Got a Supermarket Parking Fine? How to Appeal Successfully

Why Supermarket Parking Fines Are So Common

Supermarket car parks are the single biggest source of private parking charges in the UK. ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras monitor how long vehicles are parked, and drivers who exceed the posted time limit receive a Parking Charge Notice, typically for £60-£100.

The frustration is understandable. You went shopping at the store, spent money, and still received a fine because you were 10 minutes over the limit. Here is how to fight back.

Which Operators Manage Which Supermarkets

Understanding who manages the car park is the first step, because your appeal goes to the operator, not the supermarket.

ParkingEye

• Aldi (majority of stores)
• Lidl (many stores)
• Some Tesco stores (shared with UKPC)
• Various retail parks with supermarket anchors

UKPC (UK Parking Control)

• Morrisons (primary operator)
• Some Tesco stores

Horizon Parking

• Asda (many stores)
• Some standalone Asda petrol stations

Excel Parking

• Various smaller supermarket locations
• Some discount retailers

Smart Parking

• Lidl (some newer stores)
• Various mixed-use retail sites

Note: Operators can change, so always check the signage at the specific store.

Common Defences for Supermarket Parking Fines

1. "I Was Shopping in the Store"

This is the most common situation: you overstayed the time limit but were genuinely shopping (or in an adjacent store in the same retail park).

How to use this defence:

• Provide your receipt showing you were in the store at the time
• If you used a self-checkout, check your bank statement for the transaction time
• Explain that the time limit was insufficient for your shop (especially for larger weekly shops)
• If the store was busy with long queues, note this

Success rate: Moderate. Operators will sometimes cancel the charge if you can prove you were a genuine customer, especially if you write to the store manager as well as the operator. However, this is technically not a defence against the charge itself, since the time limit was the contract term.

2. Inadequate Signage

For any private parking charge to be enforceable, the terms must be clearly displayed at the car park. This means:

• Signs must be at the entrance and throughout the car park
• The time limit, charges, and terms must be clearly readable
• Signs must not be obscured by trees, other signs, or poor lighting
• The font size must be large enough to read from the driver's position

How to use this defence:

• Visit the car park and photograph every sign
• Note any signs that are damaged, obscured, faded, or poorly positioned
• Photograph the entrance to show whether the terms are visible when entering
• Note if there are areas of the car park with no visible signage

Success rate: High. Signage issues are one of the strongest defences at tribunal.

3. POFA Non-Compliance

If you were not the driver, the operator must follow the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 requirements to pursue the registered keeper. The Notice to Keeper must:

• Be sent within 14 days (or 14 days after any Notice to Driver was placed on the windscreen)
• Contain specific wording required by the Act
• Identify the creditor (the landowner or their agent)
• State the amount and the grounds

How to use this defence:

• Check the date on the NtK against the date of the alleged contravention
• Check if the NtK contains all the required POFA wording
• If you were not the driver, state this and check whether the POFA conditions were met

Success rate: Very high if the NtK was genuinely non-compliant.

4. Adjacent Store Visit

Many supermarket car parks are part of larger retail parks. If you visited another store in the same retail park, you may have overstayed the supermarket car park limit.

How to use this defence:

• Check whether the car park terms apply to the specific supermarket or the entire retail park
• If the terms say "customers of [supermarket] only," visiting an adjacent store may not be covered
• Provide receipts from the other store to show you were on the retail park

Success rate: Moderate to low. If the signage clearly states the car park is for supermarket customers only, using it to visit other shops is technically a breach.

5. Trolley Return Time

At busy supermarkets, returning a trolley to a distant bay can add several minutes to your visit. If you were only a few minutes over the limit, this could contribute to a defence.

How to use this defence:

• Note the distance from the store exit to the nearest trolley return point
• Calculate the reasonable time to walk back to your car after returning the trolley
• Combine with evidence of genuine shopping (receipt)

Success rate: Low as a standalone defence, but useful as supporting evidence.

Supermarket-Specific Tips

Aldi

Aldi stores typically have a 90-minute time limit enforced by ParkingEye. Aldi has a reputation for being unsympathetic to appeals directed at the store itself, but ParkingEye will cancel charges if you can demonstrate clear POFA or signage issues.

Tip: Aldi stores are designed for quick shopping, so 90 minutes is usually generous. If you overstayed, check whether you were delayed by something specific (pharmacy next door, ATM queue, etc.).

Lidl

Lidl uses a mix of ParkingEye and Smart Parking. Time limits vary between 60 and 120 minutes. Lidl's "Middle of Lidl" promotions can cause longer shopping times as customers browse.

Tip: If the store was particularly busy due to a promotion, mention this in your appeal.

Tesco

Tesco car parks are managed by various operators depending on location. Larger Tesco Extra stores may have longer time limits (2-3 hours) while Express stores may have very short limits.

Tip: Tesco has a customer service team that can sometimes intervene with the parking operator on your behalf. It is worth contacting Tesco directly as well as appealing to the operator.

Morrisons

Morrisons primarily uses UKPC. Time limits are typically 2-3 hours at larger stores.

Tip: Morrisons has been known to ask UKPC to cancel charges for genuine customers. Contact the store manager directly with your receipt.

Asda

Asda uses Horizon Parking at many locations. Time limits vary, and some Asda stores have recently introduced ANPR where they previously had no enforcement.

Tip: If ANPR enforcement was recently introduced and signage was still being installed, this could strengthen a signage defence.

The Appeal Process Step by Step

1. Do not pay immediately. You have time to assess the situation.
2. Photograph the signage. Visit the car park as soon as possible.
3. Gather your evidence. Receipts, bank statements, photos.
4. Appeal to the operator first. Set out your grounds clearly and factually.
5. If rejected, escalate to POPLA or IAS. This costs you nothing.
6. If the charge is cancelled, you are done. If not, consider whether to pay or wait for further action.

Template Approach

When writing your appeal, structure it as follows:

• State the PCN reference number
• State the date and location
• Explain your circumstances briefly
• Set out your specific grounds of appeal (focus on the strongest one or two)
• Attach evidence (photos, receipts, bank statements)
• Request cancellation

Keep it factual and concise. Emotional appeals about loyalty to the supermarket are unlikely to succeed, but evidence of genuine shopping combined with a procedural or signage issue often will.