How much is a bus lane fine outside London?

In England outside London, the penalty is £70 and the discounted amount is £35 when paid within 21 days. The full charge is due within 28 days.

How much is a London bus lane fine?

The London penalty is £160, reduced to £80 during the 14 day discount period. It is a single traffic penalty rather than the higher and lower parking bands.

Can I appeal a bus lane PCN?

Yes. Make representations to the authority using the instructions on the postal PCN. If it rejects them, you can appeal to London Tribunals in London or the Traffic Penalty Tribunal outside London.

Does entering a bus lane always produce a PCN?

No. The restriction applies during the hours on the sign, and the traffic order can allow particular vehicle classes. Review the sign, road markings, camera evidence and the authority's traffic order before deciding a challenge.

Bus lane penalties

A bus lane PCN arrives by post

Camera evidence identifies the vehicle, then the authority sends the registered keeper a Penalty Charge Notice with the evidence, amount and appeal route.

£70

Outside London bus lane PCN

legislation.gov.uk, Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022 (as of 7 September 2026)

£160

London bus lane PCN

London Councils, Parking and traffic charges in London (as of 7 September 2026)

21 days

Outside London discount period

Traffic Penalty Tribunal, Parking PCN and appeal process (as of 7 September 2026)

Checked on 7 September 2026.London Councils, Parking and traffic charges in London (as of 7 September 2026)

Bus lane PCN amounts

Bus lane penalty, discount and late amount
Area	Full charge	Discounted	Discount window	After certificate	Source
Outside London, England	£70	£35	21 days	£105	legislation.gov.uk, Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022 (as of 7 September 2026); Traffic Penalty Tribunal, Parking PCN and appeal process (as of 7 September 2026); legislation.gov.uk, Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022 (as of 7 September 2026)
London	£160	£80	14 days	£240	London Councils, Parking and traffic charges in London (as of 7 September 2026); London Tribunals, Bus lane penalty charge notice enforcement process (as of 7 September 2026); London Councils, Parking and traffic charges in London (as of 7 September 2026); GOV.UK, Parking fines and penalty charge notices: Paying a ticket (as of 7 September 2026)

The £240 London charge certificate amount is derived from the published £160 charge and the published 50 per cent statutory increase.

Outside London in England, the longer 21 day discount period applies to a postal bus lane PCN. London uses a 14 day discount period. In both areas the full penalty must normally be paid or challenged within 28 days.

How do you challenge a bus lane PCN?

Use the authority's representation form and do it within the period printed on the postal notice. If the authority rejects the representation, its Notice of Rejection explains how to appeal to the independent tribunal within 28 days.

Traffic Penalty Tribunal, Parking PCN and appeal process (as of 7 September 2026); London Tribunals, Bus lane penalty charge notice enforcement process (as of 7 September 2026)

Ask to see the video, because a still image may not show the whole manoeuvre or the sequence of signs.
Check the restriction times and permitted vehicles on the signs, not only the road markings.
Explain any obstruction, police direction or emergency clearly and attach evidence.
Keep proof of submission and a copy of every document sent to the authority or tribunal.

If it is not paid or challenged

Once the 28 day payment and representation period ends, the authority can continue the statutory process. A charge certificate increases the penalty by 50 per cent. That produces £105 outside London or £240 in London at the rates shown above.

If the increased amount remains unpaid, the authority can register the debt and seek enforcement. That later process is not a fresh opportunity to argue whether the vehicle used the bus lane, except where a statutory statement applies because a required document or response was missing.

Is a private car park notice a bus lane PCN?

No. A bus lane Penalty Charge Notice is statutory civil enforcement by an authority. A private Parking Charge Notice is a contract claim and uses the operator, POPLA or IAS appeal route.

Traffic Penalty Tribunal, Parking PCN and appeal process (as of 7 September 2026); GOV.UK, Private parking code of practice consultation: how the current system works (as of 7 September 2026)

Common questions

How much is a bus lane fine outside London?: In England outside London, the penalty is £70 and the discounted amount is £35 when paid within 21 days. The full charge is due within 28 days.
How much is a London bus lane fine?: The London penalty is £160, reduced to £80 during the 14 day discount period. It is a single traffic penalty rather than the higher and lower parking bands.
Can I appeal a bus lane PCN?: Yes. Make representations to the authority using the instructions on the postal PCN. If it rejects them, you can appeal to London Tribunals in London or the Traffic Penalty Tribunal outside London.
Does entering a bus lane always produce a PCN?: No. The restriction applies during the hours on the sign, and the traffic order can allow particular vehicle classes. Review the sign, road markings, camera evidence and the authority's traffic order before deciding a challenge.