Following the announcement that parking penalties across London are set to increase by £30, drivers across all 33 London boroughs will be affected by the change for the first time in fifteen years.

A penalty charge notice (PCN) is a fine for breaking parking or traffic rules. PCNs can be issued for parking on double yellow lines, driving in bus lanes, or not paying the congestion zone charge on time.

Car leasing experts at Nationwide Vehicle Contracts have analysed data from London Council to discover which London boroughs received the most PCNs in 2023-24 and are, therefore, most likely to be affected by the upcoming price increase.

What are the new PCN rules affecting London drivers?
Penalties in London’s boroughs vary based on the severity of the offence. More serious violations, such as obstructing roads, incur higher-level charges, while minor infractions, like overstaying in parking bays, result in lower penalties.

In Band A areas (Central London), higher-level charges would rise from £130 to £160, while in Band B areas (outer London), they would increase from £110 to £140.

The London boroughs that receive the most PCNs
In total, over 8.3 million penalty charge notices were issued in London during 2023-24; here are the boroughs with the most:

Rank
Enforcement Authority
Total PCNs
1
Westminster
469,204
2
Newham
439,131
3
Hammersmith & Fulham
436,537
4
Islington
410,266
5
Haringey
397,151
6
Lambeth
363,926
7
Camden
285,573
8
Waltham Forest
277,446
9
Redbridge
264,952
10
Southwark
264,259
Westminster issued the most penalty charge notices in London
With 469,204 PCNs issued in Westminster, they lead the way with the most parking and traffic infringements. With nearly 30,000 more than second-place, Newham. Westminster also had the highest number of parking PCNs in London, making up 87% of all PCNs issued in 2023-24.

Newham and Hammersmith & Fulham complete the top three
Newham had 439,131 PCNs, 281,037 of which were parking-related. Hammersmith & Fulham were closely behind as the borough with the third-highest number of PCNs at 436,537. Over half (273,401) PCNs for Hammersmith & Fulham were moving traffic offences, such as entering a yellow box junction without a clear exit, driving in a bus lane or going through a “no entry” sign.

Keith Hawes, Director of Nationwide Vehicle Contracts, comments: “Not just because of the price increase, but due to road safety and reducing congestion, following traffic and parking rules is paramount. Drivers in London and surrounding areas should research nearby parking when travelling somewhere new, make themselves aware of any temporary traffic measures and ensure they pay on ULEZ or congestion charges promptly to avoid the chance of receiving a PCN.”