You can park on single yellow lines at certain times of the day. You can’t park on double yellow lines at all. Here’s what the Highway code says about yellow lines, and what double yellow lines on the kerbside mean.
When can you park on a single yellow line?
You can park on yellow lines when signs say you can park there. The sign should say what the rules are on Sundays and bank holidays too.
The Highway Code states that:
“You MUST NOT wait or park on yellow lines during the times of operation shown on nearby time plates (or zone entry signs if in a Controlled Parking Zone)”
For example, you might see a sign that says ‘8am - 6pm’ with an arrow underneath. This means you won’t be able to park on the single yellow line during this time.
You should be able to park here before 8am or after 6pm though.
The operation times should be visible on nearby signs. If there are no signs, you should assume that you can’t park there at all.
Unless the sign says otherwise, you should be able to stop and drop someone off or pick them up.
What do single yellow lines on the kerbside mean?
This means there is no parking, loading or unloading during certain times. Nearby signs should state when loading and unloading is allowed.
When can you park on double yellow lines?
You can’t park on double yellow lines - this includes Sundays and Bank holidays.
The Highway Code states that:
“Double yellow lines indicate a prohibition of waiting at any time even if there are no upright signs.”
You might be able to stop to load or unload heavy goods - this includes commercial vehicles. But you should check any signs before you do this.
What do double yellow lines on the kerb side mean?
This means there is no parking, loading or unloading at any time. There should be a sign nearby that clearly states this.
How long can you park on yellow lines for?
If you’re parking on a single yellow line outside of the hours of operation you can park for as long as you like. But you must move your car when the hours of operation come into force again.
You can't park on double yellow lines at all.
If you’re loading, unloading or picking someone up on single or double yellow lines, you can do this for a maximum of 40 minutes. But that’s only if:
- There are no signs saying otherwise
- No double yellow lines on the kerb
The City of London says that a Civil Enforcement Officer will observe vehicles and if there’s no evidence of loading or unloading then they’ll issue a penalty charge notice (PCN). Enforcement can vary between councils though.
Can blue badge holders park on yellow lines?
Yes, Blue Badge holders can sometimes park on yellow lines. There are 4 things you need to keep in mind:
- It’s for a maximum of 3 hours
- You must not be causing an obstruction by stopping there
- You must display your blue badge clearly
- If there are 2 yellow lines on the kerb, you’re not allowed to park there even with a blue badge
Be mindful where you park, so keep clear of loading bays and traffic islands, otherwise you might cause an obstruction.
If you park on double yellows and you don’t have a Blue Badge, or you forget to show your Blue Badge, then you could get a £70 fine.
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