Grace period not given before ticket was issued
Parking operators who belong to the BPA or IPC must follow their joint Single Code of Practice (in force since 1 October 2024). It gives drivers two protections: a consideration period on entry to read the signs and decide whether to park (paragraph 5.1 — minimum 5 minutes at most sites, 10 minutes at free car parks with over 500 spaces, per Annex B Table B.1), and a grace period after the paid or permitted time ends (paragraph 5.2 — minimum 10 minutes at most site types, per Table B.1). The Code states a parking charge must not be issued during a grace period. ANPR cameras measure the whole visit from entry to exit — driving in, finding a space, paying, walking back and driving out — so a small apparent overstay is often no overstay at all. Two caveats: the periods do not stack up as free parking, and the grace period does not apply in designated short-stay areas (30 minutes or less, e.g. station drop-off zones).
Legal basis
BPA–IPC Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice v1.1 (in force from 1 October 2024): para 5.1 (consideration period), para 5.2 (grace period — 'A parking charge must not be issued during a Grace Period'), Annex B Table B.1 (minimum grace period 10 minutes for most site types; minimum consideration period 5 minutes, or 10 minutes for free car parks over 500 spaces). Consumer Rights Act 2015 s.62 (fairness of terms); ParkingEye v Beavis [2015] UKSC 67 (industry-code compliance relevant to the legitimate-interest assessment). The former separate BPA AOS Code and IPC Code ceased to apply when the Single Code replaced them on 1 October 2024. (Verified against fetched Code text 2026-07-14.)
How to identify this in your case
Overstay alleged is under 15 minutes; ANPR-based duration; consideration/grace periods not deducted from total stay.
Sample appeal wording
Dear [OPERATOR], Re: PCN [REF] — Alleged overstay of [X] minutes The alleged overstay falls within the consideration and grace periods that you are bound to observe under [BPA AOS Code Section 13 / IPC Code Part E Section 15]: - Consideration period: 5 minutes minimum on entry to read signage and decide; - Grace period: 10 minutes minimum at end of paid/permitted time before a charge may issue. Accordingly, an apparent stay of (say) 1h 14m where 1h was paid is within tolerance and no charge should have been issued. Further: 1. Issuing a PCN in breach of your AOS Code is a matter for your trade body. I will refer the breach to [BPA / IPC] and to the DVLA KADOE Compliance Team. 2. The term purportedly authorising the charge is unfair under section 62 Consumer Rights Act 2015 because, contrary to the requirement of good faith, it imposes a disproportionate sum where the overstay is de minimis and within industry-mandated grace. 3. The Beavis test ([2015] UKSC 67) requires a 'legitimate interest' proportionate to the charge. Charging for a few minutes within grace is not commensurate. The charge is denied. Cancel within 14 days. Yours faithfully, [NAME]
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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Scan my ticketSources
- BPA AOS Code Section 13
- IPC Code Part E Section 15
- CRA 2015 s.62
- ParkingEye v Beavis [2015] UKSC 67
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