Fines

Fines and penalties incurred are issued directly to LeasePlan as we are the registered keeper of the vehicle (as a result of the authority obtaining this information from the DVLA). We hold a record of all fines received for each vehicle.

If you have received notification of a fine, you must ensure that you pay the relevant charge. If you believe that you have grounds for appeal, you should follow the appeals process provided by the body that issued the fine.

Frequently asked questions:

I have received a fine or PCN. What should I do?

If you have received a fine this means that LeasePlan has transferred liability to you as the driver/customer in possession of the vehicle at the time the offence was committed. In general you have two options. If you believe the fine/PCN was fair then go ahead and pay the amount charged. There will be details of how to do this on the documentation. If you feel that you have grounds for appeal and you wish to contest the charge you will need to contact the authority who issued the notice. Again the details on how to appeal will be on the notice.

Please just follow the steps provided. LeasePlan will pay a fine/PCN and send you an invoice in two situations:

There are some fines where legislation dictates that the registered keeper (in this case LeasePlan UK Ltd) must pay. (For example, LeasePlan is obliged to pay all congestion charge fines and some bus lane fines).
Your employer has taken the decision to request that LeasePlan pay all fines/PCNs. If in doubt please speak to your Fleet Manager/HR Department in the first instance. If LeasePlan has paid a fine/PCN there may be an admin fee applied as agreed in the terms and conditions of your/your employer's contract with LeasePlan.

I need to get a copy of a fine. What should I do?

LeasePlan only holds copies of fines if we have paid the fine on your behalf. If you require a copy of this type of fine please email drivingoffences@leaseplan.co.uk If LeasePlan has not paid and recharged the fine to you please contact the issuing authority to obtain a copy.

I have received a Congestion Charge/Bus Lane fine recharge. Why was this paid on my behalf?

Congestion charge fines and some bus lane fines (depending on the authority) must be paid by the registered keeper (LeasePlan) and recharged to the customer. The issuing authorities do not allow us to transfer liability. If this has happened for a different fine it may be due to your company's policy. If you would like to talk to someone about this please email drivingoffences@leaseplan.co.uk.

LeasePlan have given the Private Parking Company my details. Why are you now saying you are going to pay on my behalf?

As per the Protection of Freedom Act (2012) if the private parking company has to contact LeasePlan as they have been unable to contact you, LeasePlan can then be held liable under Keeper Liability. If this happens then LeasePlan will pay the PCN and recharge this on to you, along with an administration fee.

Why have I been charged an administration fee on top of the fine?

We charge an administration fee for paying and recharging your fine as stated in the Terms and Conditions of your contract.

How long does a Police authority have to issue a speeding fine to the registered keeper?

The Police have 14 days in which to issue a speeding fine notification to the registered keeper. Outside of this time it is unenforceable. For further information please visit: www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q557.htm

I have paid a speeding fine. Do I have to notify LeasePlan?

No. You do not have to inform LeasePlan if you have paid a speeding fine. But if as a result of points you become disqualified from driving it is a criminal offence to carry on driving the vehicle and your insurance cover will be invalid. Having no insurance is a breach of your contract with LeasePlan. If you are concerned, you should contact your fleet manager or call your DriverLine number. If you do not know your DriverLine number please call 0344 493 7644.

I was not in charge of the vehicle at the time the PCN was issued. What do I do?

If you know who the driver was, you should either pass the details of the driver on to the private parking company or get the driver to pay it. If you don't know who the driver was, you need to pay the charge or appeal against it. If you don't do this then the Private Parking Company is within their rights to come back to the registered keeper for payment. If this happens LeasePlan will pay the charge and recharge it back to you, along with an administration fee. Alternatively the private parking company will chase you for payment and ultimately you may end up being taken to court with a judgement against you costing significantly more than the initial charge. You can also be issued with a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against your name.

I have been incorrectly charged for a Congestion Charge penalty - how can I contest this?

Please go to the Transport for London website for details on the congestion charge: www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/ If you wish to appeal and contest the fine please contact LeasePlan to obtain authority in writing to be able to contest the fine directly with TFL. If you would like to pursue this please call your DriverLine. If you do not know your DriverLine number please call 0344 493 7644. Please note you must appeal to Transport for London within 28 days of the date of issue of the fine for them to review it.

What is a PCN?

PCNs are Parking Charge Notices. Please note that they are distinct from the Penalty Charge Notices that are issued by local authorities. A PCN is the document issued by the car park owner or operator for breaching the terms of the contract agreed by parking in the car park, or for trespassing. PCNs ask for payment of parking charges

Is a Parking Charge Notice a fine?

No. Parking charges are a charge arising when a driver breaches the terms and conditions of parking on private land. By parking on private land the driver enters into a contract with the car park owner as stipulated on signage located in easily visible positions in the car park.

I would like to contest a fine (even if it has already been paid) - what do I need to do?

We can supply a third party representation letter to allow you to do this. Some authorities also allow you to contest a fine online. You should check the relevant authority's web pages to see if this is available. If you would like to pursue this please email drivingoffences@leaseplan.co.uk. If you do not know your DriverLine number please call 0344 493 7644.

How do I appeal against a PCN?

When you receive the PCN from the private parking company, there will be instructions as to how to appeal the charge. Please follow these instructions and appeal directly. LeasePlan will not be involved at this stage, but please email:appeals@leaseplan.co.uk with your registration number and the penalty charge number advising that you have appealed, or are in the process of appealing the notice.

What happens if I ignore a PCN?

Much of the advice on the internet is to ignore the private parking company as there is little/nothing that they can do. LeasePlan strongly advises against this. The Protection of Freedoms Act has given the private parking companies increased power to pursue the registered keeper of the vehicle for payment. LeasePlan also believes that private parking companies should be treated with the same integrity as any local authority. It is LeasePlan's belief that if a driver does not comply with the terms and conditions set in place by the private parking company then the driver is responsible for any charges incurred. Ultimately you may end up being taken to court with a judgement against you costing significantly more than the initial charge. You can also be issued with a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against your name. If you feel you have a right to contest it then please appeal to the private parking company as per the instructions provided on the PCN and email:Vehicleadministration@leaseplan.co.uk with your registration and penalty charge number to advise us that you either have or are in the process of appealing. Any costs incurred by LeasePlan for private parking charges will be passed onto the customer, along with an administration fee.

What is the BPA?

The British Parking Association. The BPA is an independent body that represents, promotes and influences best practice in the parking sector throughout the UK and Europe. The BPA is also the regulator of the Approved Operator Scheme (AOS) for Private Parking Companies. Only AOS members are allowed to obtain registered keeper details from the DVLA.

I have contested a Congestion Charge penalty with Transport for London (TFL) and they have agreed to cancel the fine. What should I do?

Please notify us by emailing drivingoffences@leaseplan.co.uk

Once we have received official confirmation from TFL and the refund has been received we will issue the credit via your customer account.

I have received a recharge from LeasePlan for a fixed penalty notice as a result of an Insurance Advisory Letter. What should I do?

You need to contact your insurance provider or third party who manages the Motor Insurance Database for you immediately. Failure to do so or delay could result in further fines and penalties. Under your customer agreement with us failure to provide proof of insurance could result in LeasePlan taking further action. Pay this as a normal invoice. The fixed penalty notice is only issued if, as the result of the Insurance Advisory Letter, the vehicle still does not show on the Motor Insurance Database (MID). LeasePlan, on receipt of the fixed penalty notice are required to pay and recharge the fine as new legislation does not allow the registered keeper to transfer liability. An administration fee is charged for this as per the terms and conditions of your contract.

Which offences are Endorsable?

Speeding and traffic offences are endorsable.

Which offences are Non Endorsable?