Car cover/parking permit?

[Mustang Baz]

Quick query - I use a car cover and will shortly require a residents parking permit. How have others been able to park their cars in residents-only (permit) areas whilst still retaining use of the cover? I am in London where parking wardens are incredibly aggressive - and my car cover currently does not have any "window" allowing a warden to view the permit (Weathershield Covercraft).

Thanks in advance.

[97octane]

Don't put the permit on the outside - it will get nicked. There is a covered Chim in Pimlico that I pass & he just lifts the cover to expose the number plate - I wonder if wardens can check registration details against City Council records? However, I think there is a legal obligation to display the permit correctly, so I do not know the exact answer.

[Nuggs]

You can get permit holders that iron-on over the cover. IIRC Classic Additions do one, but as has been said, with that comes the risk of theft.

How about using an iron-on cover to attach a label informing wardens of the reg no., permit no. and inviting them to lift the cover if felt necessary?

[The Surveyor]

I'm sure a local trimmer could stich in a small clear window, must be quite common as any car parked on a highway should display a tax disk anyway.

[d50cyx]

I had this question a while back (live in Wandsworth). I phoned the council up, and they said that the permit should be clearly visible, cover or no - I could cut a hole in it if I liked! However, the rules also state that the only way a car can be disturbed is to attach a ticket - the parking attendant cannot do anything else. So if the registration plate is covered, then they cannot uncover it (reference lots of motorbikes parked with cardboard over the registration plate).

I never let it worry me as I knew that I had a valid permit, but wanted to keep the car covered. Of course, I never bother with the cover any more

[Mustang Baz]

Thanks for the responses folks.

Mike (d50cyx) - am going to also be in Wandsworth Borough and they have been incredibly anal of late in Putney, giving tickets out to others on the street even with the appropriate permits/tickets . I use a CoverCraft Weathershield and the manufacturers are very kindly sending me a sealed transparent kit which I can firmly attach to the cover and seal in the permit. A little concerned about theft however.......

[d50cyx]

Not sure what a thief has to gain from nicking it, apart from the satisfaction? And what do you do when you haven't got the cover on??? I suppose it means you'll always be forced to put it on....

I now have off street parking, so it's all less of an issue now.

Off topic - good luck with the marathon... I'll see you there

[focusonme]

d50cyx said:

Not sure what a thief has to gain from nicking it, apart from the satisfaction?

Haha.

The underclass of this country long ago stopped committing petty crime for any discernable rhyme or reason. And you can never discount the passing bored student, either...

[greenink]

One possible solution:

I saw a covered car in Balham that had a sticker on the cover saying "Parking permit in Window of Number xx YYYYYY road". Sounds like a good idea to me (assuming you have a window near the street), as the permit is safely behind your house window, and you dont need the permit if you are parking elsewhere do you?!

You might want to check with the local council that they are ok with that though :-)

P.

[V8 Archie]

I can see the cogs whirring in the local scrotes' heads...

Covered car, must be nice and expensive, oh look he's told me his address, there must be some stuff worth nicking in there...

[HiRich]

d50cyx said:

I had this question a while back (live in Wandsworth)...

When I asked about this (also in Putney), it was suggested that I could put a photocopy on the outside of the cover and keep the master on the screen. This would of course mean I was covered whether the cover was on or off. I can't confirm this would be accepted as I didn't get the cover in the end.

I would suggest you email the council, who i've generally found to be quite effective and pragmatic about these sorts of things:
www.wandsworth.gov.uk/Home/Environ
either with the question or a proposal, and make sure you get a written response/approval. That way you have a "Get out Of Jail Free" card to attach to the appeal if some dopey warden tries to do you. And yes I agree, the Wandsworth wardens have started doing some stupid things recently - another reason to get it in writing.

[Mustang Baz]

Many thanks Richard - really appreciate the guidance and nice to know I am not alone. Agreed that I need anything in writing although that could be a challenge!

Fascinating to see your car choice - although amazed you did not need a cover (unless you got covered parking!). Amazing car - very unusual to see so hope I see you around SW London.

[Anatol]

Also had confirmed (by Westminster Council) that the wardens cannot disturb the car/cover to obtain registration details, and hence issue a ticket if the numberplate is obscured.

Covering the car and parking permit, but leaving the numberplate exposed would technically commit the permit not displayed offence AND make issue of a ticket possible and lawful.

Safest options probably to get written advice from the local office that runs the wardens. At least then if they stick you on for doing exactly what they said you're in with a chance of getting the ticket revoked.

Didn't know there were tamper-proof iron on permit holders you could attach to the outside of covers though. I wonder if they might technically fall foul of the requirement to display the permit on the vehicle.

Anatol

[GKP]

Have a window stitched into the car cover to expose the permit that's stuck inside the windscreen.

[huckster6]

I live in Clapham (LB Wandsworth) and get a builder with a Mercedes Estate regularly uses my road as a free long term car park. He leaves it for days at a time with a cover on.
Parking Attendant told me he couldn't lift the cover.
I recall that the Mayor's web site has a specific warning about the futility of covering your number plate..I read they can remove masking.
The Wandsworth Parking Attendant knew nothing of this but thought that power might only belong to Traffic Wardens.

[M400 NBL]

Can't really help because I don't know your councils reg's. But I remember seeing Paul Zenon getting his own back on traffic wardens during one of his shows. He had a note on his car saying "if you touch any part of my car you will pay a fine of (same as parking ticket fine)" or something along those lines.

Having watched the warden lift his wiper (this was before they stuck them to windscreens) he pointed out the note. Can't remember if he got away with it.

I'm not getting a Noble until i've got a garage. Some to$$er scratched my car last night and knocked the wing mirror last night outside my house lastnight. Permit parking is very handy for being near a town or city but it's risky leaving a car you love on the street. That's why i've got a Alfa 145 at the moment. My Fiat Coupe got scratched and kicked which is kind of understandable because a chav may see it as a flash motor. But an Alfa 145 for christ sake.

Getting back to your question. Whatever your council tells you, get it in writing.

[eccles]

huckster6 said:

I live in Clapham (LB Wandsworth) and get a builder with a Mercedes Estate regularly uses my road as a free long term car park. He leaves it for days at a time with a cover on.
Parking Attendant told me he couldn't lift the cover.
I recall that the Mayor's web site has a specific warning about the futility of covering your number plate..I read they can remove masking.
The Wandsworth Parking Attendant knew nothing of this but thought that power might only belong to Traffic Wardens.

if you have a problem with the merc, whats to stop you aiding the traffic warden by lifting the cover for him?

[alphonso]

..very old discussion, I know, but these guys will sell you a 'window kit' for a fiver
http://www.carcovershop.co.uk/faq.asp

I bought an excellent breathable, seamless cover from Halfords for my 991 for £80 (no need for a £300 specialist Porsche cover), cut a hole in the right place and taped this in.

I know I must've done a good job because then it was stolen, but happy to replace, this is London after all

[Vastarray]

What if the number plate is on display, but the parking attendent can't (or wont) remove the car cover? Can they place a ticket on the actual car cover or does it have to be placed on the vehicle?