Can I be fined for not having a parking ticket if the machine is not working?

SOMETIMES parking ticket machines break, but that does not mean that you can park for free.

Police can still give you a fine, so here is everything you need to know about much the fine is and if you can get it cancelled.

You may still face a fine for not having a parking ticket if the machine is broken, but you should be able to appeal the decision.

According to Citizens Advice, the fine can be cancelled, but only if there wasn't another way to pay.

The penalty won't be dropped if there was another, working machine nearby — so ensure you double check before leaving without paying.

If you do decide to park, you should take a photograph of the broken machine as you'll need it for your appeal should you end up getting fined.

More than half of drivers have successfully appealed parking fines handed out by local councils, an investigation by The Sun found in 2021.

But be careful, as some car parks will have a sign saying not to stop there if there's no way to pay.

Should you ignore the sign and get a penalty, your appeal is very likely to be rejected.

How much is a parking fine?

The size of the fine varies from one council to another, but most will give you 28 days to pay before it increases.

The cost also depends on what type of fine it is, but penalty charge notices (PCN) are usually up to £70 or up to £130 in London.

In some cases, the fine is halved if you pay within 14 days.

If you lose your ticket, you should contact the fine issuer to find out how to pay, or you risk having to pay more.

How can I appeal a parking fine?

The best way to avoid having to pay a PCN is to not risk getting a fine in the first place.

If you're unsure about parking when the machine is broken, it might be wiser just to find somewhere else to stop.

But if you do decide to park up and end up getting a ticket, it can be appealed, though if you could have paid for the ticket another way your appeal is unlikely to be successful.

In that case, you should think about just paying the fine as soon as possible, as you'll usually get a discount for settling it earlier.

If you do decide to appeal, these are the steps you should take:

• Hold off paying your parking ticket immediately if you want to appeal the charge
• Check how long you have to challenge the ticket
• Make an initial appeal to the ticket issuer over phone, by post or email, and include supporting evidence like photos which show the parking signs weren’t clear
• Write a further appeal if your ticket issuer has a formal complaints procedure in place. Some ticket issuers belong to independent appeal schemes which provide a free and impartial service
• Pay your parking ticket if your appeal is turned down — you could be hit with further costs if you don’t

But whatever you do, make sure you don't just ignore the fine as you'll end up having to pay more and could even be taken to court over it.

If you want to learn more about the fines, we've rounded up five loopholes that could help you appeal your parking penalty and make sure you're aware of some of the lesser known rules that could see you hit with a fine.