PCN contravention code 40: parked in a disabled bay without displaying a valid Blue Badge
Updated 20 September 2026 · By the AppealGo team
Short answer
Contravention code 40 on a council PCN means "parked in a disabled bay without displaying a valid Blue Badge". 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 challenges that most often succeed are: a valid Blue Badge was displayed; the bay was not correctly signed or marked; the badge holder was being picked up or set down.
| Code | 40 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Parked in a disabled bay without displaying a valid Blue Badge |
| Penalty | 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. |
| Challenge route | Informal challenge (windscreen PCNs), formal representations within 28 days of the Notice to Owner, then a free tribunal appeal within 28 days of a rejection |
Code 40 covers on-street disabled bays that require a Blue Badge. It is treated as a higher-level contravention everywhere, and councils are reluctant to cancel it on discretion because of the impact on badge holders. That makes the technical grounds all the more important: whether a badge was in fact displayed, and whether the bay was properly signed.
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.
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Check my noticeGrounds for challenging a code 40 PCN
- A valid Blue Badge was displayed but had slipped, was face down, or was not seen. Provide the badge, its number, and a photograph showing where it was.
- The bay was not correctly signed or marked as a disabled bay. Some advisory bays outside homes are not enforceable at all.
- The badge holder was being picked up or set down in the bay.
- The PCN details are wrong.
- Vehicle stolen or not yours on the date.
How to challenge it
Council PCNs follow the statutory process: an informal challenge within the 14-day discount period for windscreen and hand-served notices, formal representations within 28 days of the Notice to Owner, and a free appeal to London Tribunals or the Traffic Penalty Tribunal within 28 days of any rejection. The full route is in our council PCN guide.
Whatever the ground, photographs of the location, the signs and the road markings taken from the driver's viewpoint are the evidence that wins. AppealGo reads the PCN, checks the code against the details, and drafts and files the challenge for you.
Common questions
My Blue Badge was on the seat, not the dashboard. Is the PCN valid?
The badge must be displayed on the dashboard or fascia with the front clearly visible. A badge on a seat is technically not displayed. Councils sometimes cancel on production of the badge as a one-off, so it is still worth challenging with the badge details and an honest explanation.
Can I park in a disabled bay outside someone's house if it has no sign?
Advisory disabled bays painted outside homes without a traffic order and sign are not enforceable, though they should be respected. If a PCN was issued for one, ask the council to confirm the traffic order and sign that make it enforceable.
Sources
- London Councils: parking and traffic PCN levels from 7 April 2025
- SI 2022/71 Schedule 3: penalty charge levels outside London
- Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Representations and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2022, SI 2022/576
- SI 2022/71 regulation 5: the 10-minute grace period
- London Tribunals (Environment and Traffic Adjudicators)
- Traffic Penalty Tribunal
Got one of these? Check it for free.
Snap a photo of the notice. We read it, tell you the grounds we found, and only charge £6.99 if you ask us to file the appeal.
Check my noticeRelated guides
- CodePCN contravention code 16: parked in a permit space without displaying a valid permit
- Notice typeHow to appeal a council PCN (Penalty Charge Notice)
- Notice typeGrounds for appealing a parking ticket: the reasons that actually win
- CodePCN contravention code 01: parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours
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.
