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This guide explains common council and police penalties and how to find the relevant payment or challenge process. Check what notice you have, where it was issued and its deadlines. Procedures differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This guide will help you understand:
- The different types of council and police fines.
- How to find out what kind of fine you have.
- When you may have grounds to challenge a notice.
- How to find the correct challenge or appeal route.
- What to do if you get a fine for speeding, littering or parking.
Do not ignore a notice or court papers. If you are unsure what to do, contact the issuer or seek independent legal help before the deadline.
Understanding your challenge options
Whether a challenge succeeds depends on the notice, evidence and applicable rules. There is no guaranteed outcome. Traffic Penalty Tribunal appeal figures concern certain civil Penalty Charge Notices in England outside London and Wales; they do not establish your chances of successfully challenging a police Fixed Penalty Notice.
Identify what kind of fine you have
Find the type of fine you have from the list below. We’ll then direct you to the best place to learn more about these fines and your options to deal with them.
If you don’t see your type of fine below, head back to our fines and appeals page.
Bus Lane Fine
Bus lane fines are issued by the local council when you drive in a bus lane at a time of the day you’re not allowed. The fine you’ll receive for bus lane contraventions is called a Penalty Charge Notice.
Read more about bus lane fines including early-payment discounts and challenge routes. Check your notice for the deadline and whether challenging affects the discount.
Council Parking Fines
You can receive a council parking fine if you illegally park on public land, or if you don’t pay for parking when you should. You’ll also receive a Penalty Charge Notice for these parking contraventions.
Uncover your best options to deal with a council parking fine and what not to do on our council parking fine page.
Fixed Penalty Notice
Fixed Penalty Notices were first introduced as a way for the police and council parking wardens to issue parking tickets. But their purpose has expanded greatly over the decades and can now be issued for lots of different types of offences, such as seat belt fines and environmental crimes like littering, but more on that below.
Nowadays, they’re primarily used to fine people for environmental offences, anti-social behaviour and driving offences.
Learn more about Fixed Penalty Notices now. Or read on below if you received a Fixed Penalty Notice for speeding.
PCNs and FPNs have different challenge routes
In England and Wales, a council parking PCN usually has a council challenge or representation stage, followed by an independent tribunal appeal if rejected. A Fixed Penalty Notice generally has a different process and may require the matter to be heard in court. Follow the instructions on your notice and check GOV.UK’s guidance. Court proceedings can carry higher penalties and costs if you are convicted.
Fixed Penalty Notice For Speeding
Did you receive or are you expecting to receive a Fixed Penalty Notice for speeding?
Thousands of people are caught speeding every day in the UK, but not everyone knows the best way to deal with these police fines.
Swat up on Fixed Penalty Notices for speeding with MoneyNerd.
Littering Fine
Police and local authorities can issue Fixed Penalty Notices for certain littering offences. The notice should identify the alleged offence, payment deadline and what happens if it is not paid.
So, is there anything you can do after receiving a littering fine? Read about your options on our littering fine page before deciding how to respond.
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Penalty Charge Notice
Penalty Charge Notices are fines that are predominantly issued by the local council. They are commonly served for parking and bus lane contraventions, but they can be issued to motorists for other reasons.
Penalty Charge Notices can also relate to unpaid road-user charges, such as the Dart Charge, congestion charge or emissions-zone charges. Liability depends on the scheme’s rules, not simply on whether a vehicle is electric.
If you’ve received a Penalty Charge Notice, you can get the info you need on our Penalty Charge Notice hub.
Not sure if you’ve got a Council or Police fine? Head back to our Fines and Appeals page.
Paid legal information from JustAnswer
Find out about JustAnswer’s service. This is a paid third-party service. Check its charges, any recurring membership and cancellation terms before signing up. It cannot guarantee that a challenge will succeed, and you can use the official challenge process without buying this service.
