Road User Charging

Road User Charging (RUC) is the collective term we use to describe the following schemes that operate in London:

  • The Congestion Charge
  • The Low Emission Zone (LEZ)
  • The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)
  • The van and minibus scrappage scheme
  • The ULEZ car and motorcycle scrappage schemes

TfL also enforces certain road traffic contraventions.

Personal information we hold

The personal information we hold will vary depending on your relationship with us.

For example, if you:

  • have a RUC account
  • have applied for a RUC discount or exemption
  • have paid the daily charge for one of the RUC schemes
  • have been issued with a Penalty Charge Notice
  • have applied for one of the scrappage schemes

Information we hold may include:

  • Title, name, address, email address, telephone number
  • Date of birth
  • Payment card details and/or bank account number and sort code
  • Password/memorable information
  • V5C document or overseas equivalent
  • Vehicle Registration Marks (VRM)
  • Date, time and location a vehicle has been captured by a camera
  • Photographs or CCTV footage of your vehicle
  • Transaction/payment history
  • Proofs of eligibility for a discount or exemption
  • Proofs of eligibility for the scrappage scheme
  • Details of your TfL Private Hire Licence (where applicable)
  • Correspondence, complaints and enquiries
  • Call recordings
  • Web chat transcripts

Legal basis for using your information

Under data protection legislation, TfL is only allowed to use personal information if we have a proper reason or 'legal basis' to do so. In the case of Road User Charging, there are a number of these 'legal grounds' we rely on, which are:

  • Our statutory and public functions:
    • to undertake activities to promote and encourage safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport facilities and services, and to deliver the Mayor's Transport Strategy;
    • TfL has specific statutory powers to operate the various Road User Charging schemes in London which include administering the various daily charges as well as the issue and enforcement of Penalty Charge Notices;
    • TfL's use of ANPR cameras for the operation and enforcement of Road User Charging Schemes is also recognised under various statutory regulations.
  • For the 'performance of a contract':
    • for example, where you have opened an account to register for a discount, use the Auto Pay service; or apply to the scrappage scheme or
    • you have downloaded the app so we can provide additional services to you
  • Where you have given your consent to TfL:
    • for example where you have opted in to receive marketing messages from us or asked the contact centre to resolve an issue or complaint for you.

How we use your personal information

Roadside cameras

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras operate 24 hours a day. They capture information whenever a vehicle travels within the Road User Charging zone. This includes an alpha-numeric 'read' of a Vehicle Registration Mark (VRM) and photographic (still) images of a vehicle.

Our IT system checks whether the appropriate road user charge is applicable and has been paid for that particular vehicle, or if it is eligible for a discount or exemption.

Once we have verified that no charge is applicable or the appropriate charge has been paid or a discount/exemption applies, the images are deleted. Please see our section on Police access to ANPR cameras further down this page for information on how the police use ANPR data and vehicle images.

If the charge remains unpaid, TfL will retain the VRM for enforcement purposes. We also retain photographic images from one location where the vehicle was seen, to prove entry into the relevant charging area and record the date and time your vehicle was seen. In the case of vehicles registered to an autopay service, VRMs and images are retained for the purposes of statement generation and account settlement.

Images of traffic contraventions are captured by operators using CCTV cameras, rather than ANPR.

RUC accounts

You will need to register with us and create an account if you wish to:

  • Benefit from Auto Pay
  • Apply for a RUC discount
  • Apply for one of the vehicle scrappage schemes

You also need to register if you have a vehicle that is listed by us as not meeting LEZ or ULEZ emissions standards, but you can provide evidence that it does.

As a registered customer, we may also send you travel related information about Road User Charging schemes operating in London. This could include information about proposed changes to our road user charging schemes, updates on the level of charges or hours of operation, or changes to terms and conditions. We might also contact you about major events that could affect drivers, such as road closures and diversions.

You will be able to unsubscribe from any or all of these messages at any time.

We will only send you information about TfL's offers and promotions if you choose to receive it. You will be able to change your marketing preferences at any time.

We will not pass your personal information on to any other organisation for marketing purposes without your prior consent. In addition we do not sell or rent personal data to third parties for this purpose.

If you have authorised one or more additional users to be added to your online Road User Charging account, please be aware that they will have access to all information stored within the account, including details of vehicles, discounts, monthly statements and web chat transcripts.

Paying a daily charge

You don't need to be a registered customer to pay a daily charge for one of the RUC schemes. You can pay online and by phone without registering. If you pay this way, the only information we need is your payment card details and the VRM of the vehicle you're paying for.

You can choose whether to provide an email address or mobile phone number so we can send you a receipt. Once we have verified that the charge has been paid the images of the vehicle that has been paid for are deleted.

Enforcement - UK registered vehicles

If a vehicle is registered in the UK, and an applicable charge has not been paid, TfL will obtain the details of the registered keeper from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and then issue a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

If you fail to pay your PCN (or your auto pay account balance), we may apply to the Traffic Enforcement Centre at Northampton County Court to register the money owed as a debt, which allows us to take further steps to recover it. In order to do this we will share details of your PCN and other relevant information with them. We will send you a copy of the information at the same time.

If your PCN or auto pay balance continues to be unpaid, we may pass the unpaid debt to an enforcement agent to collect the money owed on TfL's behalf. As part of their activities, the enforcement agents may undertake certain checks to establish how likely it is they will be able to recover the debt from you. These are also known as 'propensity to pay' checks. They involve the enforcement agents matching/checking the data of the registered keeper of the vehicle (who is liable to pay the PCN) with external data sources, including address and phone number databases, social media activity and email addresses. The enforcement agency will retain its own records in respect of recovering the debt and the actions it has taken.

In cases where we have issued a PCN in relation to a hire vehicle, we may receive information from the hire company that demonstrates you were in possession of the vehicle on the date the contravention occurred, and are therefore liable to pay the PCN.

If you appeal against a PCN issued by TfL to the Environment and Traffic Adjudicators, or to the Road User Charging Adjudicators we will send them relevant information so that they can make their adjudication. We will send you a copy of this appeal pack at the same time.

TfL randomly selects and monitors vehicles benefitting from a road user charging discount or exemption, to identify possible fraud. If you persistently fail to pay any road user charges due or attempt to defraud TfL, we may record your vehicle's movements and use that data to support subsequent enforcement action.

If you hold a TfL Private Hire licence and you persistently fail to pay Penalty Charge Notices related to a private hire vehicle, we may share and validate the vehicle number plate, PCN and name and address details with the records that TfL's Taxi and Private hire department holds for you. This is for the purpose of enforcing our Road User Charging schemes, collecting unpaid PCN monies owed to us and to ensure your ongoing fitness to hold a private hire licence.

Enforcement - overseas registered vehicles

If a vehicle becomes liable for a PCN and is registered overseas, we will obtain details of the registered keeper from the relevant official national or regional Vehicle Licensing Authority (VLA). This process is undertaken on TfL's behalf by our service provider, Euro Parking Collections Ltd (EPC). They have different ways of retrieving the data necessary to issue the PCN and these include:

  • Retrieving the registered keeper name and address directly from the relevant national VLA
  • Retrieving the registered keeper name and address via individual 'National Contact Points' (NCPs) who can obtain the registered keeper information from the relevant VLA and supply it back to EPC. NCPs can include one VLA making a request to another, or legal representatives instructed by EPC to request the information.
  • Retrieving the registered keeper name and address via 'local' debt collection agencies, who can request data from the relevant VLA on behalf of EPC.

Data relating to overseas registered vehicles obtained by EPC for the purpose of enforcing our Road User Charging schemes is not used by EPC for any other purpose.

Please note that In the case of enforcing the ULEZ, we currently hold limited information about overseas vehicles in our database of compliant vehicles, which is also used for our online vehicle checker. Overseas drivers intending to use their vehicle in London should first use the online vehicle checker to see if we hold details about its emissions compliance status, and then, if necessary, register their vehicle before they travel. This will help to avoid receiving a ULEZ PCN for a vehicle that meets the emissions standards.

Traffic monitoring

We also use our ANPR cameras and the VRMs captured for traffic monitoring and research.

This includes:

  • Analysing the types of vehicles on London's roads
  • Analysing numbers of vehicles on London's roads
  • Measuring levels of vehicle compliance with emissions standards
  • Measuring average journey times to assess levels of congestion on key routes
  • Monitoring the impact of specific roadworks on journey times

When doing this, we replace the VRM with an alternative set of letters and numbers. This is called 'pseudonymisation' and is a way of distinguishing vehicles in a dataset by using a unique identifier that does not reveal its 'real world' identity. This is a way of protecting people's privacy in line with the Information Commissioner's Anonymisation Code of Practice.

Length of time we keep information

  • Details of each charge payment: 24 months from the date of the transaction (regardless of whether or not you are a registered customer)
  • Vehicle images are automatically deleted a maximum of 21 days after payment of the charge has been received and verified or when we have verified that your vehicle is registered for a discount or exemption, or it is otherwise compliant with scheme requirements (eg your vehicle is known to meet the ULEZ emission standards).
  • For Autopay customers, ANPR data and images are retained until after the account has been settled, usually a maximum period of 90 days
  • Details of a discount are retained for 24 months after the date the discount expires
  • Details of a PCN are retained for seven years after you paid the PCN (this will include images of the vehicle you were driving)
  • Details of a successful scrappage scheme application is retained for up to 10 years (in line with State Aid rules)
  • Recordings of telephone calls made to our Road User Charging contact centre are retained for 90 days from the date of the call
  • Web chat transcripts are retained for 90 days from the date the online chat took place

We retain your personal information for these time periods for the following reasons:

  • To respond to correspondence, concerns or complaints
  • To maintain records according to rules that apply to us (for example financial regulations)
  • To establish and defend any legal rights

Keeping personal information secure

We take the privacy of our customers very seriously, and a range of robust policies, processes and technical measures are in place to control and safeguard access to, and use of, personal information associated with Road User Charging schemes. This includes payment card data which is handled in accordance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard ('PCI DSS').

Find out how to protect your personal information.

Automated processing and profiling

Under data protection legislation we have to let you know when we do something 'automatically' using our computers or other systems, or make an automated decision (without human intervention) that significantly affects you.

When you drive within the Congestion Charge Zone, Ultra Low Emission Zone or Low Emission Zone, your vehicle's VRM is automatically captured by the road side cameras as described above.

The level and type of charge is automatically determined using details of the vehicle, as provided by the relevant vehicle licensing agency and/or by the customer.

Details of the registered keeper are also automatically retrieved from the DVLA (or overseas licensing agency) so that a PCN can be issued.

Before any PCN is processed, the details captured by the camera are manually checked by an individual. This check requires the operator to validate the VRM being used for the PCN against the vehicle images captured by the camera and cross referencing against the vehicle make, model and colour details. Each potential PCN is also checked by a second individual. If the two individuals do not agree then the case is escalated to a supervisor for a final decision.

Sharing your information

TfL has contracts with a number of third party service providers, which provide the majority of the administration and 'back office' services that ensure the efficient day-to-day operation of the Road User Charging schemes and the scrappage scheme. This includes the customer database, the installation and maintenance of the cameras, the secure IT connection to the DVLA and debt recovery services within the UK and overseas.

Different departments within TfL share information to help ensure compliance with our Road User Charging schemes - as well to monitor the effectiveness of the different schemes.

This includes details of vehicles and drivers licensed for private hire by TfL which may have accrued unpaid PCNs. This helps us ensure we have the correct address details for the registered keeper. Unpaid PCNs may also be a breach of private hire licensing conditions.

As well as our own 'in house' traffic monitoring, we sometimes work with external research companies. We ensure that research is carried out in accordance with privacy and data protection legislation and is protected by robust confidentiality agreements.

If you have a query about your account, a service for which you have registered, or a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) you have received and would like a third party to contact us on your behalf, we will generally only deal with them with your written permission or if you have authorised them as an additional user on your online Road User Charging account. 

If you make an application to one of our vehicle scrappage schemes we may share or request information about you from other local authorities or organisations in order to verify your eligibility to receive a payment.

In addition to the real-time access described below by which the MPS has to TfL's ANPR cameras, we may, at our discretion, disclose personal data in response to valid requests from the police. Before we authorise any disclosure the police have to demonstrate that the personal data concerned will assist them in the prevention or detection of a specific crime, or in the apprehension or prosecution of an offender. Each request from the police is dealt with on a strictly case-by-case basis to ensure that any such disclosure is lawful and in accordance with data protection legislation. These requests may ask for the disclosure of images captured by our ANPR cameras or for data and images from cameras installed for the expansion of ULEZ in 2021, neither of which form part of the data to which the MPS currently has real-time access (see further below).

Overseas processing

TfL and its service providers process personal information relating to Road User Charging within the UK and the European Economic Area (EEA). Any such processing will be carried out by TfL and its service providers in accordance with UK privacy legislation and the appropriate contractual safeguards which TfL has put in place.

Some of our testing activities take place by permitting our suppliers to have remote access to specific data used for this purpose from off shore locations. These include Argentina, Cyprus, India and Israel. Any such access is managed in accordance with contractual obligations and UK data protection legislation.

Police access to ANPR cameras

In 2012, one of the then Mayor of London's commitments was to instruct TfL to give the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) direct real time access to the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras we use to enforce our Road User Charging schemes, for the purposes of preventing and detecting crime. Following a public consultation, the MPS was given access to this data in 2015. A Mayoral Delegation (MD) was granted to TfL so that we had the powers to provide access. In effect, this means that TfL and the MPS share the vehicle number plate data feed from the network of Road User Charging cameras which TfL operated at that time.

This was an expansion of a pre-existing arrangement with the MPS established in 2007, under which they were given access to TfL's ANPR data specifically for the purpose of using it to safeguard national security. This arrangement was approved by the then Home Secretary, who signed a certificate confirming that TfL, and the MPS, are exempt from certain provisions of data protection legislation for that purpose.

In light of TfL's expansion of the ULEZ to the boundaries of the North and South Circular roads in 2021, TfL entered into discussions with the MPS on granting access to those additional cameras installed for the expansion, for the purpose of preventing and detecting crime. An updated MD was signed by the Mayor of London in May 2022 in order to enable this. The Mayoral Delegation also:

  • Enables the MPS to receive a feed of still photographic images of vehicles captured by the ANPR cameras that the MPS was already receiving the vehicle number plate data feed from (no images were transferred before this MD was issued)
  • And, in principle, allows future ANPR cameras installed by TfL for specified road user charging schemes to come within scope of the sharing arrangement (subject to the MPS completing appropriate strategic assessments to demonstrate that access to any or all additional cameras is proportionate and necessary, and compliance with data protection, and equalities obligations).

The MPS has completed an initial Data Protection Impact Assessment and Equality Impact Assessment and undertaken a number of public engagement activities.  

In exceptional circumstances or to ensure the security of high risk events, TfL may also allow MPS access to vehicle image data from specified ANPR cameras, where the MPS is able to demonstrate that there is a need for the purpose of policing such incidents or safeguarding such events.

Learn more about how the MPS uses ANPR cameras.

Mobile app

If you download and use the Road User Charging mobile app, certain information may be collected automatically, such as the type of mobile device you are using and unique identifier such as the device name or ID, Internet Protocol (IP) address, Media Access Control (MAC) address, and IMEI number.

We also use analytics (which is similar to cookies on websites) which are small files that capture anonymous data to help us improve the app's performance. We use them to collect information about your use of the app, such as what app content you access most frequently, or if you receive an error message when using the app.

If you opt in, we will also send you notifications via the app, or use location services to provide you with relevant information about your use of the scheme. You can change your mind at any time by amending the settings within your device

Testing, research and development

From time to time we may use certain vehicle data in order to help us test the performance and capacity of our infrastructure, investigate new technologies and to research and develop more accurate or more efficient ways of implementing road user charging. This supports our statutory function to provide efficient and economic transport facilities and services, and to deliver the Mayor's Transport Strategy.

Wherever we can, we will use pseudonymised or 'dummy' data but sometimes, when there is no other alternative, we need to use 'real life' VRMs that have been captured by our network of ANPR cameras. When we undertake such activities, we take great care to ensure that we use the minimum possible data and also that our development team does not have any access to other information that could link the VRM to a registered keeper. Data used for a research and development purpose will not be used to take, or inform, decisions affecting individuals.

On some occasions we might have to keep VRM data for a longer period than we would normally for the operation of our road user charging schemes. When that is the case, we will ensure that the data cannot be used for any other purpose other than for research and development and that it is stored securely with restricted access.

We will also ensure that we complete a Data Protection Impact Assessment when we use need to use personal data for research and development purposes and will publish these where possible.

The Ultra Low Emission Zone

On 29 August 2023, the Ultra Low Emission Zone expanded across all London boroughs.

The scheme is enforced in the same way as our other road user charging schemes, using a mix of existing and newly installed ANPR cameras in the expanded zone. New road signs are in place on the new boundary of the ULEZ, as well as within the expanded zone, so you will know if you are in an enforcement area.

Mobile ANPR camera vehicles were deployed for a number of months following the launch of the expanded ULEZ in August 2023. Our Data Protection Impact Assessment on the use of these cameras is published below. 

TfL has issued body worn cameras to the engineers who install and maintain our ULEZ cameras. These devices are able to capture audio recordings as well as images. The cameras are clearly visible and will be activated by the user in the event of an incident (for example if they are being subjected to verbal abuse or threats of violence). Footage may be shared with the police in the event an incident occurs. Body worn cameras are not used to capture images of vehicles or for any part of the ULEZ enforcement process.

From early May 2023 (before the expanded scheme formally began), the newly installed cameras were used to test the technical infrastructure that links the camera network to the Road User Charging back office systems and also ensure that cameras are capturing vehicle data correctly and at the right volumes. We also use the cameras for business planning purposes (eg resourcing and system capacity requirements), traffic monitoring (using pseudonymised data as described above on this page), as well as to inform our awareness campaign for the expanded zone.

Any cameras installed before May 2023 were operational, in order to check they had been installed correctly, but any vehicle data collected was not retained or used for any purpose. From 24 July 2023 we tested mobile ANPR camera vehicles in locations where camera coverage is limited due to installation or camera operational issues.

To ensure our approach to the expansion of the Inner London ULEZ in 2021 properly considered all the privacy and data protection issues, we completed a number of Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), which are published below.

Between May and July 2022, we held a public consultation on the proposal to further expand the ULEZ London-wide and we conducted a draft DPIA to consider the potential privacy issues connected to administering a larger zone. TfL's final Report to the Mayor was published in November 2022, together with an updated DPIA which includes revisions based on the responses received to the consultation.

London wide ULEZ expansion mail-outs

In order to raise awareness ahead of the expansion of the ULEZ across all London boroughs on 29 August 2023, we contacted people in several different ways.

Existing Road User Charge customers

We are actively contacting people who are existing Congestion Charge or Low Emission Zone customers and who we hold an email address for. We are providing information about the London-wide ULEZ expansion as well as advice about what to do if you may be affected.

Other drivers

We began contacting the registered keepers of other vehicles that might be affected by the expanded ULEZ in December 2022. We are doing this by checking the number plate of a vehicle to see whether it is compliant with the emissions standards for the ULEZ. This works in the same way as our online vehicle checker.

If a vehicle isn't compliant, and you are not already a road user charging customer, we are writing to registered keepers with advice on what to do next in order to comply. In order to do this, we pass the number plate data to the DVLA, so that they can match it against their database of registered keepers and send you advice from TfL on what to do next.

We are working with the DVLA to contact people in this way as part of TfL's responsibilities to raise awareness of the expansion of the ULEZ, and take all reasonable steps to help road users comply with the scheme.

In order to protect your privacy as much as possible for the purposes of this mail out, TfL do not provide the DVLA with any details of when or where your vehicle was seen by our cameras and, in turn, they do not provide TfL with your name or any of your contact information.

The DVLA does not use the number plate data received from TfL for any other purpose and both TfL and DVLA will delete the data as soon as possible after the mail-outs are complete.

General mail out to residents in the expanded areas

During May 2023, we wrote to residents who live in boroughs that would be inside the new boundary for the Ultra Low Emission Zone when it expanded in August 2023. This purpose of this letter is to raise general awareness of the scheme and to provide information about TfL's vehicle scrappage schemes. You may receive this letter regardless of whether you own a vehicle.

In order to send this mail out, TfL used name and address information held on the open version of the Electoral Register together with publicly accessible records held by the Land Registry and Companies House. The letter is not linked to the compliance status of your vehicle or whether it has been seen by one of our existing roadside cameras.

TfL's vehicle scrappage schemes

TfL has administered scrappage schemes since 2019, with the most recent ones launched in 2023. The aim of the schemes is to support people on certain low income and disability benefits as well as microbusinesses, sole traders and charities to replace vehicles that do not comply with ULEZ emissions standards. When you apply for the scheme, you must create a Road User Charging account (if you don't have one already) and provide information about yourself (or business or charity where applicable) and your vehicle.

As with other aspects of our road user schemes, we are required to have proper legal grounds for handling any personal data that you provide for the relevant scrappage scheme. In this case, the 'legal basis' is that the use of your data is necessary to facilitate the scheme under our public and statutory functions, derived from the Mayor's decision to expand the ULEZ in 2023.

All of the personal information you provide with your application is stored securely. If you supply information about a third party in any of the applications, you must ensure you have their permission to do so. We retain the information collected for administering the van and minibus scrappage scheme or ULEZ car and motorcycle scrappage scheme, and to support the following purposes:

  • To handle correspondence, concerns or complaints about the scrappage schemes
  • To evaluate the schemes and collect feedback via surveys; successful applicants may also be contacted for feedback to be included in publicity material
  • To maintain records according to rules that apply to us (for example financial regulations)
  • To establish and defend any legal rights
  • Fraud detection and prevention
  • To monitor the effectiveness of the scheme

Where your application was processed as part of the 2019 scheme and a grant payment awarded to you as a sole trader, small business or charity, your data such as account correspondence and payment details are retained for a period of 10 years in accordance with State Aid rules. Otherwise, where no payment was awarded or you applied as an individual, your data is retained for up to 7 years.

Any data submitted as part of your application for the 2023 scheme will be retained for up to 7 years if successful, and 2 years if your application was rejected.

We will share your information with our trusted service providers who administer the schemes on behalf of TfL, by processing your applications, issuing travel passes (where applicable) and securely storing your data. The type of information you provided and how we handled it varies depending on which scheme you apply for.

If you choose to donate your vehicle to Ukraine instead of scrapping it, you will be referred to British-Ukrainian Aid ('BUA'), a registered charity, who will independently process your data to enable the transfer of your vehicle. So that we can issue the grant payment to you, BUA will provide us with information about successful applicants as well as the Certificates of Donations including the vehicle's VRM and your account reference number.

The ULEZ van and minibus scrappage scheme

We collect various information about your vehicle and your organisation to verify eligibility for the scheme under the terms and conditions. This includes a copy of V5c registration document, insurance certificate, evidence of organisation status (i.e. company's house/ charity/ VAT number, sole trader evidence), photo ID of the director of a microbusiness, trustee of a charity and sole trader and where different registered keeper of the vehicle (i.e. the director, sole trader, employee or one of the trustees), and certificate of (vehicle) destruction. Applicants retrofitting their vehicle under the scheme will need to provide a CVRAS retrofit certificate and invoice. We will also request details of minimal financial assistance where you have received any subsidy control in the last 3 financial years.

As part of meeting the eligibility criteria for the 2019 Scheme, some applicants were required to confirm they had driven their vehicle within the Central Congestion Charge Zone or Greater London area on a minimum of 26 occasions between in the six months before the Scheme first started (which was 22 February 2019). If you had a Road User Charging Auto Pay account for the Congestion Charge, we used the transaction records to verify this.

We also verify the information you give about your business, charity or vehicle with a number of third parties including Companies House, the Charity Commission, HMRC, the DVLA and against other public databases made available by the Government Digital Service.

In the event that you do not use the funds issued to you in accordance with the scheme terms and conditions, we have the right to recover those funds, and share information with, or receive information from, other organisations in order to do this.

The ULEZ car and motorcycle scrappage scheme

We will collect information about you and your vehicle, such as copies of V5c registration documents, insurance certificate, certificate of (vehicle) destruction, photo ID of the applicant and CVRAS retrofit certificate and invoice, if applicable, to prove your eligibility. We also verify the information you give about your vehicle with the DVLA.

If you applied before 21 August 2023, (or if you are an applicant receiving a disabled benefit applying to scrap your nominated driver's vehicle) as part of meeting the eligibility criteria for the scheme you were asked to provide proof that you were in receipt of one of the state benefits listed in the application process. These documents may have included 'special category' data as defined under UK GDPR. We process this information under the 'substantial public interest' condition, specifically 'statutory and government purposes' found under Schedule 1 paragraph 6 of the Data Protection Act 2018. If you submitted proof of entitlement to child benefit, the document included award details containing personal information about your child. We securely retain this information as supporting evidence for your application. We appreciate this kind of information is particularly sensitive and reassure you that it is not used by TfL for any other purpose at any time, nor shared with any third parties.

Within the application, you are asked to confirm whether you are a paid care worker. This information does not affect your eligibility for the scheme, as we only use this information for monitoring purposes and to contact care workers about future opportunities if they become available.

If the registered keeper of the vehicle lives with the applicant or is the applicant's nominated driver, the applicant will submit required information on their behalf. As part of this scheme in 2023, you have an option to apply for an Annual Bus & Tram Pass for yourself and a beneficiary living at the same address. To issue this pass to you, we require your and your beneficiary's photo ID, contact information as well as proof of address. As part of this process, a record for you and your beneficiary will be created in our back office system, which will be linked to your Oyster card. You will be asked to set up an online account using the same email address, and your records will be accessible via that account. This information will be processed in accordance with our TfL Oyster card privacy policy.

ULEZ Grace Period

To aid the transition to an expanded ULEZ, TfL has introduced new grace periods (temporary exemptions) for certain groups. Successful applicants will not need to pay the daily charge to drive a vehicle inside the ULEZ that does not meet the emission standards until their grace period expires. You can find more information about the grace periods on our Discounts and exemptions page.

When you submit your application, we will collect your personal information to process your application and confirm your eligibility. This involves sharing or receiving data from the DVLA for verification purposes. The collected data will be used for administering the ULEZ grace period.

The data you submit as part of this application are processed in accordance with our statutory and public functions under the Mayor's decision to expand the ULEZ in 2023 and implement the ULEZ grace period to mitigate the financial impact of the expansion.

To process your application, we will collect a range of personal data about yourself and your vehicle. For either of the grace periods, you must create a Road User Charging account (if you don't have one already) and provide information about yourself such as your name, address, email and telephone number. We also ask for the VRM, V5c and a photo ID of the applicant, and in the case of the wheelchair accessible vehicles grace period, images of the vehicle.

When applying for the Disabled benefits grace period, we collect additional information from you. This includes a benefit award letter, and, if you have a nominated driver, we will also require information from them as the registered vehicle keeper. As part of meeting the eligibility criteria, you may have to provide information about your health or disability. We process this information based on substantial public interest under the Data Protection Act 2018. Please be assured that TfL will not use this information for any other purpose at any time.

We will retain the data you submit for up to 7 years. We will use your personal data for fraud prevention as well as monitoring effectiveness of the scheme, and we may also use some information for research purposes. In certain circumstances, TfL may also share your personal information with the police and other law enforcement agencies for the purposes of the prevention or detection of crime.

Your information rights

Under data protection legislation you are entitled to ask to see any personal information that we hold about you.

If you are a registered customer, you can access and update your personal information by signing into your online account.

For access to other personal information held by TfL in connection with Road User Charging or the scrappage scheme, please see our page on how to access your data.

If we have passed your unpaid charges to an enforcement agent to recover on our behalf, they will also hold personal information about you. You will need to contact the relevant company directly to request a copy of this.

If you would like to unsubscribe from service or marketing messages, please use the link we include at the end of every email. You can also update your contact preferences within your online account - or by emailing unsubscribe@tfl.gov.uk at any time.

You also have a number of other information rights which include:

  • The right to question any information we have about you that you think is wrong or incomplete
  • The right to object to how we use your information or to ask us to delete or restrict how we use it.
  • In some cases, the right to receive a copy of your information in a format that you can easily re-use
  • The right to complain to the regulator - the Information Commissioner's Office

The TfL Privacy and Data Protection team considers and coordinates responses to any requests that relate to an individual's rights under the GDPR and complaints from people whose personal data is processed by TfL and its subsidiary companies. You can contact the Data Protection Officer by email at dpo@tfl.gov.uk

Changes to this page

It's likely that we'll need to update this statement from time to time, so check back here regularly to find out more. Your continued use of the site will mean that you accept those revisions. This page was last amended in March 2024 to update the sections on Road User Charging accounts, sharing your information and the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and explain how your data is processed if you choose to donate your vehicle to Ukraine under the scrappage scheme.