The fee or parking ticket (also called FPS for “Forfait de Post-Stationnement”) is issued by the municipality contrary to a parking fine or a report that is issued by the police. The FPS in Montpellier is € 17 or € 33 depending on the area.

To dispute your parking fee, you must follow the specific procedure of the municipality or the specialized company who manages it. In this case: TAM

Why could you challenge a parking fee?

Contest a FPS is always possible if you have a good reason. Here are some examples (non-exhaustive list):

  • Parking meter out of order (the one nearby too). The law then implies to put the blue disc.
  • You were in the process of paying the ticket machine when you received the fee.
  • Defect in form (eg error in the date, in the license plate, in the address, or the reason for the fee).
  • You were loading or unloading material. Your car was therefore legally "stopped" and not "parked".
  • Your car has been stolen (do not forget to join the theft report).

How to dispute a parking fee?

  • You must file a RAPO (Recours Administratif Préalable Obligatoire) via the online form.
  • Or send the dated and signed claim by registered mail.
  • Mention in your complaint:
    • Last name and first name
    • Address
    • Objet of the complaint
    • Precise parking address
    • Fee number
    • License plate number
    • Attach the FPS (the notice received by post and not the one affixed to your windshield).
    • Attach the proof of your right (eg proof of payment to the parking meter)

Deadline for contest and payment

  • Contest deadline: 1 month (from the date of the FPS).
    • The department responsible for the FPS has one month to make a decision. A non-response is equivalent to a rejection of the claim.
    • If the decision does not suit you, you have one month to appeal to the CCSP (Commission du Contentieux de Stationnement Payant).
  • Payment deadline: 3 months (from the date of the FPS).
  • After 3 months, fee will be increase by € 50 and a legal civil procedure will be established.

Payment procedure

  • Minus FPS: directly at the parking meter or via the online form
  • Non-minus FPS (or after 4 days): online form

Procedure for inserting the claim

How to avoid parking tickets?

You want to reduce risks to get a parking ticket in the future? Check the parking rules for Montpellier here.

Police parking fine

Parking fines issued by the police are related to violations of the highway code and are not the responsibility of the municipality. If you received a parking fine, you can challenge it by returning the reply form that accompanies the ticket. You will find more information on the difference between a fine and a parking fee here.