PCNs issued by local authorities are issued with a code from the list below. London and outside London have some differences, but most are the same.
PCNs are issued at “Higher” and “Lower” levels, to recognise that some contraventions are more serious than others – parking where you aren’t allowed to will generally be a “higher” rate, and parking where you can, but not following other rules such as time limits, will generally be a “lower” rate. A 50% discount is available if paid within 14 days. The amounts are usually as below, but councils have the option to set lower charges:
| Higher rate | with discount | Lower rate | with discount | bus lane | with discount | |
| in London | £130 | £75 | £80 | £40 | £160 | £80 |
| outside London | £70 | £35 | £50 | £25 | £70 | £35 |
jump to:
On-street – 01-02 Yellow lines – 05-10 Pay & display – 12-19 Permits – 40 Blue badge bays – 45-48 No stopping – 55-61 Commercial vehicle specific – 99 Pedestrian crossings – 80-96 Off-street/Car park codes
On street codes
01: Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours
Higher. Possibly the least obvious from the wording, this is for “No waiting” restrictions, usually single yellow lines or double yellow lines, but also some RPZs, where the restriction is posted on signs as you enter an area. These are most often used in pedestrianised areas or historic town centres, where yellow lines would have too much of an impact on the appearance of the area.
Loading or unloading, blue badge holders, picking up or setting down passengers, and vehicles used in execution of a statutory duty are usually exempt.
02: Parked or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force
Higher. Used where there is a no loading restriction; usually marked by yellow lines off the edge of the kerb, but like code 01, may be used in a RPZ, where the restriction is posted on signs as you enter the area. These are most often used in pedestrianised areas or historic town centres, where yellow lines would have too much of an impact on the appearance of the area.
Loading or unloading and blue badge holders are not exempt, picking up or setting down passengers, and vehicles used in execution of a statutory duty are usually exempt.
04 Parked in a meter bay when penalty time is indicated
Lower. Meters are fairly rare now, and different codes are used for the more common pay & display or pay by phone options.
05: Parked after the expiry of paid for time
Lower. For expired tickets.
06: Parked without clearly displaying a valid pay & display ticket or voucher
Lower. Also used for pay-by-phone options that have a “virtual ticket”. Blue badge holders park for free in most cases, so this shouldn’t apply.
07: Parked with payment made to extend the stay beyond initial time
Lower. This may apply at a meter or pay and display bay. Not allowing paying again for more time helps keep spaces available during the day.
08: Parked at an out-of-order meter during controlled hours
Lower.
09: Parked displaying multiple pay & display tickets where prohibited
Lower. Remove old tickets from display when you’ve finished with them. Most councils don’t use this.
10: Parked without clearly displaying two valid pay and display tickets when required
Lower. Also very rarely used. Councils may require buying two tickets in some circumstances (for example, to allow you to take up two bays).
11:Parked without payment of the parking charge
Lower. Used for pay-by-phone and similar options that have a “virtual ticket” with nothing to display.
12: Parked in a residents’ or shared use parking place without clearly displaying either a permit or voucher or pay and display ticket issued for that place
Higher. Permit bays for residents, which may or may not allow parking with a pay & display ticket (check signs). Councils may use code 16 instead (and should if the permits are not primarily for residents).
14: Parked in an electric vehicles’ charging place during restricted hours without charging
Higher. This allows councils to issue penalties to electric vehicles in these spaces if they aren’t charging. Non-electric vehicles could be issued with penalties using this code or 23 – Parked in a parking place or area not designated for that class of vehicle
16: Parked in a permit space without displaying a valid permit
Higher. Places for permit holders only.
18: Using a vehicle in a parking place in connection with the sale or offering or exposing for sale of goods when prohibited
Higher. Can be used to deal with street trading; other laws also cover street trading that may be used instead.
19: Parked in a residents’ or shared use parking place or zone either displaying an invalid permit or voucher or pay & display ticket, or after the expiry of paid for time
Lower. Used for invalid permits, may also be used for expired pay and display tickets in “shared use” bays (where residents’ permits or pay and display tickets may be used).
20: Parked in a loading gap marked by a yellow line
Higher. Short sections of yellow line inside a parking place to keep an area available for loading.
21:Parked in a suspended bay/space or part of bay/space
Higher. Parking bays may be suspended with signage to allow special uses – commonly for roadworks, or building/demolition works that will need space on the road, and sometimes for filming.
22: Re-parked in the same parking place or zone within one hour after leaving
Lower. May be varied to “Re-parked in the same parking place or zone within specified time after leaving” or similar. This is to prevent short-term parking spaces being abused by the vehicle being moved out and back in soon afterwards.
23: Parked in a parking place or area not designated for that class of vehicle
Higher. Bays may be marked as only for certain types of vehicles – motorcycle only bays are the most common, but others, including ones for coaches, goods vehicles, and ambulances exist.
24: Not parked correctly within the markings of the bay or space
Lower. Partly in a bay, partly out of bay, or across multiple bays. Also not in a bay at all where signs at the entrance of a zone require parking in a bay.
25: Parked in a loading place during restricted hours without loading
Higher. Loading bays are for loading only – what does loading mean?
Picking up or setting down passengers, and vehicles used in execution of a statutory duty are usually exempt.
26: Vehicle parked more than 50 centimetres from the edge of the carriageway and not within a designated parking place.
Higher. Primarily to deal with double parking.
27: Parked adjacent to a dropped footway
Higher. This could be for dropped kerbs that provide access to a driveway, to help pedestrians cross the road, or access to a cycle lane.
28: Parked in a special enforcement area on part of the carriageway raised to meet the level of a footway, cycle track or verge
Higher inside London, lower outside
30: Parked for longer than permitted
Lower. Overstaying a time limit. Mostly used in limited waiting bays (short stay free parking spaces usually intended for customers of nearby businesses) but may be used in other types of parking places as well if there is a time limit, or for blue badge holders overstaying the three hour limit on yellow lines.
33 Using a route restricted to certain vehicles
“Bus lane” rate; London councils only – lane restricted to certain vehicles, for example, trams, goods vehicles only routes etc. Enforced by cameras.
34: Being in a bus lane
“Bus lane” rate. Driving along a bus lane, through a “bus gate”, or on a busses only road. You may enter a bus lane to load or unload if the parking restrictions allow it, but they very often don’t. Only enforced by camera.
35: Parked in a disc parking place without clearly displaying a valid disc
Lower. Discs are used in some places as a way of managing spaces with time limits. Collect a disc from a nearby business, council office, or vending machine, and display the arrival time.
40: Parked in a designated disabled person’s parking place without clearly displaying a valid disabled person’s badge.
Higher. Not displaying a blue badge in a space for blue badge holders only, or displaying a badge that is not valid – because it is not being displayed correctly, is out of date, or being misused.
41: Parked in a parking place designated for diplomatic vehicles
Higher. Diplomatic vehicles usually have recognisable number plates.
42: Parked in a parking place designated for police vehicles
Higher. Unmarked vehicles are permitted to use these spaces.
43: Stopped on a cycle docking station parking place
Higher in London, lower outside London
45: Parked on a taxi rank
Higher. Taxi ranks can be “No stopping except Taxis” or “No waiting except taxis”.
46: Stopped where prohibited (on a red route or clearway)
Higher. No stopping restrictions, which generally include a ban on just picking up or setting down passengers. Red Routes have red lines/bays, clearways and red route clearways have no lines, just signs with the no stopping symbol
47:Stopped on a restricted bus stop or stand
Higher. Bus stands allow busses to wait, bus stops are for picking up/setting down and waits of up to two minutes to maintain running to timetable. Neither bus stops nor bus stands allow other vehicles to stop. May be enforced by camera.
48: Stopped in a restricted area outside a school
Higher. Sometimes applies during term time only; applies at all times unless the signs specify days and times. This is a no stopping restriction, dropping off or picking up passengers is not allowed. May be enforced by camera.
49: Parked wholly or partly on a cycle track
Higher. Not all cycle tracks can be enforced. Can be enforced by camera if there is another restriction also present.
55: A commercial vehicle parked in a restricted street in contravention of an overnight waiting ban
Higher.
56: Parked in contravention of a commercial vehicle waiting restriction
Higher.
57: Parked in contravention of a coach ban
Higher.
61: A heavy commercial vehicle wholly or partly parked on a footway, verge or land between two carriageways
Higher. Applies to vehicles over 7.5 tonnes (including trailers); there is an exemption for loading or unloading but it is tougher than the normal exemptions for loading or unloading, specifically requiring it be necessary to be off the carriageway and requiring the vehicle to not be unattended.
62: Parked with one or more wheels on any part of an urban road other than a carriageway. (footway parking)
Higher. In London, this applies unless signs allow it; outside London, this only applies where signs ban it.
63: Parked with engine running where prohibited
Lower.
99: Stopped on a pedestrian crossing and/or crossing area marked by zig-zags
Higher. Picking up and dropping off passengers is not allowed. Unlike most restrictions, this can still be enforced by police (who may issue a Fixed Penalty Notice with three penalty points) in areas with Civil Enforcement.
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RESERVED FOR TfL USE (LOW EMISSION ZONE).
17
RESERVED FOR TfL USE (CONGESTION CHARGING).
67
RESERVED FOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS
68
RESERVED FOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS
Off-street parking (car parks)
These only apply to council-run car parks, although private companies may use similar codes and wording. Legal requirements for signage on car parks for the most part just require that they are clear, rather than being specific designs published by the government as on-street signs must be.
70: Parked in a loading area during restricted hours without reasonable excuse
Higher.
71: Parked in an electric vehicles’ charging place during restricted hours without charging
Higher. For non-electric vehicles, councils may use code 91 instead.
73: Parked without payment of the parking charge
Lower. For use where payment is required but tickets are not displayed.
74: Using a vehicle in a parking place in connection with the sale or offering or exposing for sale of goods when prohibited
Higher. May be dealt with using other powers rather than PCNs.
80: Parked for longer than permitted.
Lower. Overstaying a time limit.
81: Parked in a restricted area in a car park
Higher. Yellow lines, hatched out areas. Blue badge holders are not usually allowed to park on yellow lines in car parks.
82:Parked after the expiry of paid for time
Lower. For expired tickets.
83: Parked in a car park without clearly displaying a valid pay & display ticket or voucher or parking clock
Lower.
84: Parked with payment made to extend the stay beyond initial time
Lower. Usually on short-stay only car parks – not allowing paying again for more time helps keep spaces available during the day.
85: Parked in a permit bay without clearly displaying a valid permit
Higher. Permit bays may reserve some or all of a car park for specific users.
86: Not parked correctly within the markings of a bay or space
Lower. Can be used for being across multiple bays, sticking out of a bay, or not being in a bay at all.
87: Parked in a disabled person’s parking space without clearly displaying a valid disabled person’s badge
Higher. Spaces reserved for blue badge holders. Includes vehicles displaying a blue badge but the badge is not valid, for example, due it being displayed incorrectly (not all details visible, no clock where a time limit applies), being expired, or being mis-used.
89: Vehicle parked exceeds maximum weight and/or height and/or length permitted in the area
Higher. As well as the space larger vehicles take up, the surface may be built to a cheaper standard as heavy vehicles are not intended to be on the car park.
90: Re-parked in the same car park within one hour after leaving
Lower. May be varied to “Re-parked in the same car park within specified time after leaving” or similar. This is to prevent short-term parking spaces being abused by the vehicle being moved out and back in soon afterwards.
91: Parked in a car park or area not designated for that class of vehicle
Higher. Used for spaces reserved for motorcycles, busses, etc.
92: Parked causing an obstruction
Higher. For when spaces, entrances or exits are blocked; codes 86 or 81 are used more often.
93: Parked in car park when closed
Lower. Some car parks are closed at certain times, either for events (e.g. markets) or for security.
94: Parked in a pay & display car park without clearly displaying two valid pay and display tickets when required
Lower. Councils may require two tickets in some spaces (but this is very rare).
95 Parked in a parking place for a purpose other than that designated
Lower. Electric vehicle charging bays and similar
96: Parked with engine running where prohibited
Lower.
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77
– – – RESERVED FOR DVLA USE – – –