Where to Get Your PE3 Witnessed
A PE3 statutory declaration is only valid once sworn in person before an authorised witness. Here is where to get it done, and how to check it is the right form.
Last updated 13 November 2026
Who can legally witness a PE3?
A PE3 must be sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths (for example a solicitor), a Justice of the Peace (magistrate), or an officer of the county court. A friend, a relative, or you signing alone is not enough, and the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC) will not process a PE3 that has not been properly sworn.
The PE3 is a statutory declaration. You use it to tell the TEC why the Order for Recovery should not stand, for example that you never got the notice to owner, or that you challenged or appealed on time and heard nothing back.
Because the PE3 is made under oath, the witness confirms your identity and takes your declaration. That is why it cannot be just anyone. It has to be a person the law authorises to take a statutory declaration.
Does it have to be done in person with the original?
Yes. A PE3 is sworn in person, using the original printed form, in front of the authorised witness. Do not plan on a video call or sending it by post to be witnessed. Doing it in person with the original document removes the risk of the TEC rejecting it on a technicality.
Do not sign the PE3 before your appointment. You sign it in front of the witness, who then adds their own signature and details. A form signed in advance defeats the purpose of the declaration and can be treated as improperly sworn.
Bring the actual printed form, not a copy or a phone screen. The witness has to see you sign the physical document they are certifying.
Do I still need a PE2?
No. In October 2026 the Traffic Enforcement Centre replaced its forms. The PE2 was replaced by the TE14, so if you are filing late or need more time, you now use a TE14. It is signed with a statement of truth and needs no witness. You send it together with your PE3, but only the PE3 is sworn at the appointment.
So if you are filing on time, you need just the PE3. If you are late, you need the PE3 plus a TE14 explaining why. Either way there is one declaration to swear.
Not every case needs a PE3. Since October 2026 the TEC uses a TE13 for parking PCNs, moving traffic contraventions outside London, and Dart Charge, Mersey Gateway or clean air zone PCNs. A TE13 is a witness statement signed with a statement of truth, so it needs no witness and you do not need this service. If your Order for Recovery names an old form, use its replacement: a TE9 is now the TE13, and a TE7 or PE2 is now the TE14. Parking Ticket Pal at parkingticketpal.com can help with a TE13.
What are your options for getting a PE3 witnessed?
You have three realistic routes: a county court hearing centre, a solicitor or other Commissioner for Oaths you find yourself, or a booked appointment with us for £49. Each trades cost against time and convenience.
A county court: TEC guidance says swearing a PE3 is free at most county court hearing centres, by appointment. You need to book, travel there during court hours and bring your printed form.
A solicitor you find yourself: the fee a Commissioner for Oaths charges is set by law at £5 per person making the declaration, plus £2 for each exhibit. You will need to find a firm that offers it and fits you in, and they will not necessarily check your form for you.
Our service at £49: a booked, in-person appointment with a qualified solicitor and Commissioner for Oaths in Crystal Palace, London, subject to availability, with a check that your PE3 is filled in correctly before you swear it. The appointment usually takes around ten minutes.
What should you bring to the appointment?
Bring your original printed PE3, unsigned, valid photo ID, the Order for Recovery you received, and any documents you refer to as exhibits in your declaration. If you are filing late, bring your completed TE14 too so it can go off with the PE3.
Do not sign the PE3 beforehand. The point of the appointment is that you sign in front of the witness. If you have already signed, you may be asked to reprint it and start again.
Having your Order for Recovery to hand also confirms the deadline you are working to and the form it names, so you know a PE3 is the right one for your case.
Why book with us instead of finding someone yourself?
Booking with us removes the two things that go wrong on the do-it-yourself route: finding someone who will witness a PE3 when you need it, and getting the form rejected because it was filled in incorrectly. Our solicitor checks your PE3 before you swear it, then witnesses it properly.
There is real urgency. You usually have 21 days from the Order for Recovery to file. If your PE3 succeeds, the Order for Recovery is withdrawn and bailiffs cannot act on it. Getting the form sworn correctly the first time protects that outcome.
A statutory declaration is made under oath. Making a false statutory declaration is an offence under section 5 of the Perjury Act 1911 and carries up to two years in prison, which is another reason to have the form checked and sworn properly rather than rushed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get my PE3 witnessed online or over video call?
Plan on doing it in person. The PE3 says it must be sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths, a Justice of the Peace or a county court officer, and an in-person declaration with the original printed form removes the risk of a rejection.
Who is allowed to witness a PE3?
A Commissioner for Oaths (for example a solicitor), a Justice of the Peace (magistrate), or an officer of the county court. A friend or relative cannot witness it, and a PE3 that is not properly sworn will not be processed by the TEC.
Do I still need a PE2?
No. Since October 2026 the TEC uses a TE14 if you are filing late or need more time. The TE14 is signed with a statement of truth, needs no witness, and is sent together with your PE3.
Is it cheaper to go to a court or a solicitor?
TEC guidance says swearing a PE3 is free at most county court hearing centres, by appointment. A solicitor or other Commissioner for Oaths charges the prescribed fee of £5 per person declaring plus £2 per exhibit. You arrange either yourself, and neither will necessarily check your form.
Should I sign the PE3 before my appointment?
No. You must sign the PE3 in front of the witness, who then signs it themselves. A pre-signed form can be treated as improperly sworn, so bring it unsigned.
Do I need this service for a parking ticket?
No. Since October 2026 parking PCNs use a TE13, a witness statement signed with a statement of truth, so it does not need a witness. If your Order for Recovery names an old form, use its replacement: a TE9 is now the TE13, and a TE7 or PE2 is now the TE14. For a TE13, use Parking Ticket Pal at parkingticketpal.com instead.