Useful information
Parking violations
In the UK, Penalty (Parking) Charge Notices (PCNs) can be issued for a variety of reasons, including:
Parking violations: PCNs are frequently issued for parking offenses, such as parking in restricted zones, on double yellow lines, in disabled parking spaces without a valid permit, or exceeding the allowed parking time. E.g. Parking without paying for a ticket.
Traffic violations: PCNs can be issued for traffic-related infractions, including running red lights, illegal turns, driving in bus lanes during restricted hours, or driving in restricted areas.
Congestion charges: In some cities, PCNs are issued for failing to pay or comply with congestion charges or tolls when driving in certain zones or during specific times.
Bus lane violations: PCNs may be issued for driving or parking in dedicated bus lanes, which are typically reserved for buses and emergency vehicles during specific hours.
Moving traffic offenses: PCNs can be issued for offenses committed while driving, such as using a mobile phone while driving, not wearing a seatbelt, or failing to comply with traffic signs and signals.
Environmental violations: In certain areas, PCNs may be issued for environmental offenses like idling engines for an extended period, exceeding permitted emissions, or not complying with specific environmental regulations. It's important to note that the specific reasons for issuing PCNs can vary depending on the local laws and regulations in place. It's best to consult the traffic or parking enforcement authority in your area or review local regulations to understand the specific offenses for which PCNs can be issued.
Parking in a dangerous or obstructive manner: If you park in a way that is dangerous or obstructive, you will be issued a PCN. This could include parking on a double yellow line, parking in a pedestrian crossing, or parking in a way that blocks access to a driveway.
Parking without displaying a valid permit: If you need a permit to park in a certain area, and you do not display a valid permit, you will be issued a PCN.
Always check for signage, permits, time limits, and any other requirements to park legally and avoid unnecessary penalties.
Types of PCN charges
There are variety of reason a PCN can be issued, including:
ULEZ PCN: A ULEZ PCN is a Penalty Charge Notice that is issued to drivers of vehicles that do not meet the emissions standards for the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London. The ULEZ is a restricted area in central London where drivers of older, more polluting vehicles must pay a daily charge to enter. If you drive a vehicle that does not meet the ULEZ emissions standards and you do not pay the correct daily charge, you may be issued with a PCN.
The penalty for not paying a ULEZ PCN is £180, which is halved if paid within 14 days. You may also be eligible for a further discount if you pay within 28 days.
There are a few grounds on which you may be able to appeal a ULEZ PCN. These include:
Your vehicle met the ULEZ emissions standards at the time of the alleged offence.
You paid the correct daily charge for your vehicle.
You were not in the ULEZ at the time of the alleged offence.
You had a legitimate reason for not paying the daily charge.
If you wish to appeal a ULEZ PCN, you must do so within 28 days of the date of the notice. You can appeal online or by post, Transport for London (TfL) website.
Bus Lane PCN: London is famous for its iconic red buses, and to ensure the efficiency of public transport, these have lots of nominated lanes throughout the city. With so many of them to get round, it’s easy to see why bus lane PCNs are some of the most common.
Bus lanes are marked by either a solid white line or a dashed white line. Solid white lines shouldn’t be crossed at all during the bus lane operating times, while a dashed white line should only be crossed when turning left.
Bus lanes are in operation either 24 hours a day or have split times. Every bus lane has a blue sign that indicates the time in which they operate.
Bus lane signs are square or rectangular and have a blue background with white writing.
PHV drivers can only use the bus lanes outside their operating hours, the same as anyone else. PHV drivers can’t use bus stops to drop off riders at any time of the day.
Bus stops are marked by yellow dashed lines and feature the words “BUS STOP,” also in yellow. They also have red route lines to indicate that no other vehicle can stop or unload in this area.
PCO drivers can cross the solid white line to avoid a collision or to give way to an ambulance or other emergency services vehicle. PHVs can also cross bus lanes to gain access to the kerbside to pick up or drop off passengers but must leave the bus lane straight away.
Licenced London taxis (Hackney Carriage), motorbikes, scooters, and bicycles can use the bus lanes at any time of the day. Bus lanes are monitored by CCTV cameras and traffic police.
Bus lane PCN costs can rise to £160 depending on where the infringement occurred and how quickly you pay the fine.
Tip: If you’re not sure if a bus lane is in operation, it’s best not to use it at all and avoid picking up unnecessary PCN fines.
Red Route PCN: With so many busy roads, it’s important to maintain the flow of the London traffic. To minimise the chance of a traffic jam, there are sections of road where you can’t stop to park, load, and unload – they call these red routes.
A red route is an area of road where you can’t park, and it’s marked by either a double red line or a classic ‘no stopping’ sign (blue circle with red cross).
Red routes have solid, single, or double red lines marked on the edge of a road. Here’s what they look like.
A red route with a single red line indicates that you can only stop there at certain times.
A red route with a double red line indicates you’re not allowed to stop there at any time of the day.
Red routes make up 5% of the city’s roads, carrying up to 30% of all traffic.
Red line PCN costs £160, which can be reduced by 50% to £80 if you pay it within 14 days.
Tip: If your rider sets their pick-up or drop-off point at a red route, suggest stopping at the nearest by street to avoid a PCN fine.
Yellow Box Junction PCN: It’s never a good feeling to be stuck in the middle of an intersection, blocking traffic from going past. In London, you could be fined for obstructing traffic if the intersection is marked with yellow lines.
Yellow box junctions are square areas in intersections marked by yellow lines in a criss-cross pattern.
A yellow box PCN costs £160, which can be reduced by 50% to £80 if you pay it within 14 days.
Tip: Don’t let other drivers pressure you into entering an intersection too early. Drive on your own terms, and when in doubt, don’t take the risk of being stuck in an intersection – regardless of if it’s a yellow box or a regular one.
Prohibited Turn PCN: Also known as banned turns, prohibited turns are in place to minimise the chance of an accident where there’s heavy or one-way traffic.
A prohibited turn is an illegal turn. Prohibited turns stop you from turning into oncoming traffic.
Banned turn signs are circular in shape, with a bent arrow indicating the prohibited turn direction, crossed with a red line. Below are two examples of prohibited turn signs.
A prohibited turn PCN costs £160, which can be reduced by 50% to £80 if you pay it within 14 days.
Tip: Don’t ignore prohibited turns since they’re in place to protect you on the road. There are no advantages to taking a prohibited turn, no matter the time of day or the amount of traffic.
Speeding PCN: Speeding is a common trap for drivers looking to maximise their efficiency during the day, hence why it’s one of the top six PCN notices within our fleet.
Approximately 60% of London’s roads have a speed limit of 20 mph, with a further 30% of London’s roads having a 30-mph speed limit.
Please note most London councils have a 20mph speed limit in place.
A London speed limit sign is a circular sign with a large number in the middle, surrounded by a red circle.
Speeding PCNs cost minimum £100, and three penalty points added to your licence. If you choose to challenge the PCN in court and lose, you may have to pay up to £1,000 (£2,500 if on a motorway) for large infringements.
Despite the perceived need for speed, the fines and accident risks linked to speeding far outweigh the potential time savings.
Tip: It’s easy to miss street signs when driving, but the Waze app helps you remember the speed limit in your area. You can also set it to warn you if you go over the speed limit.
Parking PCN: It’s human nature to run the risk of leaving your car parked for a period longer than permitted. What are the chances a park inspector will show up? Judging by the number of PCNs that drivers receive, the chances of the parking inspector showing up are higher than you might think!
A parking PCN is a fine for parking in an area longer than permitted by the parking signage or the parking ticket you purchased.
Parking signs are white square or rectangle signs with the key information displayed in the middle of the sign. Parking signs do vary in London, so take the time to find the correct sign and study the information accordingly.
A single yellow line means you can park there, but only at set times of the day or the week. Make sure you refer to the parking signage nearby or to the council’s website for more information.
You can stop on a double yellow line for a period if you don’t leave the car. In other words, you’re allowed to pick up or drop off a passenger, but you can’t park the car on a double yellow line.
The cost of a parking PCN ranges from £80 to £130 depending on the location and type of infringement. A 50% discount applies if you pay the PCN within 21 days.
Tip: There are parking apps for drivers that you might want to check out on Android & IOS.
When you get fined for parking, it’s obvious: you’ll see one of these notorious yellow tickets or envelopes attached to your windscreen.
However, for most other offences you probably won’t even realize you’ve been fined until you get a letter to your address. This acts as notice the same way as a conventional ticket does, the difference is that you’ll have 21 days as opposed to the normal 14 to get the 50% discount for quick payment.
Tip: Avoiding PCNs altogether is the easiest way to keep your costs down and make sure your driver’s licence isn’t revoked. If you do get a PCN we advise you to be decisive: either challenge the PCN immediately and gather the evidence required or pay the fine early to access the 50% discount. The last thing you want to do is forget about the PCN and be issued with a court appearance.
PCN for toll roads: In the case of tolls, a PCN may be issued if you fail to pay the toll or if you pay the toll after the deadline.
The amount of the PCN for tolls will vary depending on the authority that issued it. However, it is typically around £40-£60. If you do not pay the PCN, the authority may take further action, such as issuing a Charge Certificate or sending the matter to court.
There are a few things you can do if you receive a PCN for tolls:
Pay the PCN within the specified time. This will usually avoid any further action being taken.
Make a representation against the PCN. You can do this if you believe that you have not committed a traffic violation. You will need to provide evidence to support your case.
Appeal the PCN to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. This is an independent body that hears appeals against PCNs. You will need to pay a fee to appeal.
Here are some tips to help you avoid getting a PCN for tolls:
Make sure you know the rules about paying tolls in the area you are driving in.
Pay the toll on time.
Keep a record of your toll payments.
If you have any problems paying the toll, contact the authority that issued it as soon as possible.
PCN for Congestion Charge: A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is a fine issued by Transport for London (TfL) to drivers who enter the Congestion Charge zone without paying the charge. The Congestion Charge zone is an area in central London where drivers must pay a daily charge to enter between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.
The amount of the PCN for entering the Congestion Charge zone without paying the charge is £160. However, if you pay the charge within 14 days of receiving the PCN, the amount is reduced to £80. If you do not pay the PCN, TfL may take further action, such as issuing a court summons.
Here are some tips to avoid getting a PCN for entering the Congestion Charge zone:
Make sure you have paid the Congestion Charge before you enter the zone. You can pay the charge online, by phone, or by text message.
Check the Congestion Charge zone boundaries. The zone boundaries can be found on the TfL website.
Keep an eye out for the Congestion Charge signs. The signs are blue and white and have a black "C" in the middle.
If you think you have been issued a PCN unfairly, you can appeal the PCN. You can appeal the PCN online or by post.
How to complain about a parking ticket
If you have received a parking ticket and if it is headed with Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), this will have been issued by your local council.
Parking bay suspended: If a parking bay you are using is suspended and you have received a ticket, you may be able to make a claim if the details of the bay suspension are incorrect (e.g., wrong road name) or if the sign is not visible.
Three-minute rule: If you were issued a ticket within the first three minutes of arriving, you can appeal. The decision will depend upon the council, but it is reasonable to appeal on the grounds that you were looking for a machine or purchasing a ticket.
However, if you have left to get change this is not a reasonable reason for appealing.
No returns within a period: This means you cannot go back to the parking zone for the period. If the warden has taken your number plate down and you have received a ticket, this has a low chance of appeal unless they have incorrectly taken down your number plate or you observed the sign. Use your parking tickets as evidence of this.
Meter broken: If the meter is broken or covered, you cannot park there during the controlled hours. For pay and display, you should use an alternative machine that operates nearby under the same times and charges.
Poor signage: If you have parked in a parking bay and have received a parking ticket for being parked in the incorrect bay, then you can appeal the ticket if the signs displaying the information were not clear or visible.
Parking outside of the bay: If you have parked outside of a bay or parking space, then you are liable for a ticket. This can be even one wheel outside of the bay or partially out. If you are partially out, you can consider appealing but there are limited chances of success.
If your vehicle is more than 50cm from the pavement, then you are also liable for a ticket.
Ticket not visible: If you have bought a ticket and it was not visible (for example, if it has fallen off the dashboard) then you have grounds to make an appeal (at the discretion of the council). If you appeal under these circumstances, it is extremely unlikely that you will succeed.
Single yellow line: If you are parking on a single yellow line, there are parking restrictions for a limited period. There should be clear and visible signs explaining the parking restriction times. If these were not visible, then you have grounds to make an appeal.
Double yellow line: If you have parked on a double yellow line, then there are limited grounds for appeal. Double yellow lines are no parking at any time. Sometimes you may be able to stop to load or unload but no more than that. If there are two stripes on the curb at regular intervals, then you have no rights to unload or load at this point. The same is also true if the lines are red.
Blue badge holder: If you have a blue badge you are allowed to park in parking meter and pay and display car parks for free. Blue badge holders are also not allowed to be clamped.
Blue badge on yellow lines: A Blue Badge holder is able to park on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours, unless the zone is exempt from loading or unloading. These are represented by two stripes marked on the pavement at regular intervals.
Bank holiday parking: Most parking zones are free on bank holidays but in busy areas some parking zones still charge on a bank holiday of weekend. It is best to check the signs before parking. If the parking should be free on a bank holiday and you have received a ticket, then you can appeal.
Remember to get evidence: Ensure you take photographs of any evidence and upload it to your Resolver case file. Include the street scene, road signs, and, if you paid by meter, any signage on the meter.
Mitigating circumstances: If you have received a parking ticket and there were mitigating circumstances, then you can appeal your ticket. These include:
Car breakdown.
Tending an emergency or clearing debris from the road.
Dropping off an ill patient at hospital.
Recent bereavement.
Attending a funeral.
A bay is suspended but your car was already parked there: If any of these are the case, you should provide as much evidence to support your argument.
Someone else was driving the car: If your car was stolen, then your appeal should include a copy of your crime reference number as evidence that the parking ticket is not your responsibility.
Otherwise, the parking ticket is the responsibility of the owner of the vehicle and not the driver.
Driving a motorbike/scooter: These are subject to the same restrictions as a car or van. There are some councils that offer discounts for bikes or free designated spaces.
My car has been clamped/towed away: There are no rules that state that your car should be automatically clamped or towed due to a ticket. If your car is missing, call the Police. You should also contact your local council.
In London you can also call Trace (24 hours a day) – this is a service run by all the London local authorities. You can contact them on 0845 206 8602.
If you feel this approach was too harsh, you can appeal and claim the approach was excessive. However, if you were blocking a busy or narrow road, then the council can argue that it was not safe to leave your vehicle there.
Paid the fine and want to appeal: Once you have paid, you have effectively admitted responsibility and so cannot appeal the ticket.
If you pay the fine within 14 days, your charge should be halved – it is worth considering paying if you know you are in the wrong. If you appeal then you should also be able to half the fine if you pay within 14 days of losing the appeal, but not all local authorities follow this rule so you will need to check.
Submitting your appeal: You must submit your appeal with 28 days of receiving the PCN, but if you appeal within 14 days then you should be subject to a reduced fine if your appeal is lost.
Resolver has all the local authorities across the UK in its system and you can submit your appeal via Resolver and keep a complete record of your complaint. You should expect a response with 14-days to your appeal.
If the council rejects your appeal: If the council rejects your appeal, then ask for a Notice of Appeal. This will be sent to you in the post, and you will have to complete it. Complete the form and scan into Resolver and we can then send your case through to the Appeal services, except the Scottish contingent which does not have a website or published email address.
The appeal is a free service, with four different appeal bodies.
England & Wales – Traffic Parking Tribunal
Northern Ireland – NI Traffic Penalty Tribunal
Scotland – Scottish Parking Appeals Service
London – PATAS
How the appeal works: The appeal is done either by post, online, phone or sometimes face to face. The decision from the appeal is effectively binding as there are limited alternative options available.
Parking VS Penalty notices: The key difference between a Parking Charge Notice and a Penalty Charge Notice is that a Parking Charge Notice is issued by a private company, while a Parking Charge Notice is issued by a local authority or transport group.
Parking Charge Notice are typically issued for parking violations on private property, such as supermarket car parks or shopping centre car parks. Parking Charge Notice are not fines, but they are enforceable by civil courts. If you do not pay a Parking Charge Notice, the company may take legal action against you, such as sending you a debt collection notice or taking you to court.
Parking Charge Notice are issued for parking violations on public roads. Parking Charge Notice are fines, and they are enforceable by law. If you do not pay a PCN, you may be fined or even have your car impounded.
Useful Website links:
01. A-Z of councils online | Local Government Association
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