Quick Summary:
- Photograph the plate, bumper, and windscreen permit before entering any ANPR car park.
- Use the intercom, explain ANPR failure, and request manual exit validation.
- Call the car hire provider, log the issue, and ask for written notes.
- Keep receipts, timestamps, and staff names to dispute lost ticket charges.
ANPR, automatic number plate recognition, is common in Pennsylvania car parks, especially at airports, rail stations, hospitals, and city centre garages. It works well until it does not. A slightly bent or obscured number plate on a hire car can be enough for cameras to misread the registration, leading to barriers not lifting, incorrect durations, or a “lost ticket” penalty at the pay station or exit.
This is frustrating, but it is usually solvable if you treat it like a documentation problem, not an argument at the barrier. The goal is to get in and out safely, avoid being charged for a plate you did not damage, and leave a clear paper trail in case a charge appears later.
If you are arranging car hire in the Philadelphia area, it can help to understand where ANPR is most likely to be used and how providers handle parking disputes. Information about pick-up points can be found on pages like Philadelphia Airport car rental and car rental in Philadelphia, but the practical steps below apply across Pennsylvania.
Why a bent number plate causes ANPR failures
ANPR cameras are trained to read a plate that is flat, clean, and square to the camera. A bend can distort characters, create glare, or cast a shadow across the text. In winter, a thin layer of road salt or slush makes it worse. Frames, tinted covers, and even a tow hitch mounted close to the plate can also interfere.
When the camera cannot read your registration on entry, the system may create a partial record, or none at all. When it cannot read on exit, it cannot match your stay to a payment record. Many systems then default to maximum stay charges, “lost ticket” rates, or require staff intervention to lift the barrier.
Importantly, a failure does not automatically mean you have done anything wrong. Your job is to make it easy for staff or your car hire provider to verify the situation later.
Before you enter, do a 30-second plate check
If you notice a bent plate before approaching an ANPR-controlled entrance, stop somewhere safe and do three quick checks.
1) Clean and re-angle. Wipe dirt, salt, or water. If the plate is loosely mounted and angled downward, do not bend it by hand, but you can sometimes tighten a loose screw with the tool kit if it is clearly safe and permitted. If you are unsure, leave it and document it.
2) Photograph it properly. Take wide shots showing the plate in context with the full front or rear of the vehicle, then close-ups from straight on. If the plate is bent, include a side angle that shows the curvature. Take a photo that includes a landmark or sign if possible, so location is obvious.
3) Record the time. A simple note on your phone with the time you entered and the car park name can be enough to connect the dots later.
This is especially useful right after pick-up, for example if you collected at car hire at Philadelphia PHL and drive straight into a garage or hotel car park.
At the entry barrier, avoid creating a worse problem
If the barrier does not open or the ticket machine behaves oddly, do not reverse into traffic or attempt to tailgate another vehicle. Instead:
Use the intercom immediately. Say that you are in a hire car and the system may not be reading the plate. Ask the operator to open the barrier and to note your registration manually. If there is a call button on the ticket machine, use it even if it also offers a paper ticket.
If a paper ticket is offered, take it. Some ANPR sites run “hybrid” mode. A ticket creates a physical proof of entry that can save you from a lost ticket fee later. Keep it safe and take a quick photo of it.
Ask what you should do on exit. The best question is practical: “If the barrier does not recognise my plate when I leave, what will you need from me?” Get their guidance before you are trapped in a queue at the exit.
In the car park, document while you have time
Once parked, take a moment to build a small evidence pack. This feels excessive until you need it.
Photograph your bay and signage. Capture the zone, tariff board, and any mention of ANPR, lost ticket charges, or customer service numbers. If there is a pay-by-plate instruction, photograph that too.
Keep proof of why you were there. A restaurant receipt, hotel check-in message, or appointment confirmation can support your timeframe if the system later claims you stayed longer.
Do not try to “fix” the plate yourself. Bending it back can create paint cracks, mounting damage, or a new crease. That can shift responsibility onto you. Documentation is safer than DIY repairs.
Paying: choose the method that leaves a trail
ANPR car parks in Pennsylvania may use pay stations, mobile apps, or pay-on-exit barriers. If the plate might not scan, your aim is to make payment verifiable.
Use a card when possible. A card payment produces a bank record with time and location. Keep the printed receipt if available and take a photo.
Enter the plate carefully. If a kiosk asks for the registration, type it exactly as shown on the vehicle documents. A common problem is confusing O and 0, or I and 1. If you are unsure, check the registration card in the glovebox or your rental agreement.
If you used an app, screenshot confirmation. Capture the payment confirmation screen with the date, time, and car park identifier.
At the exit: how to avoid “lost ticket” penalties
If the barrier does not lift because the camera cannot read your plate, you generally have three workable options.
Option 1: Intercom and manual override. Press the help button, state your plate clearly, and explain it is a hire car with a bent plate. Provide your payment details or ticket number. Ask the operator to open the barrier and to confirm that the system has marked the stay as paid.
Option 2: Return to the pay station for a receipt or validation. If the exit operator cannot see your payment record, ask what identifier they need. Sometimes reprinting a receipt, re-entering the registration, or validating at a staffed booth solves it.
Option 3: Pay-on-exit with staff assistance. If the system insists on a lost ticket fee, do not accept it on the spot if you have proof of entry and payment. Calmly request a supervisor or ask for an incident number and the procedure to appeal. Paying a penalty “to get out” can be hard to unwind later, so try to resolve it before payment where safe to do so.
Always note the staff member’s name or operator ID, plus the time and lane number. If the intercom announces calls are recorded, that can also help later.
Who to contact: car park first, then the car hire provider
When ANPR fails, the car park operator controls the barriers and the charge rules, so they are usually the first contact for immediate access. After you are out, contact your car hire provider to protect yourself from later claims.
Contact the car park operator when: you cannot enter, cannot exit, the kiosk demands a lost ticket charge, or you were charged the wrong amount at the gate. Ask for an incident reference, and request confirmation by email if they can provide it.
Contact your car hire provider when: the plate is bent or loose, you suspect it is pre-existing damage, or you anticipate a charge notice. Ask them to note the vehicle file with “plate bent at start of hire” and the date and time you reported it. If you are driving a larger vehicle, this can be particularly relevant because plates can be more exposed. You can compare vehicle categories through pages such as SUV hire in Philadelphia or van hire in Philadelphia, but the documentation steps remain the same.
If your provider offers roadside assistance, ask whether they want you to visit an exchange location for a replacement vehicle or plate bracket. Do not attempt to remove or remount plates yourself.
How to document the plate condition so you are not blamed
To avoid being held responsible for damage, you need clear “before” and “after” evidence tied to dates.
1) Take “collection” photos. Ideally, photograph the front and rear plates at pick-up, even if they look fine. Include the whole vehicle in at least two shots and capture any existing dents near the plate mount.
2) Add a short written note. In your phone notes, record: date, time, location, mileage, and what you observed, for example “rear plate bent outward on right edge, characters readable straight on.” Avoid guessing how it happened.
3) Report it promptly. Send the note and one or two key photos to the provider as soon as practical, not days later. Prompt reporting is often what separates “pre-existing” from “in your care.”
4) Keep everything until the deposit is released. Save photos, receipts, and any emails until you have the final invoice and your card deposit is settled.
If you receive a notice or extra charge later
Sometimes the first sign of a problem is an after-the-fact charge, such as an unpaid parking fee, an “admin” fee for processing, or a claim that the plate was damaged. If this happens:
Gather your timeline. Put your entry and exit times, receipts, and photos in order. Include screenshots of app payments and any incident reference numbers.
Dispute with the car park operator using evidence. If you paid, show proof. If the ANPR record is wrong, your photos of the bent plate and any operator notes support your case.
Inform your car hire provider. If the provider passed on a charge, ask for copies of what they received and what they paid. If the dispute is about damage, ask them to compare your collection photos with their return inspection.
Stay factual and consistent. The strongest disputes are simple: “The system could not read the plate, I paid, here is proof, here is the incident note.”
Preventing repeat problems during your Pennsylvania trip
If the plate is only slightly bent, ANPR may work sometimes and fail other times, which is the most confusing scenario. Reduce risk by choosing car parks with staffed exits when possible, allowing extra time at airports and busy city garages, and keeping your payment trail tidy.
If you are repeatedly encountering issues, ask your provider whether a vehicle swap is possible. If you are using a branded supplier through Hola, information pages like National Car Rental in Philadelphia can help you understand the provider context, but the key is reporting early and keeping documentation.
FAQ
What should I say to the operator if the ANPR barrier will not open? Tell them you are in a hire car, the number plate is bent so the camera may not read it, then give the full registration and ask for manual entry or exit validation.
Will I automatically be charged a lost ticket fee if the system cannot read my plate? Not automatically, but many sites default to a lost ticket rate when they cannot match entry and exit. Using the intercom and keeping a ticket, receipt, or app confirmation usually prevents it.
Should I try to bend the plate back so ANPR can read it? No. Adjusting it yourself can be treated as new damage. Clean it, document it clearly, and report it to the car hire provider instead.
What evidence is most useful if I need to dispute a parking charge? Photos of the bent plate, a receipt or payment confirmation with timestamps, the car park signage showing terms, and the operator incident reference or staff name.
Do I need to report the bent plate even if I can get out? Yes. Reporting creates a record that the condition existed during the hire, which helps if a later ANPR charge or damage allegation appears.
