When you need to park the car in a hurry, it can often be tricky to know if you can leave it on the side of the pavement if you live in England.

Whether that’s because you are struggling to see any visible signs with rules and regulations in the area, or road markings have worn away, it can be difficult to tell where the right places to park are.

You might need to dash out of your vehicle to take the kids to school or run into the corner shop for emergency road trip snacks.

For when you need to next park on the pavement, there are some things which might be useful to know such as if it’s illegal and if you can be fined for doing so.

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Is it illegal to park on the pavement in England?

Although parking on pavements around England is mostly allowed, London is an exception and the law surrounding this is included in the Highway Code, covering all vehicles.

Rule 244 of the Code states: "You must not park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it."

However, for residents outside of the capital, there is not a “blanket ban” on pavement parking but there are situations in which police can interfere, reports Money.co.uk.

The following circumstances include:

  • A vehicle or trailer is left in a dangerous position
  • A vehicle or trailer blocks roads anywhere in England and Wales
  • A vehicle is driven on the pavement

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Can you be fined for parking on a pavement in England?

The website also writes: “Councils have a free hand to impose fines on drivers for parking on pavements, providing they employ signs pointing out any restrictions.

“These often go hand in hand with other parking restrictions, including yellow and red lines, and Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ), which often restrict parking to permit holders, often local residents.”

Parking restrictions can be put in place for a number of reasons, such as making sure pedestrians, especially those who are wheelchair users and parents and carers with prams, do not need to move into the road if a vehicle is blocking the path.

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Fines for pavement parking can differ, depending on if the police or the council has issued them.

But if you come back from a day out or a meal around the corner from your stationary car, you could find a yellow plastic notice attached to your windscreen if parked in the wrong place, including:

  • A Fixed Penalty Notice, which can be issued by the police, local council or the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, charging you £50 or more
  • A local council-issued Penalty Charge Notice, typically from £50 to £130

You can find more information about parking on the pavement in England, including if it will be banned on the Money.co.uk website.