On-street parking and bus lanes: pay a penalty charge notice (PCN)

From 1 April 2023, Surrey County Council took over the responsibility for managing on-street parking and the enforcement of on-street parking regulations across Woking Borough and all other local Surrey local authorities. 

On-street parking and bus lane penalty charge notices issued in Woking or Surrey Heath boroughs prior to Saturday 1 April 2023 remain our responsibility.

If you received an on-street penalty charge notice on or after Saturday 1 April 2023

  • If you received an on-street penalty charge notice on or after Saturday 1 April 2023, you will need to pay Surrey County Council.

Pay your penalty charge notice online to Surrey County Council

If you received an on-street penalty charge notice before Saturday 1 April 2023

  • If you received an on-street penalty charge notice before Saturday 1 April 2023, you will need to pay us.
  • This includes penalty charge notices issued in the Surrey Heath Borough Council area. Prior to Saturday 1 April, we managed this service on behalf of Surrey Heath Borough Council.

The easiest way to pay your penalty charge notice is online. To do so, you will need to quote the PCN payment reference number which is printed on the detachable section of the notice and the top of the PCN, on the second page of the 'notice to owner', and on the first page of the 'charge certificate'.

Help finding your payment reference number 

Pay your penalty charge notice online

Other ways to pay for on-street PCNs received before Saturday 1 April 2023

By phone

You can pay us using our 24-hour automated telephone payment system. We accept the following cards: Visa Debit and Visa Credit, MasterCard, Electron, Maestro.

Please note you must wait 24 hours from the date printed on the notice before attempting payment to allow time to upload the PCN onto the main payment system.

To pay over the phone, follow these steps: 

  1. Have your PCN reference number and payment card details ready.
  2. Phone our main number 01483 755 855.
  3. When prompted by the automated message, select option one 'to make a payment'.
  4. When prompted by the automated message, select option six 'parking fines'.
  5. Follow the instructions to complete your payment.
  6. Make a note of your payment reference number.

By post

You can also post a cheque or postal order with the PCN payment reference number written on the reverse to: Parking enforcement services, Woking Borough Council, Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking GU21 6YL

On-street PCN charges

  • The level of a on-street parking penalty charge is either £50 or £70, depending on the contravention.
  • A penalty charge notice (PCN) will be issued to motorists who drive through bus-only lanes. This must be paid within 28 days from the notice issue date.

Payment discounts

  • For an on-street parking PCN, if we receive your payment within 14 days after the notice was issued, you will be entitled to a 50% discount of £25 or £35. After 14 days, you are liable to pay the full charge. 
  • For a bus lane PCN, a £35 discount will be applied if payment is received within 21 days of the notice issue date.

Failure to pay

If after 28 days you have not paid your PCN, we will send a formal document called the 'notice to owner'. This is sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle, which is provided to us by the DVLA. This statutory notice confirms to the registered keeper that a PCN has been issued, the contravention details, the amount payable, how to pay the PCN, what will happen if it remains unpaid and how to make representation against it.

If the PCN remains unpaid for a further 28 days, we will send a second formal document called the ‘charge certificate’. This statutory notice confirms that the case remains outstanding, informs the registered keeper they have lost their right to make representation or appeal, and increase the charge by 50%. For a parking PCN, this increases to £75 or £105. For a bus lane PCN, this increases to £105.

If the charge still remains unpaid, we may then apply directly to the Traffic Enforcement Centre for a warrant of control. This may result in the appointment of an enforcement agent, commonly known as a bailiff, to recover any outstanding amount. Court registration adds another £9 to the charge and, if enforcement agents are instructed to recover the debt, they will add their statutory costs to the amount due.