The messiest drivers in the UK - car littering fines quadruple since 2020
Bradford tops the hotspot list for motorists throwing rubbish out of cars
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Last updated: 7 November 2025
Fines for littering from vehicles have increased by over 495% since 2020, according to our new research.
Freedom of Information (FOI) data obtained from local councils shows that the number of penalties issued to drivers surged from 445 in 2020 to more than 2,600 in 2024, as authorities cracked down on drivers and passengers throwing rubbish out of their cars.
The UK’s vehicle littering hotspots (2020-2025)
The data reveals major differences in vehicle littering enforcement across the country, with Bradford leading the way in the number of fines issued to vehicle owners.
Bradford City Council (Yorkshire) – 6,280
Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council (North West) – 571
North Lincolnshire Council (East Midlands) – 480
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (North West) – 374
Blackpool Borough Council (North West) – 260
Ben Welham, our motoring expert, said, "The findings show that local authorities across Yorkshire, the North West and the East Midlands have been working hard to clamp down on people throwing rubbish out of their vehicle windows.
“Bradford's 6,280 fines tower above other authorities' efforts. The council’s pioneering use of CCTV near fast food hotspots has helped it issue nearly £1 million in fines over the last few years.”
Bradford Council revealed their innovative strategy: "One of our officers was looking at a camera for a suspected fly tipping offence, and he noticed a lot of litter on the street.
"More analysis of the footage revealed vehicles outside a takeaway, throwing their rubbish out of the windows.
"We then added more cameras around littering hotspots near other takeaways. Now, we have between 20 and 30 cameras."
What the law says:
Rule 147 of the Highway Code is clear: "You MUST NOT throw anything out of a vehicle, including food and food packaging, cigarette ends, cans, bottles or paper." Doing so is classed as littering under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Since 2018, councils have had the power to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500, with liability falling on the registered keeper of the vehicle, even if a passenger was responsible.
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The worst year for vehicle littering
Fines across the country have more than quadrupled since 2020, with 2025 on track to beat 2024's record numbers.
2020: 445 fines – an estimated revenue of up to £61,130
2021: 881 fines - £121,022
2022: 1,245 fines - £171,025
2023: 2,168 fines - £297,818
2024: 2,659 fines - £365,266
2025 to date: 1,942 fines - £266,772 (as of August 2025)
Councils have issued an average of 243 fines per month so far in 2025, compared to 221 per month in 2024. This means that if current trends continue, fines for vehicle littering are on track to reach an all-time high by the end of the year, exceeding 2,900.
"The growing number of fines over the last five years shows councils are taking vehicle littering seriously and taking action," said Ben.
"Bradford alone accounted for 2,294 of 2024's total, proving that technology can make a huge difference. If more local authorities adopt similar CCTV-led strategies, we could see the UK’s roadsides become cleaner.”
2025’s top locations for vehicle littering
This year's figures already show Bradford maintaining its top position in enforcement.
Bradford City Council – 1,653 fines
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council – 52 fines
South Gloucestershire Council – 43 fines
Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council – 29 fines
Manchester City Council – 29 fines
Sunderland City Council – 23 fines
Peterborough City Council – 23 fines
Dorset Council – 21 fines
Brighton and Hove City Council – 21 fines
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council – 20 fines
"Bradford's 2025 figures alone exceed most councils' five-year totals," explained Ben.
"Their CCTV network around takeaways is clearly catching huge numbers of offenders who previously would have gone unpunished."
Maximum fines average £137
Despite the rise in enforcement, councils are showing some restraint with the penalties they charge for littering. The study found that most fines recorded by local authorities were capped between £100 and £150, with an average of £137.
Despite all councils being able to issue a fine of up to £500 by law, Buckinghamshire Council recorded the only case of a driver being fined the maximum amount.
"Vehicle owners can be fined even if a passenger throws the litter," warned Ben.
"Offenders can be caught in the act on CCTV and by council officers on patrol. But don’t forget that members of the public can also report drivers and passengers littering from their vehicles, so it’s not worth taking the chance."
A growing safety and environmental concern
Aside from the obvious harm that litter causes to wildlife, littering also poses a major threat to the safety of other road users and those who risk their lives cleaning roadside verges.
"Vehicle littering isn't just an environmental issue, it's a road safety concern," Ben added.
"Roadside rubbish can distract drivers, damage vehicles and risk the safety of cleaning teams maintaining our roads."
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