Air Zone Charging Scheme Order (CSO), under the powers of Sections 163–177A of the Transport Act 2000 and the Road User Charging Schemes (Penalty Charges, Adjudication and Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013.

Selected Traffic Penalty Tribunal decisions are published on the Traff-iCase key cases website (opens in new tab). These ‘key cases’ have been curated due to the common facts, issues and points of law they include, providing a reference for motorists who may have received similar penalty charges, or other interested parties.

The Traff-iCase website also includes key cases from London Tribunals (opens in new tab) and other UK traffic penalty adjudication bodies. While cases from these different adjudicating bodies have been curated together on the site for the convenience and interest of users, any information contained within the decisions remains the responsibility of the original adjudicating body. Any questions relating to the content of cases should also be directed to the adjudicating body.