Avoiding fines & penalties

There are steps you can take such as always reading the signs around you and looking out for any parking regulations or restrictions. If where you're parked requires payment, make sure you do this.

Make sure you're never parked on double yellow lines nor keep clear boxes.

The best way to avoid a speeding penalty is to just ensure that you stay within the speed limit. The speed limit set on roads is the maximum speed you can do on any particular road.

If you're towing on a high-speed road - such as a single/dual carriageway or the motorway - you must drive 10mph below the speed limit set.

The price you pay will depend on the type of vehicle you're driving as well as the particular toll road you're travelling across. Here's a list of the UK's current toll roads:

• •
  M25 Dartford Crossing
• •
  Batheaston Bridge
• •
  Dunham Bridge
• •
  Humber Bridge
• •
  Itchen Bridge
• •
  Mersey Gateway
• •
  Mersey Tunnels (Queensway & Kingsway)
• •
  Tamar Bridge
• •
  Tyne Tunnels

You can pay with a card, cash or a toll tag. Paying with a toll tag results in a reduced fare, although there's a monthly payment required to benefit from this, so it's only worth doing if you'll use the toll road on a regular basis.

From the list above, the only exception is the Dartford crossing. For this, you can no longer pay at the barrier. Instead, you need to either pay in advance or by midnight of the following day, and you can do this online, via phone or post.

If you drive an electric vehicle you may be able to drive in bus lanes, but check either the roadsign or with the local council.

You may also be exempt from charging zones like the London Congestion Charge, but you will need to register your vehicle before driving in that zone if you wish to avoid a charge.