What to do in the event of an airport parking fine: Your rights

  • 24 Aug, 2021
  • Alice Fowler
  • 177 Comments

airport parking fines

It is unlikely that you will incur a parking fine when using a long-term airport car park, provided you have given the correct information when booking. These car parks charge per 24-hour period, so it is unlikely, even if your flight is delayed, that you will have overstayed your welcome.

In extenuating circumstances, such as the case of the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud a couple of years ago, which meant many passengers returned days late from their holiday, a common-sense approach was adopted by the vast majority of car park operators

As far as short-term parking goes, most car parks operate a pay on exit system meaning that even if the person you are picking up is delayed for hours you will not incur a parking fine.

When could I get an airport parking fine?

Most airport parking fines are incurred when dropping off or picking up passengers without using the short-term car park, and stories abound of drivers being hit with punitive fines for stopping on approach roads. Automatic number plate recognition technology makes it easy for the operator to monitor your comings and goings.

Many airports provide a drop-off zone and charge a fee of a few pounds for a short stop. If you decide to leave your car to help your passenger in to the terminal or overstay the allotted time, then fines of £80 are commonplace. At other airports it is forbidden to stop at all, and if you should grind to a halt briefly to read a notice, for instance, you can expect to be faced with a fine.

However, nowadays, most airports employ private parking companies and thus, their parking fines rules are applied. But this rule relies on the majority of the people not knowing the difference between the two and end up paying up the fine regardless. Airports tend to do this as they generate revenue from employing these private parking firms to police the parking at the airport. Therefore, if you’re ever fined, it is most likely from the private parking company. Yet, legally, these parking firms have no jurisdiction as the only bodies allowed to issue fines are the police and councils. Thus, in reality, they are not legally able to ‘fine’ you and indeed are even prohibited from using the word “penalty” on their notices.

PARKING Charge notices and PENALTY Charge Notices – they are different!

They do their best though to dress their notices up to look like official Penalty Charge Notices, even using the same initial letters, PCN, standing in this case for Parking Charge Notice (PCN). Some even go as far as using the word “enforcement” even although there are legally no powers of enforcement.

These so-called PCNs are in fact invoices for payment for breaching the parking company’s terms and conditions. The relationship between parking company and motorist is governed by contract law, and in cases where the terms and conditions are broken, the parking company can only claim the actual loss of revenue rather than the huge sums demanded by some.

airport parking fine

Therefore, be sure to check out what it actually states in the notice because if it is stated by a private firm, you may be able to ignore it. In the majority of the cases, the only way they can make you pay is by taking you to a claims court. So, if the fine wasn’t much and it’s less than their court fees, they might not bother! However, please read it properly because the notice is in conjunction with local council, they are able to enforce it. This means some airports have local byelaws which give them the power to give out fines under the authority of local council rules. Therefore, if the airport parking company can prove you’ve breached the byelaws, you will have to pay. So, read the notice carefully before taking any action.

The Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA) was introduced in 2012 to help customers deals with non-council related parking fines. POPLA governs appeals from people who have been given a fine for parking on private land. However, they will only take your case if your appeal has been rejected by the parking firm first. POPLA is an independent body; they are not affiliated with any operators. If you are successful in your appeal with them, your charges can be cancelled. However, if POPLA disagree, then you would have to pay the fine and if you refuse, the parking firm could take you to a claims court.

Appealing with POPLA

you can appeal with popla

A few points to note are as follows:

1. Be prepared
  • You will need to have a 10 character verification code ready which the private parking firm should have provided you with. This, alongside the other evidence will quicken the process
  • 2. Appeal Online
  • Ditch the paperwork and upload your evidence and the verification code as this will mean they will reach their decision far quicker.
  • 3. Don’t lie
  • Honesty is very important. Pick one of the categories provided and add supporting details or documents when asked.
  • 4. Don’t rely on someone else’s words
  • The process is pretty straightforward so try not to use templates where they describe what to say. Because the chances are, it won’t make much sense.
  • About Alice Fowler

    I love to travel and working in the airport parking world for nearly a decade has given me inside out knowledge of the industry. I love to help travellers get the best out of their trip, and their journey to the airport is an important part of that. Whether it's using our data to spot trends and pinpoint when people can save money, or opening the lid on airport parking tips and tricks, if it helps our customers, I'll write about it!

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    177 responses to “What to do in the event of an airport parking fine: Your rights”

    1. We made an error and ended up at the car park and not drop offs at Heathrow terminal 2 with no safe option to get back to drop offs we proceeded and headed straight for the exit going back round to drop offs spending no time parked in the car park and have received a penalty notice from euro car parks with inccorect times implying that we was there for hours that is not the case at all ….any advice is welcomed

      • We wouldn’t advise not paying the fine, but we would advise that this is disputed – ask them to provide the CCTV or ANPR evidence they used to issue the fine, that will say how long you were in the car park for!

    2. Today I went to Heathrow Terminal 3 to pick up my cousin, I was in the car park Parking my car in the disabaled bay for only 2 minutes so I could put my cousins luggage in the boot, a man came to me and asked me to show him my disabled badge, I told him I only parked for two minutes to put the luggage in the boot. He then asked me my details and noted down my mini cab licence number.He then told me that I will receive something in the post regarding this incident.

      Has anyone else experienced this kind of incident before, if yes then what did you receive?
      Thank you!

    3. On 28 December 2018 I picked up a hire car from Liverpool Airport. As we left the carpark my son who has severe anxiety took a panic attack. I in turn panicked and made my way back to the Europcar office which was adjacent. They told me I was on a double red line and I immediately moved my car back into the carpark. I saw two enforcement vans and went to speak to the drivers. I explained what had happened nd they said not to worry as no photo had been taken. About a week later I received a letter from Europcar billing me £40 for sending my details Vehicle Control Services.
      About two weeks later I received a fine from the said company for £100 but on the address they just put an apartment number and the city (100k population) It actually got to me and I was honest to contact them with my full address and appealed the fine stating everything above especially the extenuating circumstances. They rejected this o the grounds that there are loads of signs at the entrance and around the airport. I pointed out that I could not have seen these as I had hired the car and had not driven into the airport. They gave me an independent appeals service but said if I went ahead with this they would immediately charge the full fee and not the reduced fee. I went ahead and the IAP rejected my appeal stating that they don’t deal with extenuating circumstances. I asked Vehicle Control Services for the names of the drivers who told me I would be ok but these were not forthcoming. In their responses they made mistakes beginning with the vague address on the letter, quoting signs that I could not have seen, ignoring my panic situation, ignoring the fact that I had discussed this with their employees and they even got the name of the hire firm wrong I their deliberations.
      I am sickened at the way this has been handled and the bullying attitude that you will be charged fill price if you appeal and them not telling me that the IAP do not deal with extenuating circumstances. I am now face with £100 to the company and £40 to Europcar which I don’t feel I should pay. What options have I left?

      • Hi Patrick

        This does certainly seem like an unfair and un just situation, which unfortunately comes down to a “your word against theirs” situation, which is probably why it’s ended up this way!

        Our advice would be to pursue the small claims court route, although this will probably end up costing more than the fine.

        https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ may be a good place to seek further advice on this matter

        Good luck, and we hope you and your son are ok

    4. I unknowingly picked up my girlfriend at drop off point at Heathrow airport terminal 4, when she got it in the car I realised the sign saying drop off only. I’m worried about getting a fine through the post?

      Has anyone else received a fine for this? My dad said they have now started issuing fines

    5. Hi ,
      I mini cab driver , I pick passengers from Stansted airport and sometime find car park barriers open and I go but they have send me fine on it £450 saying you did not pay the car park what should I do.

      • Hi Sid,

        In the first instance, pay the fines as you hadn’t paid for parking and airports are hot on this. If you have reason and evidence to, you can dispute the fine afterwards

        Good luck!

    6. I dropped my partner off at Liverpool airport a week ago (I had to stop on double red lines) and this was due to my son who is autistic having a meltdown due to the fact his mum was going away. There was a ANPR camera behind me which I didn’t see so I think the fine will be coming, however do I have mitigating circumstances to appeal and should the fine have been delivered by now?

      • Hi Kenny,

        If you do end up with a fine, the best thing to do is to pay it (at usually a reduced fee) and then dispute it afterwards

    7. Hi . I just dropped friends off at Gatwick north terminal. Accidentally turned down the wrong lane which lead me to short stay cat park. I ask a guy in a high vis jacket for help on where to go. At this point my passengers just quickly jumped out the car and then the guy just laughed and said expect a 200 pound fine in two weeks. I never even went in the car park as there was an exit lane to go out. He kept saying the camera has got you. This feels unfair as i made a mistake on there confusing lanes but no one was there to assist.

    8. Hi,

      I dropped my wife off at Southampton Airport, whilst I did not stop on the double Red, I pulled into a side road called Tinker Alley which was a dead a end and she got out. As it was off the main the road there were no double red lines. I’m now worried though in case I should not have stopped in the side road. There arn’t any pictures on street view to double check.

    9. Am I the only person confused and frustrated by the signs at Gatwick Airport South, when you arrive by car to collect someone?
      On arrival, one is presented with 3 options. Fork left, which is for rental cars and authorised vehicles only. Go straight on to the 2 drop off lanes with a notice saying: “Strictly No Picking Up.” Or take the right fork into the Short Stay Car Park. This also has an Express Pickup sign with no indication of how long you can stay in the Express Pickup bays or how much they’ll charge you for waiting. Oh and once you get there, you are greeted with notices saying you cannot leave your vehicle unattended. So if you are collecting someone on your own, you cannot stop at the Drop off zone. You cannot drive to the arrivals lane. You cannot leave your vehicle unattended, if you park in the express pickup zone. What you can do is park in the short stay car park and pay £17.00 an hour hoping the person you are meeting is not delayed collecting baggage or clearing customs.
      I am now awaiting my PCN, because I am sure to have been picked a camera.

      • Hi Nicholas,

        Sorry to hear of this confusion and the fact it isn’t signposted!

        Hopefully, you and other readers will find this information from Gatwick Airport Guide handy next time. There’s info on where to park for both picking up and dropping off, and the short stay parking starts at £3.80 for half an hour. It also advises that the Express Pick Up is charged at the same rate, but I’m not sure if this is a ticketed system or not.

    10. Hi, I picked up my friends from Bristol Airport, I was on my way to the pick up zone when I saw them on the side of the road so stopped to pick them up. I then realised it said no stopping allowed. Will I get fined?

      Thanks

    11. Hi,

      I just picked up my family from Heathrow terminal 4, while i went into the sort stay carpark my sister called to say to go to the pick up and drop off point instead of parking, so i literaly drove in and tried to put my ticket in to drive out in the exit but it said i still had to pay £3.80 at the barrier by card which i did not have on me only cash. So i reversed back and parked on the left which had double yellow lines and ran to the ticket machine to pay as i ran back i saw my family also just came out of arrivals into the carpark next to my car in the carpark opposite arrivals entrance as my father is disabled on crutches i just quickly told them to get in the car and put there bags in, during this time an airpot staff walking by said mate you will get a ticket from the camera and walked off. I hesistated and drove off as quick as i could. I am stressing now that i might get a ticket which i had no option to but reverse back to the double yellow to go and pay for my ticket in the machine, can you shed any light on this please or what i can do if i do get a ticket.

      Thanks

      RAY

      • Hi Ray,

        Our advice if you get a ticket would be to pay it on time (for a reduced fee) and then dispute it. Regardless of the situation, airports are really cracking down on parking zones to minimise congestion, so if you do get a ticket, it’s best to take it up with Heathrow.

        Hope that helps

    12. Hi i dropped my aunt with her disabled child in T3 central bus station for 1 min. Only.. I followed the satnav and it brings me there because it’s already night time I didn’t notice the sign that it’s for bus and coach already… one of the staff took a picture and she said we will get a ticket… will I get penalty points of it?

    13. Hi. I used bus lane in Heathrow terminal 4.i was going in parking area but by mistake i went in bus parking area. I am confused what will be happened

    14. I was picking up somebody from Gatwick South terminal but instead of going to the shortstay area I entered in the no entry which is for authorised vehicles only, once there I turned around and got out from a side road, will I get a ticket?

      • Hard to say Harry; unless there were cameras. I doubt it as you didn’t park. Although restricted areas for Authorised vehicles usually use APNR for the access…

    15. Advice please. I have just dropped my parents off at Newcastle airport in the short stay car park. It was extremely busy and trying to get get them dropped off was a nightmare. I did eventually but was slightly on red lines for approx 30 seconds. I paid my £1 exit fee. After reading lots of comments will I get a fine and how long does it take to get. Thanks

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