Changing parking permits and other questions

If the answer to your question is not listed here, then please contact The Parking Shop (contact details on the Parking contact details page) where staff will be pleased to help you.

Changing vehicles

Replacement permits

Moving

Refunds

Changing vehicles

I have changed my vehicle, do I need to change my permit?

If your permit has the vehicle registration printed on it then yes.

You will have to surrender your current permit when you apply for a replacement. You will need to park legally whilst your replacement is issued as you will still be liable to a Penalty Charge Notice if parking without a permit.

For permits issued before 2nd April 2007

You have two choices:

1. Update your permit with the new vehicle registration.

Complete the Change of same banded vehicle form(pdf, 40KB). You will need to attach your permit and take along documentary evidence of the new vehicle such as the Vehicle Registration Document to The Parking Shop.

2. Surrender your permit and purchase a new one.

If your new vehicle is in bands A, B, C, H, or J (see the Vehicle banding for parking permits explained page) then you will be able to buy a new permit at a lower price than you paid for your current one. You can then be refunded for any remaining months on your old permit.

You should fill in an Application for a refund form(pdf, 38KB) and apply for a new permit. Please note that your refund will be in the form of a cheque sent from the Council within 28 days and you will not be able to use any of the refund value when purchasing your new permit.

For permits issued after 2nd April 2007

You will need to find out if the new vehicle is of the same band as the old.

If the vehicle is of the same band then complete the Change of same banded vehicle form(pdf, 40KB) and take it to The Parking Shop. You will need to attach your permit and take along documentary evidence of the new vehicle such as the Vehicle Registration Document.

If the vehicle is not of the same band then you should fill in an Application for a refund form(pdf, 38KB) and apply for a new permit. Please note that your refund will be in the form of a cheque sent from the Council within 28 days and you will not be able to use any of the refund value when purchasing your new permit.

If you do not have your old permit (for example if it was still in the car when you sold it), then you will need to fill in a Declaration of Lost Permit form(pdf, 55KB).

How much does a replacement permit cost?

There is no charge for a replacement permit for a change of vehicle if it is the first within a 12 month period. Subsequent replacements within the 12 month period will be charged a £10 administration fee.

What if my new vehicle has the same registration number as the old vehicle?

For permits issued before 2nd April 2007

You have two choices:

1. Keep your existing permit and notify The Parking Shop of the new vehicle make, model and colour as soon as possible. Contact details are available on the Parking contact details page.

2. Surrender your permit and purchase a new one.

For permits issued after 2nd April 2007

You will need to find out if the new vehicle is of the same band as the old.

If the vehicle is of the same band then notify The Parking Shop of the new vehicle make, model and colour as soon as possible. Contact details are available on the Parking contact details page.

If you do not have your old permit (for example. if it was still in the car when you sold it), then you will need to fill in a Declaration of Lost Permit form(pdf, 55KB).

Replacement Permits

My permit is faded/has been damaged, can I get a replacement?

Yes. If your permit still has time to run then you can get a replacement.

This will be free of charge and you will need to surrender your old permit to The Parking Shop. Address details are available on the Parking contact details page. If applying by post then please allow 14 days for your replacement to arrive. If you go to The Parking Shop, then please expect a short delay.

Please note that you will need to park legally whilst your replacement is issued as you will still be liable to a Penalty Charge Notice if parking without a permit.

My permit has been lost/stolen, can I get a replacement?

Yes. If your permit still has time to run then you can get a replacement.

There will be an administration charge of £10 unless the permit was stolen and you have a police crime reference number.

Please complete a Declaration of Lost Permit form(pdf, 55KB) and return it to The Parking Shop. Address details are available on the Parking contact details page. If applying by post then please allow 14 days for your replacement to arrive. If you go to The Parking Shop, then please expect a short delay.

You will need to park legally whilst your replacement is issued as you will still be liable to a Penalty Charge Notice if parking without a permit.

The details on my permit are incorrect, what should I do?

You should take the permit into The Parking Shop (address details on the Parking contact details page) along with the letter to which it was attached and staff will issue you with a corrected copy free of charge.

Please note that you will need to park legally whilst your replacement is issued as you will still be liable to a Penalty Charge Notice if parking without a permit.

I've been issued a permit for the incorrect band, what should I do?

If you are charged more than you should have been, then you can return the permit to The Parking Shop and we will issue you with a correct one. You will be refunded the difference by cheque within 28 days of the application being received.

If you display a permit for a lower Band than your vehicle is meant to have and you do not notify us of the error, you may receive a penalty charge notice for displaying an invalid permit. If you then verify that the permit is in fact correct for your vehicle – by providing a relevant document detailing the engine capacity or emissions information – the penalty charge notice will be cancelled.

Moving

I'm moving out of the zone, can I use the permit in the new zone?

No. Permits are only valid for the zones shown on the front of the permit and cannot be used in other zones.

Visitors and Traders book permits are slightly different in that they are valid for either zone A1 and A2 only, or all other zones and so you may still use them if they are valid for your new zone.

If you move zones and still need a permit then you will need to surrender your old permit and purchase a new one. Your surrendered permit will be refunded (see I'm moving out of the zone, can I get a refund).

Please note that you will need to park legally whilst your replacement is issued as you will still be liable to a Penalty Charge Notice if parking without a permit.

I'm moving within the zone, can I still use my permit?

Yes, although we ask that you come into The Parking Shop (address details on the Parking contact details page) with proof of residency for your new address. This will enable us to keep your contact details up to date for sending renewal reminders.

I'm moving out of the zone, can I get a refund?

Yes. You will be able to get a refund on any full months remaining on your permit (part months will unfortunately not be refunded). You will need to fill in a Application for Refund form(pdf, 38KB) and attach your permit to it. The form should be returned to The Parking Shop, address details on the Parking contact details page.

Please allow 28 days for the refund to be processed. You will receive a cheque from the Council in the post.

Refunds

How are refund amounts calculated?

Refunds are calculated for each full month remaining on your permit as of the day when we receive your request for a refund. The amount you will receive per month is the 'standard' refund calculated as 7.5% of the equivalent 12 months permit cost, rounded up to the nearest 5 pence. Your refund will be made by cheque within 28 days of the receipt of your application to surrender the permit.

There are circumstances where you would receive a full refund on all remaining months (including the month you return your permit), but this would only be if you

Return your permit before its start date
Return your permit and purchase a new one on change of vehicle to another banded vehicle
Swap your permit with another member of your household to take advantage of the lower cost of having the highest banded vehicle as the 'first' permit
Change your permit to be the 'first' in your household on return of the previous 'first' permit.

Why is the 'standard' refund amount less than the "per month" amount that I paid?

We will take a percentage of the amount you paid to cover the administrative cost to process your refund.

Website feedback

Tell us what you think about our website.

This page contains links to PDF documents. To read these you need the free Adobe Reader software. Follow the link below to download this software from Adobe's website:

For advice on the reader's accessibility features see Access Adobe