In the 2025/26 financial year, London’s borough councils, the London Lorry Control Scheme, and Transport for London (TfL) collectively handed out 10,195,456 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), marking a 7% increase compared to the previous year.
Motorists who violated parking, bus lane, or moving traffic rules received tickets.
The increase came as the total number of appeals received by London Tribunals also rose, by 16.9%, from 47,935 in 2024-25 to 56,079 in 2025-26.
Appeals Process
Drivers who think a PCN was issued incorrectly can reach out to the issuing local authority to dispute it.
Should the authority reject the challenge, the driver can escalate the matter to an independent adjudicator via the London Tribunals appeals process.
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The total number of appeals received by London Tribunals represents just 0.55% of the total number of PCNs issued in 2025-26.
The percentage of appeals heard by an independent adjudicator and won by the appellant increased from 45.3% in 2024-25 to 48.9% in 2025-26.
Reaction from London Councils
Cllr Paul Osborn, London Councils’ executive member for transport and environment, said: “Effective traffic and parking management is essential to keeping London moving, with the capital’s boroughs and TfL working to manage demand on the road network and ensure streets work for the communities that use them.
He continued: “If a motorist believes a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) has been issued unfairly, they have the right to challenge it with the authority responsible.”
Osborn noted that revenue from PCNs funds traffic and parking services, with excess funds allocated to other transport initiatives, including the Freedom Pass for older and disabled Londoners.
New Rights for Drivers
The Government introduced new protections allowing drivers to contest unfair private parking fees under a revised Private Parking Code of Practice.
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The new code includes a guaranteed five minutes to decide whether to park, 10 minutes to leave once their session ends, and a maximum fine of £100.
The Government says that charges will be scrapped on appeal for honest mistakes, like stopping briefly to check directions, and for situations like a medical emergency, breakdown, or broken ticket machine.
Operators who do not comply risk losing access to DVLA data.
Ensure you always get Fleet News insight. Make us your preferred source on Google Osborn explained that all PCN income pays for traffic and parking services, and any surplus is ringfenced for other transport projects and services, including the Freedom Pass for older and disabled Londoners.
The new code also gives drivers the right to have charges cancelled on appeal for issues they are unable to control. Furthermore, if a driver forgets a parking permit, enters the wrong vehicle’s registration or does not confirm it in the machine when parking, they will face a maximum charge of £20 on appeal.
