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The Mandatory 10-Minute Grace Period Rule: How to Win Your Parking Appeal

Were you less than 10 minutes late back to your car? Learn how the mandatory 10-minute grace period law guarantees cancellation of your PCN.

The 10-Minute Grace Period Explained

Under both Statutory Council Law (The Deregulation Act 2015) and Private Parking Codes (British Parking Association Code Clause 13.3 & IPC Code), motorists must be granted a minimum 10-minute grace period after the expiry of paid or permitted parking before any penalty can be issued.

BPA Code Clause 13.3 & Section 43 Deregulation Act 2015

Enforcement officers and ANPR camera systems must allow a minimum 10-minute grace period at the end of parking before issuing a PCN. Any charge issued within 10 minutes of expiry is unlawful.

Private Parking Rules (BPA / IPC)

  • Entry Consideration Period (Clause 13.1): Operators must provide at least 5 minutes upon entering the car park to read terms, find a bay, or decide to leave without parking.
  • Exit Grace Period (Clause 13.3): Operators must allow at least 10 minutes at the conclusion of parking to gather belongings, start the engine, and exit the car park.
  • If an ANPR camera logs your vehicle leaving 8 minutes after your ticket expired, the charge is in direct breach of the Approved Operator Scheme and will be overturned at POPLA.

Council Parking Rules (England & Wales)

Under the Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (England) General Regulations, civil enforcement officers (CEOs) cannot issue a PCN in a designated council parking bay until at least 10 minutes have elapsed since the expiry of the purchased parking time.