Guides › Parking Fines › Bus Lane or Yellow Box Fine: How to Challenge It
Bus Lane or Yellow Box Fine: How to Challenge It
Bus lane and yellow box penalties from councils follow the council PCN process: you can usually pay a reduced amount if you pay quickly, or make representations to the council within 28 days. If it rejects them, you have 28 days to appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, which is free.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Challenging the Penalty
Challenging a Council Ticket
Council PCN (England outside London and Wales): make representations to the council within 28 days; if rejected you get a Notice of Rejection and have 28 days to appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, which is free and mostly online. You can only appeal to the tribunal after making representations to the council. source
The 50% Discount
Council PCNs are normally reduced by 50% if paid within the discount period (14 days; some PCN types 21), and the discount is usually kept open while representations are pending. source
Different Tickets, Different Appeals
Appeal rights differ by type of ticket: private parking charge, council PCN and police fixed penalty notice each have a different route (Citizens Advice overview). source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 28 daysCouncil PCN: make representations28 days from receiving the PCN (or from the Notice to Owner for parking PCNs)
- 28 daysAppeal to Traffic Penalty Tribunal after Notice of Rejection28 days from the Notice of Rejection
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Look at the photos or video the council has, usually online with your PCN number.
Step 2 of 5
Check the signs and road markings at the location: were they clear?
Step 3 of 5
Make representations to the council within 28 days with your evidence.
Step 4 of 5
If rejected, appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal within 28 days of the Notice of Rejection.
Step 5 of 5
If you decide to pay, pay within the discount period to save 50%.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Traffic Penalty Tribunal
After the council rejects your representations (England outside London, and Wales). Free.
The Council
Make representations first, within 28 days.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
In London, appeals go to London Tribunals instead of the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 12 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- tpt.gov.uk/how-to-appeal Checked 12 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/parking-tickets/appealing-a-parking-ticket Checked 12 October 2026
- tpt.gov.uk Checked 12 October 2026