Time Limits for Private Parking Companies
Under POFA 2012, private parking companies must serve a Notice to Keeper within a specific timeframe to establish keeper liability. The notice must be received by the keeper within 14 days of the alleged contravention — or, if the operator obtained keeper details from the DVLA later, within a reasonable period after receiving that data.
How the 14-Day Rule Works
The 14 days runs from the date of the alleged parking event, not from when the operator decides to send the notice. If a Notice to Driver was placed on your windscreen, the 14-day clock starts from that date. If no windscreen notice was issued, the clock starts from the date of the contravention itself.
What If They're Late?
If the NtK is served outside the required timeframe, the operator cannot transfer liability to the keeper. This means if you weren't the driver (or even if you were but the operator can't prove it), they have no one to pursue. This is an absolute defence — if the NtK is late, the charge against the keeper is invalid regardless of whether a contravention actually occurred.
Council PCN Time Limits
For council PCNs, the rules are different. If the PCN is served by post (rather than placed on the vehicle), it must be sent within 28 days of the contravention. If it was placed on the vehicle and later found not to have been received, the council can serve a Notice to Owner — but strict timescales apply.
Check Your Dates
Always compare the date of the alleged contravention with the date the notice was sent (check the postmark) and received. Even a one-day delay can invalidate the charge.
Generate Your Appeal Letter
Was your notice served late? Generate your personalised appeal letter in minutes with CancelMyFine — just £4.99. Visit CancelMyFine.co.uk to challenge a late-served fine.