Check my ticket

For UK parking tickets

Got a parking ticket? Let's fight it.

Take a photo of your ticket. PCN Mate checks it for mistakes, tells you if it's worth appealing, and writes the appeal for you. In plain English, in about five minutes.

Check my ticket freeNo legal jargon. No card needed.
PENALTY CHARGE NOTICE
Traffic Management Act 2004
Contravention12 · Residents' bay
Observed08:02 to 08:07
Sign on streetNot visible (tree)
Your moodFurious
£80.00
Appeal sent

Example ticket. Your mood may vary.

Free deadline checker

The clock started when they stuck it on your windscreen.

Pop in the date on your ticket. We'll show the dates that matter so you don't lose the cheaper rate by accident.

Discount window closes...Most tickets are cut by 50% if paid within 14 days. Challenging early usually keeps that option open.
Appeal by, at the latest...You normally get 28 days to challenge. Earlier is better.

A rough guide. Exact dates depend on the ticket type and when it was served. PCN Mate reads your actual ticket and gives you your real dates.

How it works

Three steps. Zero legalese.

1

Snap your ticket

Take a photo of the ticket or the letter. Add photos of the signs or lines if you have them.

2

We check it

PCN Mate looks for errors and valid reasons to appeal, then tells you straight whether it's worth a go.

3

Send your appeal

You get a clear, polite, ready-to-send appeal letter and simple instructions on where to send it.

What we check

Tickets go wrong more than you'd think.

These are some of the common reasons a ticket gets cancelled. You don't need to know which applies. That's our job.

Signs missing or unclearHidden by a tree, faded, confusing, or just not there.
Lines worn awayFaded or broken lines can make a restriction unenforceable.
Mistakes on the ticketWrong reg, wrong street, wrong time, missing details.
You'd paid or had a permitApp glitch, permit on the dash, ticket that blew off.
Loading or dropping offMany restrictions allow loading and unloading.
Only a few minutes overCouncil paid bays in England have a 10-minute grace period.
Breakdown or emergencyLife happens. Some reasons are accepted.
Wrong process followedDeadlines and paperwork rules apply to them too.

Know your ticket

Same letters. Very different rules.

"PCN" can mean two different things. PCN Mate works out which one you've got and handles both.

From a council

Penalty Charge Notice

  • Issued by a council or Transport for London.
  • If they say no, you can go to an independent tribunal. It's free to appeal.
  • Ignoring it gets expensive fast. Don't.
From a private company

Parking Charge Notice

  • Issued by a car park operator, like at a supermarket or retail park.
  • Appeal to the company first, then to an independent appeals service (POPLA or IAS, depending on the operator).
  • Looks official. Isn't a fine from the government.

Either way, you're allowed to say "no, actually."

Questions

The sensible bit.

Is this legal advice?

No. PCN Mate is a tool that helps you understand your ticket and write your own appeal. For complicated cases, speak to a qualified adviser such as Citizens Advice.

Will appealing cost me more?

Appealing is free. With council tickets, if you challenge within the discount period and they say no, most councils offer you the cheaper rate again. We'll tell you where you stand before you send anything.

What if I don't have a good reason?

Then we'll tell you. We'd rather you pay the discounted amount than waste your time on an appeal that won't work.

Does it work outside England?

We're built for the UK. Rules and appeal bodies differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and PCN Mate adjusts for where your ticket was issued.

I've had a letter from debt collectors. Too late?

Not always, but act now. Upload what you've got and we'll show you your options.

Launching soon

Don't just pay it. Check it first.

Join the list and we'll let you know the moment PCN Mate is ready. Free during launch.