How to Appeal an APCOA Parking Ticket (2026 Guide)

About APCOA Parking UK

Where APCOA Operates

Railway Stations:

• Manchester Piccadilly
• Birmingham New Street
• London Paddington
• Leeds City Station
• Sheffield Station
• Glasgow Central
• Edinburgh Waverley
• Cardiff Central
• Bristol Temple Meads
• Newcastle Central

Airports:

• Heathrow Terminal Drop-Off Zones
• Luton Airport
• Birmingham Airport
• Southampton Airport
• London City Airport

Hospitals:

• Southampton General Hospital
• Various NHS Trust sites
• Private hospitals

APCOA's Current Reputation

Trustpilot Rating (January 2026)

APCOA currently has a 1.4 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot with:

• 93% of reviews rated 1-star
• 900+ reviews analysed

Most Common Complaints

1. Drop-off zone charges - Fined for brief passenger drop-offs at airports
2. Payment app failures - App crashed but PCN issued anyway
3. Overstays of 2-5 minutes - No tolerance for minor overstays
4. Appeals "auto-rejected" - Complaints that no human reviews appeals
5. Misleading signage - Terms not clearly displayed

Appeal tip: This poor customer service record can strengthen your appeal. If APCOA rejected your appeal without properly addressing your points, mention this when escalating to POPLA.

Is an APCOA Ticket a Fine?

No. An APCOA Parking Charge Notice is a private invoice, not a criminal fine or council penalty.

APCOA PCN	Council PCN
Private invoice	Statutory penalty
Based on contract	Based on law
Appeal to POPLA	Appeal to tribunal
No direct bailiff powers	Bailiff powers after court
Typical charge: £60-£100	Typical charge: £50-£110

APCOA cannot send bailiffs, clamp your vehicle, or affect your credit score without first getting a County Court Judgment (which requires them to take you to court and win).

Grounds for Appealing an APCOA Ticket

1. Grace Period Violations

Under the BPA Code of Practice, APCOA must allow:

• 10 minutes after paid parking time expires
• 5-minute consideration period before issuing a ticket

Example: You paid until 3:00pm, left at 3:08pm, but received a PCN. This should be cancelled.

2. ANPR Camera Errors

APCOA uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition at most sites. Common errors:

• Incorrect timestamps - Entry or exit time wrong
• Misread plates - Confused with similar registration
• Double entry - System recorded two visits as one long stay
• Exit not captured - Camera missed your departure

What to do: Request the ANPR images. If they don't clearly show your vehicle or the times are wrong, your appeal is strong.

3. Payment Machine or App Failures

• Machine was broken with no alternative
• App crashed during payment
• Card reader not working
• No contactless option available

Evidence needed: Photo of broken machine, screenshot of app error, bank statement showing failed payment attempt.

4. Signage Issues

Signs must be:

• Clearly visible at car park entrance
• Not obscured by vegetation or other objects
• Illuminated if the car park is used at night
• Easy to read and understand

Appeal tip: Take photos showing unclear, hidden, or confusing signs.

5. Notice to Keeper Requirements (POFA)

Under Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 Schedule 4, APCOA can only pursue the registered keeper if:

• Notice served within 14 days of the parking event
• Notice contains all required information
• For hire/lease vehicles: additional documents required

Key point: If you weren't the driver and APCOA didn't serve notice in time, they cannot enforce against you as the keeper.

6. Legitimate Customer Use

At retail sites, many stores have agreements with APCOA to cancel tickets for genuine customers.

What to do:

1. Keep your receipt from the shop/restaurant
2. Contact the store manager
3. Ask them to request cancellation from APCOA

Location-Specific Appeal Tips

Railway Station Car Parks

Common issues:

• ANPR misreads due to poor lighting
• Train delays causing overstays
• Confusion about which car park zone you're in

Appeal tip: Network Rail lease agreements often require APCOA to follow stricter codes. Request the landowner authorisation letter as part of your evidence request.

Airport Drop-Off Zones

Heathrow:

• 5-minute free period at terminal drop-off
• Cameras enforce strictly
• No tolerance for "just a quick drop-off"

Luton:

• Drop-off charges common
• Short-stay overstays frequent
• App payment issues reported

Birmingham:

• Similar drop-off zone issues
• Pick-up vs drop-off confusion

Appeal tip: Flight delays are valid mitigating circumstances. Include your boarding pass and any airline confirmation of delays.

Hospital Car Parks

NHS guidance states patients should not be penalised for:

• Appointment overruns (not your fault)
• Medical emergencies
• Treatment running longer than expected

What to do: Request a letter from hospital reception confirming your appointment ran late. Most NHS sites will provide this.

How to Appeal an APCOA Ticket

Step 1: Don't Pay Yet

Once you pay, you've accepted the charge. You can't appeal after paying.

Step 2: Gather Evidence

• Photos of the car park and signs
• ANPR images (request from APCOA)
• Payment receipts or app screenshots
• Witness statements if applicable

Step 3: Submit Your Appeal

Online: Follow the link on your PCN to APCOA's portal

By post: Write to the address on your notice

Include:

• Your PCN reference number
• Your vehicle registration
• Clear explanation of why you're appealing
• All supporting evidence

Deadline: Usually 28 days from the date on the PCN

Step 4: Wait for Response

APCOA must respond within 28 days. Possible outcomes:

• Accepted: PCN cancelled
• Rejected: You receive rejection letter with POPLA code

Step 5: Escalate to POPLA (If Rejected)

If APCOA rejects your appeal:

1. You have 28 days to appeal to POPLA
2. Use the verification code from APCOA's rejection letter
3. Appeal online at popla.co.uk
4. It's FREE
5. POPLA's decision is binding on APCOA

APCOA Appeal Timeline

Stage	Timeframe	Action
PCN issued	Day 0	Receive ticket
Appeal deadline	Day 28	Submit appeal to APCOA
APCOA response	Day 29-56	Wait for decision
POPLA deadline	28 days after rejection	Escalate if rejected
POPLA decision	20 working days	Final decision
Total possible time	2-4 months	From PCN to resolution

What If You Ignore an APCOA Ticket?

What APCOA Can Do

1. Send reminder letters
2. Pass to debt collection agency
3. Issue Letter Before Claim
4. File County Court claim

What APCOA Cannot Do

• Send bailiffs (without court judgment)
• Affect your credit score (without CCJ)
• Clamp your vehicle (illegal on public roads)
• Add unlimited charges (capped by BPA code)

Should You Ignore It?

Not recommended. While APCOA can't enforce without court action, they do pursue claims. If you have valid grounds, appeal properly. If not, paying early is cheaper than a CCJ.

APCOA vs Other Parking Companies

Feature	APCOA	ParkingEye	Euro Car Parks
Trade body	BPA	BPA	BPA
Appeal service	POPLA	POPLA	POPLA
Typical charge	£60-£100	£100	£100
ANPR used	Yes	Yes	Yes
Trustpilot rating	1.4/5	1.3/5	1.5/5

Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about APCOA parking ticket appeals. PCN Beater is a document preparation service, not a law firm. Always check the specific deadlines on your own PCN.

Related Guides

London Parking Appeals | TfL PCN Appeals | ParkingEye Guide | Euro Car Parks Guide