Watch the footage before you decide anything: it is the council's whole case.
What is a bus lane penalty?
Bus lane penalties are issued from camera footage and posted to the registered keeper. Like a parking ticket it is a civil penalty: no points, no record.
The notice shows still images and usually gives a way to watch the footage online. Watch it before you decide anything. It is the council's whole case.
Which grounds work?
- The lane was not in operation at that time. Many bus lanes only apply at certain hours, shown on the blue sign.
- The signs or road markings were missing, obscured or not clear enough to warn you before the lane started.
- You entered only briefly to turn left, to pass an obstruction, or to let an emergency vehicle through.
- You were directed into the lane by the police or by road works.
- You were not the owner at the time, or the vehicle was on hire or had been taken without consent.
- The footage does not actually show your vehicle in the lane.
Not sure which of these fit your notice? Check it free. You see the verdict and the deadline before you pay.
Which dates matter?
The notice sets out a reduced amount for early payment and a deadline to make representations. Both are printed on it. If the council rejects your representations it must tell you how to appeal to the independent adjudicator, which is free.
Last checked 2 October 2026. General information for England and Wales, not legal advice. Always go by the dates printed on your own notice.
Common questions
Do bus lane penalties add points to my licence?
No. Like a parking ticket it is a civil penalty: no points, no record.
What are the grounds for challenging a bus lane penalty?
The lane was not in operation at that time, the signs or markings were not clear, you entered only briefly for a permitted reason, you were directed into the lane, you were not the owner at the time, or the footage does not show your vehicle in the lane.
Who decides if the council rejects my representations?
It must tell you how to appeal to the independent adjudicator, which is free.
Where this comes from
Written by the ByeFine editorial team from the official and tribunal pages below. Nothing here is copied from another appeal service. How we check our guides.
For this topic
- Department for Transport, bus lane and moving traffic enforcement outside London
- London Tribunals, how a bus lane penalty is enforced in London
General sources on parking and appeals
- GOV.UK, challenging a parking ticket
- The Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Representations and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2022
- Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Schedule 4
- The private parking sector code of practice (BPA and IPC)
- POPLA
- The Independent Appeals Service
- The Traffic Penalty Tribunal
- London Tribunals
- Citizens Advice, appealing a parking ticket