If you’ve received a letter or court claim about an old private parking ticket, you might be wondering:

“Can they still take me to court for this?”

The answer lies in the Limitation Act 1980 — a UK law that sets time limits for bringing legal claims. For most private parking fines, the time limit is 6 years from the date of the “cause of action” — usually the date the alleged parking contravention occurred or when the unpaid charge became due.

After that, the debt becomes statute barred, meaning it is no longer enforceable in court.

But it’s not always straightforward. Let’s break it down.

What is the Limitation Act 1980?

The Limitation Act 1980 sets out how long a claimant has to start legal proceedings in England and Wales.

Under Section 5, the general time limit for simple contracts (which includes most private parking tickets) is 6 years:

“An action founded on simple contract shall not be brought after the expiration of six years from the date on which the cause of action accrued.”
— Limitation Act 1980, Section 5
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/58/section/5

Most private parking companies (like UKPC, ParkingEye, Civil Enforcement Ltd) pursue unpaid tickets as breach of contract claims — not criminal fines. These are civil claims, and therefore subject to the 6-year limit.

When does the 6-year clock start?

The clock usually starts on the date the alleged breach occurred — in other words, the day you were said to have parked without paying or overstayed.

The time limit may also start from the date the parking charge became due (e.g. if they allow 28 days for payment, it may be that date instead).

What happens after 6 years?

If no claim is issued in the County Court within 6 years, the debt becomes statute barred. This means:

• They can no longer legally issue a County Court claim against you

• If they do, you can defend the claim on the basis that it is out of time

• If a judgment is entered without your knowledge, you may be able to apply to set it aside

Even though debt collectors may still chase you, the debt is unenforceable in law. It cannot result in a CCJ, enforcement order, or bailiff action.

What if I’ve already received a CCJ?

If a County Court Judgment (CCJ) has already been issued — and the original claim was brought after 6 years had passed — the judgment may be legally invalid.

In that case, you can apply to have it set aside under the Civil Procedure Rules.

See: Can You Remove a CCJ?

What about council-issued parking fines?

Important distinction: This article applies only to private parking charges — not fines from local councils or Transport for London (TfL), which are governed by different laws and enforcement processes (usually under the Traffic Management Act 2004).

Council-issued Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) can be enforced through the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC) and do not fall under the Limitation Act 1980 in the same way.

Now What

If you’ve received a demand or court claim for an old private parking ticket:

1. Check the date of the alleged contravention
   If it was more than 6 years ago, the claim may be statute barred

2. Do not ignore it
   Even if the claim is old, you need to respond properly — ideally by filing a defence based on the 6-year limit

3. Consider sending a Subject Access Request (SAR)
   This can help you get the exact timeline of events, notices sent, and the alleged breach date
   → How to Use a Subject Access Request

4. If you already have a CCJ from a claim brought after 6 years, you may be able to apply to set it aside
   → Can You Remove a CCJ?

Useful Links

• Limitation Act 1980, Section 5

• Subject Access Request Draft

• AI-powered CCJ Removal Tool

Final tip:

Don’t be intimidated by aggressive legal letters for old parking tickets. If 6 years have passed, you may be protected by law — but you still need to handle it properly.