Contravention code 25: parked in a loading place without loading
Updated 23 October 2026 · By the AppealGo team
Short answer
Contravention code 25 is issued when a vehicle is parked in a designated loading place or bay during its restricted hours without loading or unloading. It is a higher-level contravention. The defence is that you were actively loading or unloading, which includes carrying goods to and from premises, and the officer must observe for a period before issuing the PCN rather than ticketing on sight. Make representations within 28 days with evidence of the loading, and appeal free to the tribunal if the council says no.
| What code 25 means | Parked in a loading place or bay during restricted hours without loading or unloading |
|---|---|
| Level | Higher-level contravention: £160 or £140 in London depending on the charging band (£160 on TfL red routes), and £70 in most of the rest of England (£60 in a few areas). Halved if paid within the discount period. |
| The defence | Genuine loading or unloading, including carrying goods to and from the premises and the time reasonably needed to do so |
| Observation | The officer should observe before issuing the PCN, as loading is not always visible at a glance |
| Independent appeal | London Tribunals (London) or the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (rest of England); free |
A loading place or bay is marked for vehicles that are loading or unloading goods during set hours. Parking there for any other reason during those hours, or staying beyond the time loading reasonably takes, is contravention code 25 and attracts a Penalty Charge Notice.
Loading is a defence to code 25, and it is wider than it looks: it covers carrying goods to and from premises, not just lifting them out of the boot, and it allows the time that genuine loading reasonably takes. Because loading is often not visible at the moment an officer passes, the officer is expected to observe for a short period before deciding a vehicle is not loading.
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Check my noticeGrounds that beat a code 25 PCN
- You were genuinely loading or unloading. Deliveries, collections, and carrying heavy or bulky items to and from a building all count, as does the time that reasonably takes. A delivery note, an invoice, or a statement from the premises is strong evidence.
- The officer did not observe. Loading is not always visible, so an officer who ticketed on sight without watching for a reasonable period may not have established that no loading was taking place.
- The restriction was not in force. Loading bans apply only during the hours on the sign. If you parked outside those hours, or the sign was missing or unclear, the contravention did not occur.
- The bay or markings were unclear. Faded kerb marks or a missing time plate mean the restriction was not adequately signed.
- The grace or observation period. A vehicle still being loaded, or only just finished, may be within the period the officer should have allowed.
How to appeal a code 25 PCN
- Gather your loading evidence. Delivery notes, invoices, order confirmations, or a short letter from the premises confirming what you were dropping off or collecting and when.
- Challenge in time. Informal challenge within 14 days of a windscreen PCN to keep the discount, or formal representations within 28 days of a Notice to Owner or posted camera PCN.
- Appeal to the tribunal if rejected. London Tribunals for London, the Traffic Penalty Tribunal for the rest of England. Both are free and decide on the evidence.
Common questions
I was only carrying shopping to my flat. Is that loading?
Loading generally means goods in the course of a trade or a genuine load, and carrying items to and from premises is included. Personal shopping can be a grey area, but if you were moving bulky or heavy items and took no longer than that reasonably needed, it is worth putting the facts to the council and, if refused, the tribunal.
How long am I allowed to load for?
There is no fixed maximum. You are allowed the time that the loading or unloading reasonably takes, which depends on what you were moving. The council cannot treat a vehicle as 'parked' simply because loading took a while, provided it was continuous and genuine.
Sources
- Traffic Management Act 2004, Part 6 (civil enforcement)
- Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Representations and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2022, SI 2022/576
- Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022, SI 2022/71
- GOV.UK: challenging a parking ticket
- London Tribunals (Environment and Traffic Adjudicators)
- Traffic Penalty Tribunal
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Snap a photo of the notice. We read it, tell you the grounds we found, and only charge £7.99 if you ask us to file the appeal.
Check my noticeRelated guides
- CodePCN contravention code 02: parked or loading in a restricted street where loading is prohibited
- Notice typeHow to appeal a council PCN (Penalty Charge Notice)
- Notice typeGrounds for appealing a parking ticket: the reasons that actually win
- Notice typeNotice to Owner: what it means and how to respond
This guide is general information about UK motoring penalties, not legal advice. Deadlines, amounts and procedures are set by the issuer and the regulations in force, and the notice you were sent is always the authoritative source for your own dates. See our disclaimer.
