Parking, bus lane and bus gate enforcement

If you wish to pay the 50 per cent reduced amount, then you must pay within 14 days of the date the PCN was issued. The full amount is due when the 14-day discount period has expired.

If you pay within 28 days of the date the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) was issued, then no further action will be taken by Coventry City Council.

Dispute a Penalty Charge Notice

If you believe a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) has been issued incorrectly, it may be challenged through the statutory process.

Challenges must be submitted in writing or online, quoting the PCN number in all correspondence.

If you need help deciding whether to challenge a Penalty Charge Notice

• Call our phonebot on 024 7542 6100; or
• Chat with our chatbot

Both are available 24 hours.

The challenge process may include the following stages depending on the type of PCN that has been issued:

1. Informal challenge 
2. Formal representation – by making a 'formal representation' once the Notice to Owner (NtO) has been served.
3. Appeal – Appeal to an independent adjudicator at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, following rejection of a formal representation.

Informal challenge:

For a PCN that has been put on the windscreen of the vehicle or handed to the driver, informal challenge is the first stage of the process.

An informal challenge must be made within 28 days of the PCN being issued by the Vehicle Owner. The challenge should clearly set out the reasons for contesting the PCN and must be supported by any relevant evidence, such as photographs, receipts or witness statements.

Challenge a PCN online

Informal challenges may be submitted in writing or online using the PCN number and vehicle registration.

• Written challenges should be sent to Coventry City Council, PO Box 7097, Coventry, CV6 9SL. 

If we accept your challenge you will not be required to pay the PCN and we will write to you to confirm this.

We will notify the motorist whether the challenge has been accepted or rejected.

• Where an informal challenge is accepted, the PCN will be cancelled, and no payment will be required.

• Where an informal challenge is rejected, the motorist must either pay the PCN or proceed to the next stage of the process.

If your informal challenge is received within 14 days of the PCN being served, the penalty charge will be held at £25 or £35 until the challenge has been considered. If your challenge is unsuccessful, you will be notified by letter, and (i) you will then be given a further 14 days in which to pay the penalty charge at the reduced amount of £25 or £35, or (ii) you can proceed to the next stage of the formal appeal process. 

Where an informal challenge is rejected and the PCN remains unpaid, a Notice to Owner will be served on the registered keeper of the vehicle.

Formal representation:

The formal representations stage applies:

• after a Notice to Owner has been issued for an unpaid PCN; or
• where the PCN has been issued by post (for example for a bus lane PCN).

Formal representations must be made within 28 days of the Notice being served. Postal PCNs will include details of any applicable discount periods.

The Notice to Owner sets out the statutory grounds on which representations may be made. Any supporting evidence should be submitted at this stage.

Formal representations may be submitted online using the PCN number and vehicle registration provided on the Notice to Owner, or at the postal / email address provided.

We will notify the registered keeper whether the formal representations have been accepted or rejected.

• Where formal representations are accepted, the PCN will be cancelled.

• Where formal representations are rejected, the registered keeper must either pay the PCN or appeal to the independent tribunal if continuing to challenge the PCN.

Make a Formal Representation online

• The owner of the vehicle is responsible for payment of the penalty charge irrespective of who was driving the vehicle at the time the PCN was issued.
• If you wish to make a formal representation, you can do so by completing and returning the Notice to Owner (NtO).

Appeal to the independent Parking Adjudicator (Traffic Penalty Tribunal):

Where formal representations are rejected, a Notice of Rejection of Representations will be issued to the registered keeper.

The registered keeper is entitled to appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT), an independent adjudication service, within 28 days of the Notice of Rejection being served.

Appeals can be submitted online using the appeal details provided on the Notice of Rejection, including the PIN code. If the appellant is unable to go online, they can request a Notice of Appeal from the Traffic Penalty Tribunal by contacting them and having the details from the NoR to hand.

The appellant must select the statutory ground(s) of appeal and submit any supporting evidence. The adjudicator may consider evidence submitted by both the appellant and the authority.

Once an appeal is submitted, the Tribunal will carry out initial checks and register the appeal. Confirmation of registration will be issued.

• The relevant information will be included with the Council's Notice of Rejection of Representation.
• For further information about the Traffic Penalty Tribunal please contact:
  • online:  https://www.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk
  • telephone: 01625 445555
  • by post: Traffic Penalty Tribunal, Springfield House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5BG

After the decision

Once the adjudicator has reached a decision, the appellant will be notified.

The decision will state one of the following:

• The appeal is allowed and the penalty charge is cancelled
• The appeal is refused and the penalty charge must be paid

Where an appeal is allowed, the matter is concluded and no payment is required.

Where an appeal is refused, the penalty charge must be paid within 28 days of the adjudicator’s decision. Failure to do so may result in the authority continuing enforcement action.

If the appellant remains dissatisfied, the adjudicator’s decision letter will explain whether any further steps are available.

Remember, if you wish to dispute a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) please:

• Make an informal challenge within 14 days of the PCN being issued against the discounted rate of £25 or £35.
• Remember, if your informal challenge is received between 14 days and 28 days of the PCN being served then the full charge of £50 or £70 will apply.
• Make Formal Representations within 28 days of the date of the Notice to Owner.
• Tell us as much as you can about your reasons for believing the ticket should be cancelled.
• Provide us with any evidence you have to support your claim. 
• Note, formal representations are considered at the full cost and not the discounted rate.

We are a member of the Parking And Traffic Regulations Outside London (PATROL) Adjudication Joint Committee. The Joint Committee publishes an Annual Statement of Accounts which is subject to external audit.