6 Parking Fines That Would Cost You £630: How to Fight and Beat Them

If you’re new to driving in the UK — whether you just passed your test, moved from abroad, or hired a car for the weekend — you’re probably focused on the road. But what catches most new drivers out isn’t the driving… it’s the fines.

From London to Leeds, Manchester to Glasgow, thousands of drivers get fined every week for things they didn’t even know were offences.

Here’s how to avoid the most common UK driving fines — and what to do if you get one through the post or on your car.

Appeal your parking fine with Resolvo in just 2 minutes - it's completely free

1. Dartford Crossing Fine (Dart Charge) – Common in Essex, Kent, and around the M25

Use the Dartford Tunnel or QEII Bridge? If you cross between 6am and 10pm, you need to pay the Dart Charge — there are no toll booths, so many forget.

• You must pay by midnight the next day

• Fine if you forget: £70, rising to £105

Drivers from London, South East, or on long trips north often get caught out here.

Already got a fine? Resolvo can help — more on that below.

2. Congestion Charge (London Only)

If you're driving through central London (zones like Westminster, Soho, South Bank), you’ll need to pay the Congestion Charge between 7am and 6pm, Mon–Fri.

• Fine: £160 (or £80 if paid in 14 days)

• Visitors from outside London are often unaware this applies, especially those from Reading, Watford, and Essex.

3. Bus Lane Fines – Common in Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol, and Glasgow

Bus lanes are everywhere in UK cities — often enforced by cameras. If you accidentally drive in one during restricted times, expect a PCN in the post.

• Fine: £60–£90 depending on the council

• Especially common in Manchester, Leeds, Oxford, Cambridge, and Glasgow.

4. Parking Fines (Private & Council) – Everywhere

Whether it’s NCP in Birmingham, UKPC in Bristol, or a council parking fine Southampton, these are the most common tickets in the UK.

You can be fined for:

• Not paying correctly on an app

• Entering the wrong number plate

• Parking outside a bay

• Overstaying in a free car park

5. ULEZ / Clean Air Zone Fines – London, Birmingham, Bristol, and more

More cities are rolling out emissions zones. In London, ULEZ applies to most areas inside the North and South Circular. In Birmingham, Bristol, and Sheffield, Clean Air Zones (CAZ) apply to certain streets and vehicle types.

• Fine: £120 in most cities

• Visitors from Liverpool, Leeds, and Derby often don’t realise until it's too late.

6. Yellow Box Junctions – Especially in London, Glasgow, and Cardiff

Stop inside a yellow box junction and block traffic? Even for a few seconds? That’s a fine.

• Fine: Around £70

• Many drivers in inner-city traffic zones get caught via ANPR cameras — especially in Islington, Camden, Croydon, and Cardiff Bay.

✍️ Don’t Know What to Say? Let Resolvo Write Your Appeal — Free

Resolvo is a free tool that help you write a strong appeal letter for your parking fine.

• Tell Resolvo what happened: Just describe your situation in plain English — no legal jargon needed.

• Upload your ticket (optional): You can snap a photo of your PCN, and Resolvo will pull out the key details automatically.

• Get a winning appeal letter: Resolvo uses artificial intelligence and is trained on the latest UK parking rules to create strong and wining appeal for you.

Works for:

• Dart Charge fines

• Parking tickets (NCP, UKPC, ParkingEye, etc)

• Council PCNs

• Bus lane fines

Appeal Your Parking Parking Fine now with Resolvo

Final Tip: Fines Can Happen Anywhere — But You Don’t Always Have to Pay

Whether you're driving in Newcastle, Glasgow, London, or Leeds, the UK’s rules can be confusing — but not every fine is fair. Many are issued automatically, and lots have errors.

If you've been fined, Resolvo helps you fight back, confidently and for free.