Overview
- Which? published fresh guidance on May 31, 2026 saying motorists can ignore some privately issued parking charge notices when the issuing firm is not a member of an accredited trade body.
- Accreditation matters because only members of the British Parking Association or the International Parking Community can ask the DVLA for keeper details and pursue payment formally.
- Drivers should challenge tickets from accredited operators if signage is unclear, the charge exceeds £100, or there are mitigating reasons such as illness or a vehicle breakdown.
- If an operator rejects an appeal, BPA members can be taken to the independent adjudicator POPLA within 28 days and IPC members can use the Independent Appeals Service within 21 days, with court action a last resort that can carry legal costs if you lose.
- Private enforcement has grown sharply, with RAC and DVLA figures showing millions of keeper‑detail requests and an estimated run‑rate of roughly 14 million private charges a year concentrated among a small number of firms.