If you’ve received a private parking ticket for staying just a few minutes over your time, you may have been a victim of an unfair “overstay” charge.
In the UK, private parking companies are required to give you a grace period.
The 10-Minute Rule
Both the BPA and IPC Codes of Practice state that a driver must be allowed a minimum of 10 minutes to leave a car park after their paid time or “free stay” period has ended.
If you are fined for staying 7 minutes late, the company is in breach of the code.
The Consideration Period
Don’t confuse the “grace period” (at the end) with the “consideration period” (at the beginning). When you first enter a car park, you are legally allowed 5-10 minutes to drive in, find a space, and read the signs to decide if you want to stay.
If you drive in and leave 5 minutes later because you didn’t like the prices, you should not be fined.
How to Appeal to POPLA
If the parking company rejects your first appeal, they must give you a POPLA code. When you submit your appeal to POPLA, use the phrase: “The operator has failed to provide a mandatory 10-minute grace period as required by the Code of Practice.”
Did you overstay by less than 10 minutes? Our app’s calculator checks your entry and exit times to see if you’re protected by the Grace Period laws.