Avoid Paying a Bus Lane Fine – Pay or Appeal? Quick Guide

Have you got a bus lane fine? Every month, over 32,000 people come here for advice. It can be confusing but don’t worry. This guide will help you understand what to do next.

In this guide, we’ll explain:

• How and when to drive in bus lanes.
• Who gives out bus lane fines and how much they can be.
• What happens if you don’t pay a bus lane fine.
• How to appeal a bus lane fine and what happens if your appeal doesn’t win.
• If a bus lane fine will affect your insurance or credit rating.

Our team has guided many people just like you, so we know how you feel, and we’re here to help. We can guide you on how to deal with your bus lane fine. Let’s dive in and discuss your options.

Can you appeal a bus lane Penalty Charge Notice?

Yes. You have the right to appeal a bus lane Penalty Charge Notice. Especially when you know it’s wrong!

That said, there are several valid reasons for disputing the offence which I’ve listed here:

• You never drove in the bus lane
• Your vehicle had been stolen when the offence happened
• You didn’t own the vehicle when the offence occurred

Make sure you can provide supporting evidence when you appeal a bus lane PCN. Without proof, your appeal will likely fail!

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer

How do you appeal a bus lane PCN?

First, get in touch with the issuing authority sooner rather than later. Details on how to contact the issuer should be on the PCN you received. You’ll need to provide the following information:

• Your vehicle registration number (VRN)
• The Penalty Charge reference number
• The reason why the PCN should be cancelled

Second, make sure you file the appeal within the 28-day deadline. However, if possible, you should try to appeal the PCN within 14 days. Like this, if the issuer rejects it, you get to pay a lesser fine.

Also, the issuer puts all proceedings on hold while considering your appeal which gains you a little time!

You’ll be notified in due course whether the issuer accepts your appeal or they reject it.

When can you drive in bus lanes?

There are times when you can drive in a bus lane, and others when it’d get you a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). For example, when buses are in use, which is typical during rush hours, you can’t drive in the bus lanes.

There are signs and road markings that tell you that driving in a bus lane isn’t allowed, no matter what. However, there are times when a bus lane can be used even when it’s not permitted.

I’ve listed the reasons here:

• There’s an obstruction blocking a roadway whether it’s a road traffic accident or something else
• An emergency vehicle needs to get passed you which means you’re obliged to pull over into a bus lane
• To avoid being involved in a car accident

Lots of motorists get confused when they get a bus lane fine and ask if there’s any leeway. Check out what happened to one motorist below:

Source: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6298247/bus-lane-penalty-charge-notice

What happens when the issuer rejects your appeal?

The issuer sends you a notice of rejection when your appeal is unsuccessful. Once you get the rejection notice, you have a further 28 days to pay the fine. However, at this point, you’d have to pay the full amount.

But all is not lost, because you can escalate an appeal against a bus lane PCN to an independent tribunal. The notice of rejection must tell you how to do this.

For example, different tribunals cover different areas of the country which I’ve listed here:

Bus lane fines in London	London Tribunals
Outside London	Traffic Penalty Tribunal
Scotland	Parking & Bus Lane Tribunal Scotland

How long does an authority have to issue a bus lane PCN?

The authority must serve a bus lane PCN within 28 days of the offence. Any longer and the fine would be deemed ‘out of time’. So, the issuer can’t chase you for the money!

What happens if you ignore a bus lane fine?

You get a Charge Certificate if you ignore a bus lane fine and don’t pay it within 28 days. Plus the fine increases by 50% as soon as the Charge Certificate is served!

Will a bus lane PCN affect your insurance?

No. Getting a bus lane Penalty Charge Notice won’t affect your insurance in any way. However, you may have to declare the PCN when you apply for a visa to visit another country. But having the fine shouldn’t affect the outcome of your application.

Does a bus lane PCN affect your credit rating?

No. It won’t affect your credit rating unless you ignore the PCN and don’t pay it. You’d get a CCJ registered against you which will appear on your credit history!

Lastly, pay or appeal bus lane Penalty Charge Notices?

Whether you pay or appeal bus lane Penalty Charge Notices depends on several things. But don’t automatically think the fine is correct. In short, always check the details on the fine are correct – and yours!

Once you’re satisfied you deserve the PCN, it might be worth considering paying within 14 days. When you pay within two weeks, the fine amount is reduced by half!

However, if you feel the PCN is just plain wrong, try to file your appeal within 14 days. If the issuer rejects it, you still get to pay half the amount. Plus, all proceedings cease whilst the issuer considers the appeal so you gain some time!

I hope the info in my post helps you decide how to deal with a bus lane Penalty Charge Notice so it doesn’t cost you a fortune in time and money!