Parking Fine in a Rental Car: Who Pays?

Parking Fine in a Rental Car: Who Pays?

Getting a parking fine while driving a rental car creates a three-way situation between you, the rental company, and the parking operator. Understanding how this works can save you significant money, because rental companies typically add hefty admin fees on top of the original charge.

How Rental Companies Find Out

When a parking operator (council or private) issues a charge, they request keeper details from the DVLA. For rental vehicles, the registered keeper is the rental company. The operator sends the charge notice to the rental company, who then passes it on to you, the renter.

Most rental agreements include a clause stating that the renter is responsible for any fines, charges, or penalties incurred during the rental period. This means you will be liable for the charge plus any admin fee the rental company applies.

Rental Company Admin Fees

This is where it gets expensive. Most rental companies charge an administration fee for processing parking charges, on top of the fine itself. Typical fees include:

• Enterprise: Around £35-45 per charge
• Hertz: Around £30-40 per charge
• Sixt: Around £40-50 per charge
• Europcar: Around £35-45 per charge
• Avis/Budget: Around £30-40 per charge

These fees are stated in the rental agreement terms and conditions. Some companies charge the admin fee per notice received, so if both an initial charge and a reminder arrive, you could be charged twice.

Your Options

Option 1: Pay the fine quickly

If the charge is valid, paying within 14 days (council) or the early payment period (private, often 14 days) gets the reduced rate. However, you will still owe the admin fee to the rental company.

Option 2: Appeal the fine directly

You can appeal the parking charge yourself. Contact the parking operator directly using the reference number on the charge. For private operators, you can appeal via POPLA or IAS. For council PCNs, follow the standard appeal process.

If your appeal is successful, the charge is cancelled. You should then contact the rental company to request a refund of their admin fee, though some companies refuse to refund admin fees even if the charge is cancelled.

Option 3: Ask the rental company to transfer liability

Some rental companies will, upon request, provide your details directly to the parking operator so the charge is reissued in your name. This cuts out the admin fee. However, most companies will not do this proactively; you need to ask.

What to Check in Your Rental Agreement

Before renting, review the terms regarding:

1. Admin fee amount: Know what you will be charged per parking notice
2. How charges are collected: Most companies charge your card on file automatically
3. Time limits: Some companies give you a deadline to settle the charge before adding further fees
4. Right to appeal: Check whether the agreement preserves your right to appeal the underlying charge

Council PCNs vs Private Charges

For council PCNs, the rental company is treated as a "hire company" under the parking legislation. They can transfer liability to you by providing your details to the council within the required timeframe. Once liability is transferred, you deal with the council directly.

For private parking charges, the rental company is the registered keeper. Under POFA 2012, they can provide your details as the hirer, and the operator should then pursue you as the driver.

How to Avoid Parking Fines in Rental Cars

1. Photograph your parking: Take a picture of your parked car, the signage, and your pay-and-display ticket
2. Use parking apps: Receipts from apps like RingGo or PayByPhone provide clear evidence of payment
3. Read all signage carefully: Do not assume rental car parks or hotel car parks are free for guests
4. Set a phone alarm: If you have a time limit, set an alarm with time to spare
5. Check the rental agreement: Some rental companies offer optional parking coverage or toll/fine packages

Disputing the Admin Fee

If you believe the rental company's admin fee is unreasonable, you can:

1. Complain to the rental company: State that the fee is disproportionate to the actual administrative cost
2. Check the Consumer Rights Act 2015: If the admin fee is hidden in the terms and was not brought to your attention at booking, it may be challengeable as an unfair term
3. Dispute the card charge: As a last resort, you can raise a chargeback with your card provider, though this may affect your ability to rent from that company in future
4. Leave reviews: Companies are sometimes more responsive to complaints when they know a review is coming

Key Point

Always respond to a parking charge on a rental car promptly. The longer you wait, the higher the charge becomes (especially council PCNs, which increase by 50% after the discount period). Contact the rental company to understand their process and protect your right to appeal.