Sadiq Khan is stepping up enforcement against drivers who aren't paying fines for using non-compliant vehicles in London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). According to Transport for London (TfL), some people are refusing to pay their penalty charge notices (PCNs), leading to over £370 million in unpaid debt.
See if your vehicle meets the UK's low emission zone standards here.
With pressure mounting, TfL is increasing its efforts to track down repeat offenders. They've already collected £25.6 million in the past year by using bailiffs, and have seized more than 1,400 vehicles from persistent non-payers. By selling these vehicles, they've brought in over £700,000, but there's still a huge amount of outstanding debt.
In response, TfL plans to triple the size of its investigations team to identify and go after drivers who keep dodging fines. This includes sending bailiffs to seize vehicles and other property if fines remain unpaid. TfL is serious about cracking down, despite the fact that over 96% of vehicles in the zone meet the emissions standards.
Since ULEZ expanded across all London boroughs in August 2023, there's been a rise in tactics to avoid paying the £12.50 daily charge and in the number of unpaid PCNs. Fines for not paying are £180, reduced to £90 if paid quickly. If left unpaid, fines are registered as debt, which can lead to a court-issued warrant and bailiffs showing up at the owner's home.
Some drivers have racked up huge bills. In one case, a driver ended up with a £16,000 fine after ignoring 45 warrants. In another, someone with 21 warrants had to pay over £7,800. Bailiffs also seized more than 1,400 vehicles between August 2023 and July 2024, selling over half of them to recover debts.
While TfL is getting tougher, it’s also launching a scheme to support vulnerable people who struggle to pay fines, offering guidance and financial advice to those in need. TfL’s message is clear: if you get a ULEZ fine, don’t ignore it, or you could face serious consequences.
