London gets stricter on ULEZ charges
Transport for London (TfL) has announced a major clamp down on drivers who persistently evade penalty charges issued for Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) contraventions.
While only a small minority are liable to pay the charge – with the latest data showing that more than 97% of vehicles seen driving in the ULEZ comply with the emissions standards – TfL said it is aware of a specific group of drivers who persistently refuse to pay multiple outstanding penalties.
Recent data shows that 94% of the outstanding debt owed from all open UK-issued ULEZ PCNs – which could otherwise be reinvested to improve the transport network for everyone – is from persistent evaders (those with at least four Penalty Charge Notices outstanding).
In order to recoup the debt from unpaid PCNs across its road user charging schemes, TfL says it has been deploying an intelligence-led approach alongside enforcement action, which can include tracking evaders down to different addresses and employing more effective data-sharing with other national bodies, such as the Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. T
his has led to around £16.5 million of debt related to road user charges and penalties being recovered through enforcement action and returned to TfL between January and June 2025, so it can be reinvested into the transport network.
When there is no response over an extended period from a driver who has incurred a ULEZ charge, the enforcement process is triggered, which includes issuing warrants backed by the courts.
Action to recover the debt involves enforcement agents visiting a home address to recover money owed. They can also seize particular belongings and use the proceeds of a sale to satisfy any outstanding debt, for example, clamping a vehicle and selling it at auction.
Between January and June this year more than 530 vehicles have been seized from drivers who have failed to pay road user charges and penalties. More than 350 have been sold at auction, with more than £285,000 being raised through sales as a result.
