Frequently asked questions

No. The only exception to the permit limit is when we introduce a new zone, and a household has more than two cars registered and in use e.g. 3 or 4 at their address. We will allow each car registered at the address prior to the scheme start date to buy a permit. This is known as a Grandfather right. Any claim for additional permits must be made within 6 months of the start date.

You can have additional parking permits if you have a motorcycle or scooter which is parked in resident parking permit spaces, provided they are registered at your address.

To maintain the Grandfather right to more than two permits for cars, all must be renewed every year. If any of the extra permits are not renewed in any subsequent year, that permit right is lost, reducing the property allowance by the number not renewed. If address is sold or new tenants take over the house the allocation drops back to the standard two permits.

No. You can’t have more than one active permit at any time and you cannot have more than one active MiPermit Devon account. The vehicle should be registered with DVLA at the permit account’s address.

If you or another person living at the address have already bought the 1st permit for the property, via one or more accounts, an error message in red will appear under the field where you enter your registration number advising ‘no permits of this type available’ or ‘the maximum allocation being met or restrictions in place on the property’.

If you see this message go to the top of the page where it says select permit type and use the drop down to change from 1st Permit to 2nd permit. If the error disappears your application can be submitted. IF it does not, email parkingpermits@devon.gov.uk with a screenshot of your application and we’ll investigate and get back to you.

If you have just moved into a property or are about to and you are not being offered residents’ permits online, the most common reasons for this are: the former occupants have not cancelled their permits or if it is a house of multiple occupancy other current tenants have taken up the permit allocation already,or the address is not eligible or it is not in a zone.

Whenever you’re thinking of moving into a house in a residents’ parking permit area don’t assume that you will be able to have a parking permit, especially if the property is a flat, bedsit or studio in an older property that has been divided up or very recently built. Planning conditions may apply that exclude the property. Speak to the existing resident or check our list of eligible addresses. If still in doubt, email parkingpermits@devon.gov.uk before you commit to a purchase or tenancy agreement in residential permit controlled parking and want to use on street parking spaces.

New applicants are requested to provide legible scanned or photographed copies of documents confirming purchase or tenancy via email to parkingpermits@devon.gov.uk. If the property is a HMO let by room number, we require a list of all names in the other rooms. HMO permits are issued on a 1st come, 1st served basis and we may not be able to cancel an existing permit without the holders consent.

We will email you back to confirm the allocations have been updated or released and if permits are available to buy.

MiPermit account holders are now able to alter their registration number via the Manage Digital Permit option in their online account in real time.

Please note, you must do this via the MiPermit website not via the MiPermit App.

• When logged in, click on the “Manage Digital Permits” banner. Click on the type of permit you want to amend and then click on the applicable permit to view the “Edit Registrations” button.
• Click on the “Edit Registrations” button and in the pop-up window edit the vehicle registration to the required registration and click on “Save Details” to close the window. The new registration should then be displayed and assigned to the digital permit.

If you have changed your vehicle and are the 1st permit holder there is no charge for the change. If your permit is the 2nd permit or an additional allowed permit, your permit price may be more or less when the permit is next renewed when the new registration number and emission band is rechecked against HRMC car tax bands.

Motorcycle and business permit holders can contact us to alter the details on any of their permits as the price paid is fixed regardless of permit number.

Alternatively you can still email: parkingpermits@devon.gov.uk with details of the active permit number, permit holder’s name and address, current registration number and the new registration number and we will do this for you, however emails submitted outside of office times may not be dealt with until our next opening time. Please note we can only accept requests to change details on a permit from the permit account holder, or named permit holder.

Account holders can make one change in a 24 hour period to a new registration number on a permit on their account.

If you have a paper permit, please include a photo of the current permit, showing the permit cut into four quarters so we know it can no longer be used. A replacement permit will be provided for the remaining time on your permit at no charge. However, if you are unable to provide proof that the current permit cannot be used any more, we will have to cancel the permit and you will be required to pay the full charge for a new permit. A new permit will be valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.

Requests received by email are usually actioned and posted out within 24 hours of receipt. Requests received outside office hours will be actioned on the next working day.

You are required to clearly display a valid parking permit or have a valid digital permit when using a permit only space during its times of operation. You may receive a Penalty Charge Notice if you do not. You will need to find alternative parking or use any visitor permits you may have whilst waiting for the delivery of your next permit.

Currently there is no option to transfer existing permits to a different address even if staying in the same zone

This should be done if the new address does not require permits or is not eligible for permits. If moving into another permit area create a fresh account when registering to buy permits for the new address. You can reuse email details on the new address if you wish to.

If you have a valid paper permit and move address you should email parkingpermits@devon.gov.uk with your moving date with an attached photo of your permit cut into four pieces, or return your permit by post to Parking Services – Permits, Devon County Council, PO BOX 811, Exeter, EX1 9WA.  Please note, pro-rata refunds are not given for paper issued permits as per their terms and conditions.

If your permits are digital, when you know your leaving date, you should set a reminder to login to your MiPermit account and cancel any resident permits you hold and receive a pro-rata refund for any remaining unused full calendar months and close your account on the date you move out of the property. If you have remaining unused digital visitor hours as well email us and we will get those cancelled and refunded to you.

Any further questions on transferring permits or cancelling accounts please email us ahead of moving date for guidance.

You cease to be eligible for parking permits from the date your tenancy ended or date of completion of sale. Furthermore failing to cancel your permits will prevent the new owners/occupiers from being able to access the allocation of parking permits for that address.

If we receive evidence of a new owner or tenant and an effective date, the Council will cancel all permits linked to the outgoing resident’s permit accounts so the new owner/occupier can buy their permits. Unused calendar months or visitor hours will be pro-rata refunded to the card used to buy the permits.

Please note, pro-rata refunds are not given for paper issued permits as per their terms and conditions.Any further questions on transferring permits or cancelling accounts please email us ahead of moving date for guidance.

No. permits are non transferable.

Digital permits should be cancelled by the holder via their MiPermit account for a pro-rata refund and to release the allocation for use by another resident.

Paper issued permits should be returned or a photo emailed to parkingpermits@devon.gov.uk showing it into four pieces. It will be cancelled and then another resident in the house can buy their permit.

Please note, pro-rata refunds are not given for paper issued permits as per their terms and conditions.

From 3rd January 2023, motorcycles/motor scooters that are parked in a resident permit bay will need to have a permit. Exeter S1 and Sidmouth A are paper permit zones so motorcycles do not need a permit.

Additional permits are available to residents who may have a mix of cars and motorcycles used by residents of their address. As permits can now be issued digitally, all vehicles that take up space in a resident parking bay or road need to have a permit to park.

Those who visit you and arrive by motorcycle also need to have a visitor permit assigned to their motorcycle for the duration of their visit. Either from the allocation of digital visitor hours or by means of a scratchcard. The latter may be difficult to securely fasten.

Motorcycles owners who use protective covers, may we remind you that you are legally obligated to ensure that the registration plate is not obscured from view.

When it is necessary to close residential streets or temporarily suspend parking, it is the responsibility of the residents to find alternative parking. While not as convenient, permit holders can use any other road in their permit zone to park until work is completed.

Use our Devon Traffweb parking map to:

• view traffic restrictions
• find resident permit bays or pay and display parking

We are not responsible for any additional costs arising from a permit holder choosing to use a space or car park where parking charges apply.

Existing permits are only valid for the vehicle registration number recorded on your permit.

If you have a digital permit, you can change the registration number on your permit via the manage digital permit option in real time via your MiPermit account. Please see the How to Update your Detail information for further info on managing changes to your account detail.

Please note, you cannot make changes via the MiPermit App on an annual permit, only on a visitor permit.

You can make one new registration number change per 24 hour period, however you can revert back to your previous registration number if your car will be returned the same day.

If unable to do so yourself, the account/permit holder should email parkingpermits@devon.gov.uk with details of their current reg. number, the loaned reg. number, start date and duration of the loan period and reason needed, e.g., service or repairs. We’ll amend your permit for you.

If your permit has been issued on paper and your vehicle repairs will take more than a day we can issue a paperless digital temporary permit for any vehicle you are using as a stop gap. You will not receive a permit to display in the car, the details will be available to the enforcement team via their devices.

The account/permit holder should email parkingpermits@devon.gov.uk with details of their current reg. number, the loaned reg. number, start date and duration of the loan period and reason needed, e.g., service or repairs. We’ll create a temporary digital permit for you.

Your own visitor permits should be used for short-term changes of less than two days or the vehicle parked in non-permit only parking spaces.

Temporary permits can be used for up to 14 days from the date of issue. Should repairs or an insurance claim be likely to take longer than 14 days, we may extend that initial permit for you, but would need to see some supporting documentation from the garage or your insurers confirming the extenuating circumstances and need for the permit to be extended.

You cannot have a temporary permit for a courtesy car if your own car is still parked on the road in your zone, pending removal, repair or settlement of an insurance claim. We are unable to exceed the allocated number of permits per address. In most cases, but not all the allocation of permits allowed is two.

If you already have been given permission to use POOL permits issued on paper to your address, you will still be able to have a digital POOL permit that you can use in differing vehicles.

If you’ve not heard from us before, when you receive  a reminder notice that your permit is coming up to its expiration date, please contact the parkingpermits@devon.gov.uk mailbox and we will advise you of how we can set up your permit account for you to manage changes of registration numbers via your account.

We’ll need proof of address and supporting document explaining why your vehicle usage varies, such as a letter from employer if they provide the vehicles you use.

Digital permit holders from December 2023 may make one change to a new registration number in a 24 period. This should be sufficient for most workers who bring a company POOL vehicle home after work.

We’re unable to accept card payments for paper parking permits with customers on a telephone call any more as a result of enhanced security checks brought in by banks and credit cards companies during 2022 and data protection and security compliance regulations.

Whilst we appreciate this is inconvenient for our customers, we’re required to work to the regulations which are designed to protect your personal information and your financial security.

We can accept applications and payments by cheque or postal order sent to us by post. See How do I buy or renew my permit if I don’t have internet access and cannot pay online or prefer to pay by cheque?

Please bear in mind that paying by post will delay the issuing of permits for your use. To avoid delays, consider asking a family member, trusted friend or neighbour or a care provider if you have one, if they may be willing to do it for you online. There is free internet access available to all in local libraries and a staff member may be willing to assist you.

We still accept cheques and postal orders but please check how much your permits will cost. The first permit for the address is £35, but additional permits will cost more based on emissions. Send your payment for the right amount made payable to Devon County Council, to Permit Services, Devon County Council, PO Box 811, Exeter, EX1 9WA.

If your payment does not cover the full cost of your permit request, we will have to return your application documents and payment to you, delaying your order further. Overpaid requests will also be returned.

If you are a new applicant, please enclose a short note with your name, address, postcode, phone number and the vehicle registration number of the vehicle the permit is for. If you need more than one permit or also wish to buy visitor permit books, please tell us what you need and ensure your cheque amount is enough to meet the cost of your order. You will need to provide a copy of one document in your name as proof of address, for example, Council Tax bill, tenancy, solicitor’s letter, and one for the vehicle registration number to go on the permit, for example, V5C or vehicle insurance document.

If you wish to renew a current resident or business permit, please ensure that you contact us before your current permit expires. Return to us, your reminder letter, your proofs and your payment, and we will renew the permit for you. If any of the details on your reminder letter have changed in the previous period make sure you tell us what you would want to be altered.

If renewing an essential visitor permit and you are a blue badge holder, please provide a copy of your badge or if unable to do so, tell us the badge number and its expiry date.

Please tell us your email address if you have one and a contact number, in case we need to contact you with a query relating to your permit order.

Remember, you must have a valid permit to park in any resident only space and failing to do so, may result in a parking fine.

If the loss was due to circumstances beyond your control, e.g. theft, car accident, the council may waive the cost of a replacement permit for the remaining period of time left on the original permit. We may ask you to provide supporting evidence to show it was not your fault.

If the loss could have reasonably been prevented, e.g. you forgot to take it out when selling car,  take it off when replacing the windscreen, or not stuck to windscreen and blown out of window, eaten by the dog etc, then you do need to pay for a new permit  which will be valid for a full year from the date of issue.

Please email parkingpermits@devon.gov.uk with your name, address and permit number and tell us why you need a replacement permit or report it lost so we can allow you to buy a new one. In the case of a replacement being needed due theft or accident please provide supporting evidence of this, e.g. crime log number or insurance letter.

You are required to clearly display a valid parking permit when using a permit only space during its times of operation. You may receive a Penalty Charge Notice if you do not. You will need to find alternative parking or use any visitor permits you may have whilst waiting for delivery of your next permit.

If you have a digital permit account with MiPermit, you can cancel your resident permit via the manage digital permit options in your account. Select the permit details and use the cancel permit red button to cancel that permit. A user guide is available on our permit web pages if you need further help.

If you have bought some digital visitor permits and wanted to have visitor scratch card permits instead, please email parkingpermits@devon.gov.uk to cancel those permit and trigger a refund to you of the amount paid. Customers can then buy a new book of permits via their account.

Any unused digital visitor hours left on your account can also be cancelled and refunded upon request should you change address or no longer require these permits please email us and we’ll cancel the unused visitor hours and arrange the refund due to you.

If you are a paper permit holder we can cancel permits when we receive sight of the permit cut into quarters, attached to an email requesting cancellation. The request must come from the named permit holder for us action it. Permits cannot be transferred to new named holders, any paper permit cancelled is non refundable if part used as is stated in our terms and conditions at time of purchase.

Please use the online form on our Report a parking problem page.

Information about the appeal process and how to challenge your ticket can be found on our parking tickets page.