What happens if you accidentally drive in a bus lane in London?

Inside Greater London, the fine for driving in a bus lane is £160, or £80 if you pay within 14 days. Outside of Greater London, the fine is £65, or £30 if you pay within 14 days. But you won't get any points on your licence if you drive in a bus lane by mistake.



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If you've used a bus lane illegally, your local council can give you a charge notice. In most cases, the council must send you the notice within 28 days of you driving in the bus lane. The charge notice will say that you have 28 days to pay the charge.

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Driving in a bus lane by mistake can result in a fine, which varies depending on the location. However, penalty points are not usually issued for this offence. Nevertheless, motorists should familiarise themselves with road signs, markings, and routes to avoid unintentionally driving in a bus lane.

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Pay the penalty charge; or. Appeal to the Adjudicator. A Notice of Appeal form should be sent by the Enforcement Authority with the Notice of Rejection. If this form is not enclosed, the Enforcement Authority should be contacted to obtain one.

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If you've been detected by the CCTV cameras illegally using a bus lane, bus-only street or bus gate, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN, £90.00) letter will be issued by post to the registered vehicle keeper.

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You will not receive points on your licence. You can find out more about the fine, how to pay and how to appeal if you think the PCN should not have been issued on the parking tickets and bus lane fines page. The police can also issue a Fixed Penalty to vehicles which are using a bus lane or bus only road illegally.

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If you're caught using a bus lane during operational hours you could be liable to pay a penalty charge notice. A PCN will be sent to the vehicle's registered keeper containing details of the contravention, vehicle information and photographic evidence.

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You can lodge an appeal with London Tribunals within 28 days of receiving a notice of rejection from us. London Tribunals will notify you and us of the hearing date. We will also receive a copy of your appeal. It is then our responsibility to either contest your appeal or decide not to contest it.

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You will not receive points on your licence. You can find out more about the fine, how to pay and how to appeal if you think the PCN should not have been issued on the parking tickets and bus lane fines page. The police can also issue a Fixed Penalty to vehicles which are using a bus lane or bus only road illegally.

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What is a Bus Lane? It is a travel lane restricted to buses only during certain hours of the day. During this time, other vehicles may enter a bus lane only to make the next available right turn, or to quickly drop off or pick up passengers. Violating bus lane rules results in a $50 – $250 fine.

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The times of operation and the type or types of permitted vehicle are indicated on a blue sign. The sign is located in advance of the bus lane and repeated if the bus lane is long. If you want to turn left across a bus lane, an arrow or a dotted white line on the carriageway will indicate if this is permitted.

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It can also be used after 7pm until 7am and all day Saturday and Sunday. Not using a bus lane when you're allowed could result in a driving test fail.

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It is a travel lane restricted to buses only during certain hours of the day. During this time, other vehicles may enter a bus lane only to make the next available right turn, or to quickly drop off or pick up passengers.

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So when it comes to electric cars and bus lanes, the answer is no – electric cars can't generally use bus lanes. But you can always check your local council to see if trials are taking place in your area. If you're an EV driver, it's best to avoid driving in bus lanes as it's unlikely you are permitted to be there.

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Transit lanes are a portion of the street designated by signs and markings for the preferential or exclusive use of transit vehicles, sometimes permitting limited use by other vehicles.

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Contra-flow bus lanes are typically applied to bus routes to create strategic, efficient connections rather than as a continuous application along a corridor. The ideal contra-flow bus lane is designed similar to a regular 2-way street, with non-transit vehicles barred from using the lane or lanes in one direction.

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