Euro Car Parks Grace Period & Appeal Guide (2026)

Who is Euro Car Parks?

Direct Answer: Euro Car Parks is a major UK private parking operator and member of the IPC. They manage car parks at retail sites, leisure venues, and commercial properties across the UK and Ireland.

Euro Car Parks (ECP) is one of the UK's largest private parking operators. They manage car parks at retail parks, supermarkets, hospitals, and leisure centres across the country.

Euro Car Parks is a member of the British Parking Association (BPA), which means they must follow the BPA Code of Practice. This Code sets strict rules on grace periods, signage, and how appeals must be handled.

The Grace Period Rule Explained

Direct Answer: Under the IPC Code of Practice, Euro Car Parks must allow a minimum 10-minute grace period at the end of paid parking sessions. Tickets issued within this grace period breach the code and should be cancelled on appeal.

The BPA Code of Practice (Clause 13.1) requires all member operators to provide:

• 10-minute grace period at the end of any paid-for parking session
• 10-minute grace period when free parking time expires
• This is measured from ANPR camera timestamps

If you parked for 2 hours 8 minutes in a 2-hour maximum stay car park, you should NOT receive a ticket. The grace period means you had until 2 hours 10 minutes.

Common Euro Car Parks Locations

Euro Car Parks operates at hundreds of sites including:

• Retail parks and shopping centres
• Supermarkets (some Sainsbury's, Morrison's locations)
• Leisure centres and gyms
• NHS hospitals and medical centres
• Train station car parks

How to Appeal a Euro Car Parks Ticket

Direct Answer: Appeal to Euro Car Parks directly within 28 days, citing the specific grace period breach with your ANPR timestamps. If rejected, escalate to IAS (the Independent Appeals Service) as Euro Car Parks are IPC members.

Step 1: Check the Grace Period

Look at the ANPR entry and exit times on your ticket. Calculate the total time. If it's less than 10 minutes over the limit, appeal on grace period grounds.

Step 2: Appeal to Euro Car Parks First

You must appeal to Euro Car Parks directly within 28 days. Keep a copy of everything you send.

Step 3: Escalate to POPLA if Rejected

If Euro Car Parks reject your appeal, you can escalate to POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals). POPLA is the independent appeals service for BPA members. It's free to use.

Other Common Appeal Grounds

Direct Answer: Beyond grace periods, common grounds include ANPR errors, unclear signage, POFA 14-day notice failures, and machine or app payment problems.

• Signage Issues - Signs not clearly visible, text too small, or contradictory information
• ANPR Errors - Camera misread your plate, or timestamps don't match reality
• Payment Machine Problems - Machine broken, no phone signal for app payment
• Genuine Emergencies - Medical emergency, breakdown, or security incident
• Hire/Lease Vehicles - Liability transfer not handled correctly under POFA Schedule 4

How PCN-Beater Helps

Our AI analyses your Euro Car Parks ticket and identifies the strongest grounds for appeal. We check:

• Grace period calculations
• ANPR timestamp accuracy
• Signage compliance with the Code of Practice
• Procedural errors in the notice

We then draft a professional appeal letter citing the relevant BPA Code provisions and post it for you.

Related Guides

Grace Periods Explained | ParkingEye Appeal Guide | ANPR Camera Errors