Parking contravention · code 11

Parked without payment of the parking charge (code 11)

Contravention code 11 — "Parked without payment of the parking charge" — is one of the standard parking contraventions that councils enforce under the Traffic Management Act 2004. One of the highest-volume codes on the national list — issued where a vehicle sat in a chargeable bay with no payment recorded at all. Payment-app failures, a mistyped registration and machines that were out of order are the usual causes. A council PCN is a statutory civil penalty, not a private invoice, so it must be challenged through the proper channel within the deadlines — but codes are misapplied more often than drivers expect, and a rejected challenge can be taken, free, to an independent adjudicator.

Contravention code: 11
What it is: Parked without payment of the parking charge
Category: Parking contravention
Penalty level: Lower-level
Where it applies: On-street, by a civil enforcement officer or camera
Typical penalty: £110/£90 in London, around £50 elsewhere — halved if you pay within 14 days
Appeal route: Challenge the council → Notice to Owner → London Tribunals (London) or the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (England & Wales)

Councils may word code 11 slightly differently. The code and the evidence on your notice are what define the alleged contravention — always use the official channel and reference printed on it.

What the letter after the 11 means

Your notice may show code 11 with a letter after it. The suffix narrows the contravention to a specific circumstance — appeal against the exact code printed on your PCN, not the bare number.

11g: motor cycle bay
11u: electronic payment

Grounds for challenging a code 11 PCN

Pick the statutory ground that genuinely fits your situation — including the ones below that are specific to code 11.

The contravention did not occur — for example you were parked or driving lawfully, a valid ticket, permit or exemption applied, or the restriction was not in force at that time.
The signs, road markings or the Traffic Regulation Order did not comply with the regulations (TSRGD), so the restriction was not lawfully indicated.
There was a procedural error — the PCN, the Notice to Owner, or the statutory wording or timing was defective.
You were not the owner/keeper when it was issued, the vehicle had been taken without consent, or you are a hire firm with a valid hiring agreement.
The penalty exceeded the amount applicable in the circumstances, or there are compelling mitigating circumstances the authority should consider.
You did pay — a card statement, app receipt or bank record timestamped within the parked period rebuts the "no payment" allegation outright.
You mistyped a digit of your registration when paying by app; the payment exists and can be matched to your card.
Every machine in the car park was out of order or would not accept payment, and there was no working alternative.

How to appeal, step by step

1
Gather your evidence
Note the PCN number, vehicle registration, date, time and location, and collect proof — photos of the signs and road markings (or the box-junction/bus-lane layout), a valid permit, ticket or Blue Badge, or the camera images the council relies on.
2
Pick the ground that fits code 11
Choose the statutory ground that genuinely matches your situation for "Parked without payment of the parking charge". A focused, evidenced argument beats a scattergun one.
3
Make an early challenge within 14 days
Challenge the PCN with the council as soon as possible, setting out your ground and attaching evidence. Acting within 14 days protects the 50% discount — most councils freeze it while they consider an early challenge.
4
Make formal representations if a Notice to Owner follows
If the council rejects your challenge it will serve a Notice to Owner. Respond with formal representations on a statutory ground within 28 days — do not ignore it.
5
Appeal to the independent tribunal if rejected
If your representations are rejected, you can appeal — free — to an independent adjudicator: London Tribunals in London, or the Traffic Penalty Tribunal elsewhere in England & Wales. You do not have to pay first.
6
Generate your appeal letter with AppealIQ
Enter your details and chosen ground, and AppealIQ writes a formal, statute-aware letter for your code 11 PCN. Your first letter each month is free.

Code 11 PCNs — frequently asked questions

What does PCN contravention code 11 mean?

Code 11 is the national civil-enforcement code for "Parked without payment of the parking charge" — a parking contravention under the Traffic Management Act 2004. Some authorities add an official letter suffix that pins down the exact circumstances — for code 11 the published variants are 11g (motor cycle bay) and 11u (electronic payment). The code on your notice, together with the camera images or the enforcement officer's observation, is what defines the alleged contravention.

How much is a code 11 PCN, and is there a discount?

The penalty is £110 in inner London (Band A) or £90 in outer London (Band B), and typically around £50 elsewhere in England. Most councils freeze the 50% discount while they consider a challenge made within the first 14 days — so challenge promptly rather than paying if you believe the PCN is wrong.

Can I appeal a code 11 PCN?

Yes. Challenge it with the council first — informally and as soon as possible. If that is rejected and a Notice to Owner is served, make formal representations within 28 days. If those are rejected too, you can appeal for free to an independent adjudicator — London Tribunals in London, or the Traffic Penalty Tribunal elsewhere in England & Wales — and you do not have to pay the penalty before the tribunal decides.

Can AppealIQ write my code 11 appeal letter?

Yes. Enter your PCN details and the ground that genuinely fits, and AppealIQ drafts a formal, statute-aware challenge letter you can send to the council or use at the tribunal. Your first letter each calendar month is free.

What do the letter suffixes on code 11 mean (11g, 11u)?

They narrow the contravention to a specific circumstance: 11g (motor cycle bay) and 11u (electronic payment). The suffix is set by the authority that issued the notice, so appeal against the exact code printed on your PCN — not the bare number.

Draft your code 11 appeal now

AppealIQ writes a formal, statute-aware letter tailored to your situation. Your first letter each month is free.

Appealing for a specific reason?

I paid but still got a parking ticket The ticket has the wrong registration or vehicle details

Other contravention codes

Code 01 — parked on yellow lines Code 02 — loading where banned Code 12 — permit bay, no permit Code 16 — permit space, no permit Code 21 — suspended bay Code 23 — wrong vehicle class for bay Code 25 — in a loading bay, not loading Code 27 — parked at a dropped kerb Code 40 — disabled bay, no Blue Badge Code 45 — stopped on a taxi rank Code 46 — stopped on a red route Code 47 — stopped on a bus stop Code 48 — on school zig-zags Code 62 — pavement / footway parking Code 05 — overstayed paid time Code 06 — no valid P&D ticket Code 07 — exceeded the max stay Code 19 — invalid permit displayed Code 22 — no return within…Code 24 — not within the bay lines Code 30 — overstayed a free time-limit Code 14 — EV bay, not charging Code 26 — parked too far from the kerb Code 28 — parked on a raised carriageway Code 49 — parked in a cycle lane Code 99 — stopped on crossing zig-zags Code 82 — car park overstay Code 83 — car park, no ticket shown Code 85 — car park, no permit Code 73 — car park, no payment

Appeal a council PCN

Code 11 can be issued by any council in England & Wales. Start from your area:

All councils London Greater Manchester West Midlands West Yorkshire

What the letter after the 11 means

Grounds for challenging a code 11 PCN

How to appeal, step by step

Gather your evidence

Pick the ground that fits code 11

Make an early challenge within 14 days

Make formal representations if a Notice to Owner follows

Appeal to the independent tribunal if rejected

Generate your appeal letter with AppealIQ