Parking Fine (PCN) Cost Calculator
Enter your PCN issue date to see exactly how much you owe today, and when the discount and full-charge deadlines fall.
How does the PCN cost calculator work?
Civil parking fines (Penalty Charge Notices, or PCNs) follow a set timeline: pay within 14 days for a 50% discount, pay the full amount between day 15 and day 28, or face a further increase if the council formally escalates to a Charge Certificate after day 28. This calculator takes your PCN issue date and today's date to work out which stage applies and what you owe.
3 worked examples
Example 1 — Paid within the discount window
A lower-band PCN issued outside London, paid 6 days later.
£50
Within 14 days:50% discount applies — £25 payable
Example 2 — Missed the discount, paid within 28 days
A higher-band PCN issued in London, paid on day 20.
£130
Result:The 14-day discount window has passed, so the full £130 is payable — no further increase yet, since day 20 is still within the 28-day window.
Example 3 — Left unpaid past 28 days
A lower-band PCN issued outside London, still unpaid on day 35.
£50
If a Charge Certificate has been issued:The amount can increase by 50% — up to £75
Example 3 shows the real cost of ignoring a PCN: what started as a £25 problem if paid promptly can become a £75 problem — three times as much — simply by leaving it unpaid past the 28-day mark.
PCN rates by band and location
| Location | Band | Full charge | Discounted (within 14 days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outside London | Lower | £50 | £25 |
| Outside London | Higher | £70 | £35 |
| London | Lower | £80 | £40 |
| London | Higher | £130 | £65 |
These are typical rates — individual councils set their own exact figures within nationally set bands, so your specific PCN may differ slightly. Always check the amount stated on the notice itself.
Important: a PCN is not the same as a speeding ticket
This is one of the most common points of confusion. A Penalty Charge Notice is a civil penalty issued by a local council or TfL for a parking or moving traffic contravention — it does not carry penalty points, does not appear on your DVLA driving licence record, and is not a criminal matter.
This is different from a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) issued by the police for offences like speeding or using a mobile phone while driving, which does carry penalty points and is dealt with under criminal law. See our Penalty Points Calculator if you're dealing with that kind of notice instead.
How to challenge a PCN
If you believe a PCN was issued incorrectly, you can challenge it:
- Informal challenge — within the first 14 days, most councils allow an informal challenge without losing the discount if it's rejected
- Formal representation — after a Notice to Owner is issued (if the PCN remains unpaid), you can make formal representations on specific legal grounds
- Independent tribunal appeal — if your formal representation is rejected, you can appeal to an independent tribunal (the Traffic Penalty Tribunal outside London, or London Tribunals within London) within 28 days of the rejection notice
What happens if you don't pay?
- Days 1–14: discounted rate available
- Days 15–28: full charge applies
- After day 28: if you haven't paid or successfully challenged, the council can issue a Notice to Owner and, ultimately, a Charge Certificate increasing the amount by 50%
- Continued non-payment: the debt can be registered with the County Court, and enforcement agents (bailiffs) can become involved, adding further fees on top of the increased charge
The longer a PCN is left unpaid, the more expensive and more difficult to resolve it becomes. If you're going to challenge a PCN, do it promptly and through the proper channel — don't simply ignore it and hope it goes away.
What this calculator can't tell you
Your exact council's rates
PCN amounts are set within national bands but can vary by individual council. This calculator uses typical figures — always check the exact amount printed on your actual PCN.
Whether a Charge Certificate has actually been issued
The increased 50% charge after day 28 isn't automatic — it requires the council to formally issue a Charge Certificate, which itself follows a Notice to Owner process. This calculator shows what could apply at that stage, not a confirmed fact about your specific case.
Whether you have valid grounds to challenge
This tool doesn't assess whether your PCN was issued correctly — it only calculates cost based on timing. If you believe the PCN itself is wrong, that's a separate question from what you'd owe if you paid it.
Common mistakes
Assuming a PCN adds points to your licence
As covered above, PCNs are civil parking penalties and never carry penalty points — a common but incorrect assumption that can cause unnecessary worry.
Ignoring the PCN and hoping it goes away
Non-payment doesn't make a PCN disappear — it escalates through Notice to Owner, Charge Certificate, and potentially County Court registration and bailiff involvement, each stage adding cost.
Missing the 14-day discount window while deciding whether to challenge
If you're planning to pay regardless of a minor dispute, paying within 14 days for the discount, then challenging if you still feel strongly, can sometimes be more practical than risking the discount lapsing during a lengthy challenge process — check your specific council's rules on this.
Not checking who issued the notice
PCNs can come from your local council, TfL, or a private parking company on private land — private parking charges are a different legal framework entirely, with different rules and different discount structures. This calculator covers council/TfL civil PCNs only.
If you've just received a PCN
- Read the exact contravention code and amount printed on the notice — don't assume it matches the typical rates shown here
- Decide quickly whether to pay or challenge — the discount window is short, and delaying the decision can mean losing it unnecessarily
- Keep evidence if you plan to challenge — photos, timestamps, and any relevant documentation should be gathered promptly while still available
- Check who issued it — council/TfL PCN, or a private parking charge notice — since the correct process differs
- Don't ignore follow-up letters — a Notice to Owner or Charge Certificate is a sign the situation is escalating, not something to set aside
🔴 Dealing with a driving offence instead?
If you've received a Fixed Penalty Notice for a driving offence rather than a parking PCN, check how it affects your licence.
Use the Penalty Points Calculator →How we calculate
Full charge is looked up from your selected location and band. If today is within 14 days of the issue date: amount payable = full charge × 50%. If today is between day 15 and day 28: amount payable = full charge. If today is beyond day 28: amount payable is shown as full charge × 150%, with a note that this increase requires a formally issued Charge Certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Does a parking fine (PCN) add points to my licence?
No. A PCN is a civil penalty issued by a council or TfL for parking or certain moving traffic contraventions. It does not carry penalty points and does not appear on your DVLA driving record. This is different from a police-issued Fixed Penalty Notice for offences like speeding.
How long do I have to pay a PCN at the discounted rate?
Typically 14 days from the issue date. After that, the full charge applies, and the amount can increase further if it remains unpaid past 28 days and the council issues a Charge Certificate.
What happens if I don't pay a PCN at all?
The council can issue a Notice to Owner, then a Charge Certificate increasing the amount by 50%, and ultimately register the debt with the County Court, at which point enforcement agents (bailiffs) can become involved with additional fees.
Can I challenge a PCN?
Yes. You can make an informal challenge within the first 14 days, formal representations after a Notice to Owner is issued, and if rejected, appeal to an independent tribunal (Traffic Penalty Tribunal outside London, or London Tribunals within London).
Is a private parking charge the same as a council PCN?
No. A charge notice from a private parking company on private land follows a different legal framework with different rules and appeal routes than a council or TfL civil PCN. This calculator covers council/TfL PCNs only.
References & data sources
- GOV.UK — Parking tickets. Official guidance on PCN rates, discount periods, and the escalation process.
- Traffic Penalty Tribunal. The independent appeals body for civil parking and moving traffic PCNs issued outside London.
- London Tribunals. The independent appeals body for PCNs issued within London, including by TfL.
PCN rates and processes are set by individual local councils and TfL within nationally defined bands, and can vary. Always check the exact amount and deadline stated on your actual PCN before paying or challenging.