What Is a Charge Certificate? What to Do When You Get One

The SDW Team · 19 July 2026 · 8 min read

A Charge Certificate is one of the most serious letters you can receive in the penalty charge notice process, and it is also one of the most misunderstood. By the time it lands on your doormat, you are already several stages into formal enforcement, and the amount owed has increased. Understanding exactly what it means, and what your options are, can make the difference between resolving matters quickly and ending up with enforcement agents (bailiffs) at your door.

What Is a Charge Certificate?

A Charge Certificate is a formal notice sent by a local authority (or, in some cases, referenced through DVLA keeper records) when it believes that a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) has not been paid and no representations or appeal have been made within the allowed time. It is not the first letter you receive about a PCN. It typically follows:

The original Penalty Charge Notice (issued on the windscreen or by post).
A Notice to Owner (for parking contraventions) or an Enforcement Notice (for bus lane and moving traffic contraventions), sent if the PCN was not paid or challenged.
The Charge Certificate itself, issued if the council has received no payment and no valid representations within the statutory period, usually 28 days from the Notice to Owner or Enforcement Notice.

The Charge Certificate confirms that, from the authority's perspective, the case is effectively closed and the penalty is due. Crucially, it also increases the amount you owe, typically by 50% on top of the original penalty charge.

Why Have You Received One?

There are broadly two situations in which people receive a Charge Certificate:

They genuinely ignored or missed earlier correspondence. This can happen if a PCN was sent to an old address, if post went astray, or if someone simply did not open or understand what the earlier letters meant.
They believe they never had a fair chance to challenge the PCN. Many people who receive a Charge Certificate say they never received the original PCN or the Notice to Owner or Enforcement Notice, and the Charge Certificate is the first they have heard of the matter.

If you fall into the second category, it is important to know that you still have options, even at this late stage.

What Happens After a Charge Certificate?

If a Charge Certificate is not paid, the local authority can then apply to the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC), which is part of Northampton County Court, to register the debt. Once registered, the case can proceed to:

Issuing a warrant of control (for parking contraventions), or
Referral to enforcement agents (bailiffs) who are entitled to take control of goods to recover the debt, plus additional enforcement fees.

This is why it is so important not to ignore a Charge Certificate. Costs escalate quickly once bailiffs become involved, and the options for challenging the underlying PCN become more limited.

What to Do If You Agree the PCN Is Correct

If, having reviewed everything, you accept that the PCN was correctly issued and you simply missed earlier stages, the simplest and cheapest route is usually to pay the amount stated on the Charge Certificate promptly. This avoids further escalation to enforcement agents and additional fees.

What to Do If You Disagree

If you believe you should not have to pay, perhaps because you never received the original PCN, you had already sold the vehicle, you made a payment that was not recorded, or you believe the contravention itself was incorrect, you may still be able to challenge things through what is known as the "out of time" process at the TEC.

This involves filing a formal statutory declaration or witness statement explaining why you were unable to respond earlier, using one of the following forms, depending on the type of contravention:

Parking Contraventions: TE7 and TE9

TE7 is the application for more time to file a formal challenge out of time.
TE9 is the witness statement itself, in which you set out your grounds, such as not receiving the Notice to Owner, or having already made representations that were ignored.
Importantly, a TE9 does not need to be sworn before a solicitor or Commissioner for Oaths. It is signed as a witness statement.

Bus Lane and Moving Traffic Contraventions: PE2 and PE3

PE2 is the equivalent application for extra time for bus lane and moving traffic PCNs.
PE3 is the statutory declaration setting out your reasons.
Unlike a TE9, a PE3 (and a PE2 where a declaration is required) must be sworn as a statutory declaration. This means it must be signed in the physical presence of an independent authorised witness, such as a solicitor or a Commissioner for Oaths, who confirms your identity and witnesses your signature. It cannot simply be signed at home and posted off.

This distinction between parking contraventions (TE7/TE9) and bus lane or moving traffic contraventions (PE2/PE3) is one of the most important points to get right, since submitting the wrong form, or failing to have it properly witnessed when required, can cause delays or rejection.

Why the In-Person Witnessing Requirement Matters

The requirement for a PE3 (or PE2 declaration) to be sworn before an authorised person exists to protect the integrity of the process. It confirms that the person making the declaration understands the seriousness of the statement and is indeed who they say they are. This cannot be done informally, by video call, or by simply printing and signing the form at home.

For many people, this is the most inconvenient part of the process, particularly if they are unfamiliar with where to find a solicitor or Commissioner for Oaths willing to witness the document at short notice.

This is where using a dedicated service can help. Our service arranges an in-person appointment with an authorised witness to have your PE3 or PE2 properly sworn, for a fixed fee of £49. This fee covers the cost of arranging and attending the witnessing appointment. It is not a court fee, and it is not fixed by law or by the TEC itself, it simply reflects the cost of the service we provide in helping you meet this requirement conveniently. We cannot and do not guarantee any particular outcome from the TEC once your declaration or witness statement is filed, as the decision on whether to accept your out of time application, and any subsequent decision on the underlying PCN, rests entirely with the court and the local authority.

Practical Steps If You Receive a Charge Certificate

If a Charge Certificate arrives, it is worth taking the following steps promptly:

Check the contravention type. Confirm whether it relates to parking, or to a bus lane or moving traffic offence, as this determines which forms apply.
Gather your evidence. Note down dates, addresses, and any correspondence you did or did not receive.
Decide whether to pay or challenge. If you accept the penalty is due, paying quickly avoids further costs. If you have genuine grounds to dispute it, consider the out of time process.
Act quickly. Once a case moves to enforcement agents, resolving matters becomes more complex and expensive.
Seek help with witnessing if needed. If your case requires a PE3 or PE2 statutory declaration, arrange an in-person appointment with an authorised witness as soon as possible.

Next Steps

If you have received a Charge Certificate and are unsure whether you should pay, or whether you have valid grounds to challenge it through the TEC out of time process, it is worth reviewing your paperwork carefully and identifying which form, TE7/TE9 or PE2/PE3, applies to your situation. If you need help arranging a properly witnessed statutory declaration quickly and without the hassle of finding a solicitor yourself, our team can book an in-person appointment on your behalf so you can get your challenge submitted as soon as possible.