Bus Lane Fine Cardiff - Do I Pay or Appeal?

Have you been given a Cardiff bus lane fine and are unsure if you should pay it or appeal?

This is the right spot for you to get answers. Every month, more than 130,000 people come to our website looking for guidance on fines and parking tickets.

This guide will give you clear and easy facts about:

What a bus lane fine is.
If you need to pay Cardiff bus lane fines.
How to fight a bus lane fine in Cardiff.
Tips on how to not get a bus lane fine.
What happens when you do not pay the fine.

Unfortunately, getting a PCN is quite common. In fact, Churchill Motor Insurance reported an 8% increase in penalty charge notices across Britain in 2021, with over 5.2 million issued.¹

Don’t worry, we have lots of handy tips and examples to help you with what to do next and what your options are.

Most Appeals Succeed

In some circumstances, you might have a legitimate reason not to pay your bus lane fine.

It’s a bit sneaky, but the last time I needed legal advice, I paid £5 for a trial to chat with an online solicitor called JustAnswer.

Not only did I save £50 on solicitor feeds, I also won my case and didn’t have to pay my £271 fine.

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Ask a question,get an answer ASAP!

*Around 35,000 people dispute their tickets each year with the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, and a striking 64% of those appeals are successful, so it’s well worth a try.

When can you drive in a bus lane in Cardiff?

You should avoid driving in a bus lane in Cardiff because they operate 24 hours a day, every day of the week!

The only vehicles allowed to use the bus lanes are:

Buses
Emergency services
Pedal bikes
Licenced Hackney Carriages
Motorbikes (without side cars)
Licenced vehicles for private hire

Can I ignore a bus lane fine Cardiff?

Don’t ignore a bus lane fine you get in Cardiff because the penalty could go up.

In short, you could end up paying a lot more than the original fine. Plus, the Council sends you a Charge Certificate, which you should not ignore.

Unfortunately, at this stage, the fine increases to £105, which must be paid within 14 days!

If you still don’t pay, Cardiff Council applies for a warrant to recover the amount owed. You’ll have to pay additional costs, which include enforcement agent (bailiff) and court fees!

Note: If the penalty charge notice remains unpaid, bailiffs could seize your possessions, or the Council could apply for a Third Party Debt Order!

I wasn’t driving when the bus lane fine was issued. Am I still liable?

If you’re the registered keeper, you are liable for the penalty charge even if you weren’t the driver when it was issued!

The only exception is when the vehicle is on hire!

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What happens if I don’t pay a bus lane charge?

When you don’t pay the bus lane fine, the amount increases by 50%.

So, the original £70 fine goes up to £105. Plus, the Council registers the fine as a debt if the fine remains unpaid.

Enforcement officers (bailiffs) will execute a warrant to recover the outstanding amount!

How do I appeal a bus lane fine Cardiff?

You can appeal a bus lane fine when you feel the penalty charge is unjust.

You must file your appeal within 28 days of getting the PCN. Any later, and the Council will not consider it.

Also, you can’t appeal the PCN if you’ve already paid it!

When you appeal the penalty charge, the Council puts everything on hold until they decide whether the fine is justified or not.

You should get a decision within 56 days.

If you don’t want to file an appeal online, you can make a representation in writing to:

Parking Services
PO Box 47
Cardiff
CF11 1QB

Appeal Process Steps

As mentioned earlier, if you believe the PCN was unfairly issued, you have the right to make an appeal.

I’ve created this table to help you understand the steps you should take during the appeal process. If you want to learn more about your PCN, please check out our detailed guide.

Process:	Steps you should take:
When you receive the ticket…	You should gather as much evidence as you can to support your appeal claim and prove that the ticket was unfairly issued.
If you were given the ticket in person/attached to your car…	You must make an informal appeal (sent to the local authority/council that issued the PCN) within 14 days. This should be a letter with the evidence proving why the ticket was incorrectly given.
If it was posted to you…	You will be given 21 days to submit an informal appeal (from the day you received the letter). Your informal appeal should be a letter with the evidence proving why the ticket was incorrectly given.
If the informal appeal is rejected…	You will receive a Notice to Owner and will have 28 days to respond to this with a formal appeal. You can conduct the formal appeal online or via paper form. The Traffic Penalty Tribunal can send you one of these forms.
If the formal appeal is rejected…	You will receive a Notice of Rejection. From here, you are free to challenge the council’s verdict at an independent tribunal.
If the independent tribunal disagrees with your appeal…	You should pay the ticket within 28 days of the tribunal rejecting your appeal. If you don’t, the fine will be increased by 50%. If you don’t have the money to pay the fine, you should contact Citizens Advice or another debt charity.

Successful Appeal Case Study

Situation

Initial Fine	£100
Additional Fees	£171
Total Fine	£271

The Appeal Process

Scott used JustAnswer, online legal service to enhance his appeal. The trial of this cost him just £5.

Total Fine	£271
Cost of legal advice	£5

JustAnswer helped Scott craft the best appeal possible and he was able to win his case.

Scott’s fine was cancelled and he only paid £5 for the legal help.

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In partnership with Just Answer.

What happens if Cardiff Council rejects my appeal?

You have the option to take the matter to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal if your appeal is unsuccessful.

The Council sends you a Notice of Rejection which provides information on how to file the appeal.

Note: When you take an appeal to the tribunal, you lose the chance to pay the discounted fine! Plus, a tribunal decision is final.

What is the Traffic Penalty Tribunal?

The Traffic Penalty Tribunal is an independent adjudicator. Their role is to assess whether your appeal should be upheld or rejected.

As previously mentioned, the tribunal’s decision is final and both parties must respect it.

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Lastly, should you pay or appeal a bus lane fine Cardiff?

You have the right to appeal a bus lane fine you get in Cardiff.

However, you need to provide evidence to support the appeal, or the Council will reject it.

Most penalty charges for bus lane offences are backed up by photographic evidence. In short, it could be hard to challenge the fine.

Sometimes paying the fine within 14 days is the less stressful option. Plus, you get to pay half the amount!

FAQs

Is a Penalty Charge the same as a Parking Charge?

No. A penalty charge is enforceable as soon as it is issued. A parking ticket you get on private land is not and the issuer must win a court case to get you to pay.

How long does a council have to issue a penalty charge?

A council has 28 days to serve a Penalty Charge Notice, but there are exceptions and some tickets can be issued up to 6 months later

What is a discounted Penalty Charge Notice?

When you pay a Penalty Charge Notice within 14 days, the issuer reduces the fine by 50%.