Engine-idling fines in Wales rise to £75–£150 from 30 September

Drivers in Wales face higher penalties for unnecessarily leaving an engine running while parked on a public road from Wednesday 30 September. The current £20 fixed penalty is being replaced by a range of £75 to £150, the Welsh Government has announced.

Even the lower end is £55 above the old penalty. Local authorities can enforce the new range; the announcement does not mean every driver will receive a £150 fine.

Which situations are covered?

The government identifies waiting to collect or drop off passengers, charging a phone, listening to music and running heating or air conditioning for comfort as unacceptable reasons for idling. Its guidance asks drivers to turn the engine off when parked for more than two minutes. That advice should not be read as a guarantee that unnecessary idling is lawful below a two-minute threshold.

Traffic and safety are different

The announcement recognises that keeping an engine running may be unavoidable when stationary in traffic, diagnosing an engine fault, or de-icing and demisting windows for safety before a journey. Rule 123 of the Highway Code prohibits unnecessary engine running while stationary on a public road.

Why the change is being made

The government says the higher penalties are intended to reduce air pollution. Chief Medical Officer for Wales Professor Isabel Oliver said children, older people and people with existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable to its effects.

Cabinet Minister Llyr Gruffydd marked the change at Marshfield Primary School in Newport, where pupils helped design an anti-idling banner through a government-funded project with the council. The practical message for school pickups and other stops is to switch off when parked, while retaining the stated traffic and safety exceptions.