The 50% PCN discount: 14 or 21 days, and when it comes back

Almost every council PCN in England can be paid at half price if you pay quickly. The period depends on how the PCN reached you.

England outside London

The discount deadline (the "applicable date") is the last day of 21 days beginning with service for a PCN served by post on the basis of a camera, and 14 days for any other notice (SI 2022/71, reg 2). The discounted amounts are set in Schedule 3: £30 or £20 in band 1, £35 or £25 in band 2. DfT guidance confirms the discount for camera bus lane and moving traffic PCNs is 50% if paid within 21 days.

London

London Councils states the discount is 50% if paid within 14 days, or within 21 days for a PCN issued by CCTV. From 7 April 2025 that means £80 instead of £160 for higher-level and camera PCNs in Band A (London Councils). Boroughs do not all apply the 21 days: Westminster, for example, says its discount is 14 days for postal moving traffic PCNs too. Always go by the date on your PCN.

Wales

Use the discount date printed on your PCN. If a Welsh council rejects representations about a PCN served by post, it must allow the discount for another 21 days from the rejection (SI 2013/359, reg 6(3)).

Does challenging stop the clock?

Not automatically. In England the law does not require a council to re-offer the discount after rejecting representations. Read the rejection letter: if the council offers the discount again, the new date will be on it.

Paid at the discount, then got a Notice to Owner?

That is a statutory ground: the notice should not have been served because the charge was paid at the discount within time (SI 2022/576, reg 5(4)(i)). Send proof of payment.