Most motorists have experienced this annoyance at least once - returning to your parked car only to discover an unwelcome penalty charge notice stuck on your windscreen. But were you aware there are four scenarios where you can dodge paying your parking fine altogether?

According to the RAC, private parking firms handed out a record 14.4 million tickets (14,371,841) to motorists over the 12 months ending March 2025. However, an expert from Which? claims there are situations where you can throw your notice "straight in the bin" without paying a penny - whilst there are other fine occurrences that can be disputed.

Check out the guidance below on parking fines to make sure you're following the rules. That way, you won't be forking out for fines you don't have to pay for.

• Jeremy Clarkson addresses future of much-loved show as he asks 'why mess with it?'


• People who bank with Barclays could face £300 daily cash 'limit'

"You can appeal if the signs aren't clear, if you're charged more than £100, or if you have a mitigating reason like ill health or your vehicle broke down," the expert explained.

"So the big question is, 'Is the parking company part of an accredited trade association?'" the Which? expert noted. Such associations include the British Parking Association (BPA) or the Independent Parking Committee (IPC).

"If it's not [them], then ignore it," she stated. "It won't be able to get your details from the DVLA to make you pay."

However, if the parking firm is accredited, the Which? expert recommends drafting an appeal letter to them, and attaching evidence such as details of your mitigating circumstances and photographs of inadequate signage.

She added: "For members of the BPA, you have 28 days after rejection to appeal to the Parking On Private Lands Appeals (POPLA). Whilst for the IPC, you have 21 days after rejection to take it to the Independent Appeals Service."

The Which? expert concluded by noting that if the independent adjudicator rules against you, your last resort is taking the parking company to court. However, she cautioned: "But do this and lose and you'll have to cover it's legal costs too."

According to the RAC, private parking firms handed out a record 14.4 million tickets (14,371,841) to motorists over the 12 months ending March 2025.

The organisation states: "The figure of 14.4m is more than double the number six years ago (6,808,344 in 2018-19), just before the Government passed an Act of Parliament intended to clamp down on rogue private parking operators. It is also 13% up on the 12.8m seen in 2023/2024."

Meanwhile, more than £42million from Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) has been accumulated over the past year from the UK's hardest-hit streets for parking and driving fines. New data obtained by Confused.com via a Freedom of Information Request to UK councils revealed that some individual streets account for over 50% of all penalties issued in the local council area they're situated in.

The figures show that local authorities raked in over half a billion pounds (£530 million) in PCN fines during the 12-month period, with a staggering £42,194,821 collected for offences committed on the worst offending streets.

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.