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If you are issued a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), you have 28 days to pay it from the date it was issued. If you pay within 14 days, the charge will be reduced by 50%. 

Pay your fine

To pay your fine online, you will need:

  • the reference number on your Penalty Charge Notice, starting with GS
  • your vehicle registration number

Other ways to pay

You can: 

  • phone our 24 hour automated line on 0345 245 0682
  • pay by post by sending a cheque or postal order along with the completed payment slip

Once the Penalty Charge Notice is paid, we close the case. If you wish to challenge, do not pay.

View the evidence 

You can log in to see the evidence of the contravention. You will need the PCN number beginning with GS and your vehicle registration.

Challenge a fine 

First stage


The first stage is called an informal challenge. When we receive a challenge, your case is put on hold and no further action will be taken until we have reviewed and responded.

You can also write to us by post (include the reference number, starting with GS, along with your name and address).

If your representation is accepted, you will be sent a response telling you this and there will be nothing to pay.

If your challenge is rejected, we will write to you advising you to pay the fine or to wait to receive a Notice to Owner to make a formal representation.

If the informal challenge is received within 14 days of the date of issue and we have rejected it, we will extend the discounted period by a further 14 days.


Second stage


When you have received the Notice to Owner, you have 28 days to either pay or make a formal representation.

It will be reviewed by a different case officer from the one who reviewed your informal challenge.


If your formal representation is accepted, you will be sent a response telling you this and there will be nothing to pay.

If your representation is rejected, you will receive a Notice of Rejection. This will advise you that you can either pay the charge or appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, who are the independent adjudicators.

What happens if I do not pay 

If the fine is not paid within 14 days of issue, you lose your right to pay at the discounted rate. If the fine is not paid within 28 days a Notice to Owner will be sent. 

If the Notice to Owner remains unpaid after 28 days, a charge certificate is sent and the charge is further increased by 50%. 

If the charge certificate remains unpaid after 14 days, an Order for Recovery will be sent out and the debt is registered at the Traffic Enforcement Centre. A £9 charge will be added when the debt is registered. 

If the debt remains unpaid after a further 21 days, the debt is sent to an enforcement agent. 

Get independent advice 

You can get independent advice on driving and parking fines and the enforcement of PCNs from PATROL. 

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