Request ID: FOI-0717-2425 Date published: 08 July 2024
You asked
Hi,
Please could you provide the total number of vehicles that have paid towards the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and how much has been paid, since the ULEZ was introduced. If this could be broken down by year and vehicle type e.g car, van, taxi etc. that would be great.
Could this also include and specify the number of fines (PCNs) that have been issued and paid for the ULEZ and how much this equates to?
Clarification received 11/06/2024: Thanks for your reply.
If at all possible, would you be able to provide the total number of vehicles that have been charged (e.g. the same vehicle could be charged five times and included in the data five times) as well as a separate piece of data for the number of unique vehicles as part of this?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0717-2425
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 31st May 2024 – as clarified on 11th June 2024 - asking for information about the ULEZ scheme.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“Please could you provide the total number of vehicles that have paid towards the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and how much has been paid, since the ULEZ was introduced. If this could be broken down by year and vehicle type e.g car, van, taxi etc. that would be great.
Could this also include and specify the number of fines (PCNs) that have been issued and paid for the ULEZ and how much this equates to?”.
On 11th June 2024 you clarified that by “the total number of vehicles” you meant the following:
“If at all possible, would you be able to provide the total number of vehicles that have been charged (e.g. the same vehicle could be charged five times and included in the data five times) as well as a separate piece of data for the number of unique vehicles as part of this?”
I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require.
The ULEZ was launched on 5 April 2019 and covered the same area as the Congestion Charging Zone. As the scheme was new between 8 April and 10 May 2019, we issued warning notices rather the PCNs. On 25 October 2021, the zone was expanded up to, but not including, the North and South circular roads. As the expansion was new between 25 October and 22 November 2021, we issued warning notices rather than PCNs. On 29 August 2023 the ULEZ was further extended across all London boroughs. Warning notices were issued between 29 August and 25 September 2023.
It should also be noted that the ULEZ was suspended between 23 March and 17 May 2020 during the national lockdown, meaning no PCNs were issued, or charges paid, during this period.
Data shows that more than 95 per cent of vehicles seen in the ULEZ on an average day are ULEZ compliant. The ULEZ is not about making money. It will lead to cleaner air while generating ever smaller net revenues, as has been the case with the previous expansion to inner London where people switched to greener vehicles. Any net revenue received from ULEZ is reinvested into running and improving London’s transport network, such as expanding bus routes in outer London.
The table below details the number of unique vehicles which have had a ULEZ charge purchased for them in each calendar year, along with total number of charge payments and income, since the launch of the ULEZ. The figures of unique vehicles are per year. Therefore, for example, a vehicle which has had charge purchased in more than one year is included in each year’s count. The table also details the number of PCNs issued in each year and the total payments received towards those PCNs. Please note the payments towards the PCNs will increase over time as more penalties are paid.
We do not record the vehicle type for which a charge is paid, or PCN issued, and therefore we do not hold this information.
Unique vehicles for which a charge has been paid
Total charges paid
Total charge income
No of PCNs Issued
Unique vehicles issued with PCN
No of PCNs paid
Payments received towards PCNs
2019 (from 5 April 2019)
546,170
3,358,429
£48,144,388
486,879
286,935
329,076
£34,656,287.17
2020
479,844
2,615,119
£35,892,450
335,089
190,912
199,681
£22,209,565.54
2021
750,824
4,651,999
£58,533,413
519,241
232,323
264,252
£28,901,805.25
2022
1,170,123
12,072,398
£150,904,975
1,997,402
566,833
754,377
£84,599,413.29
2023
1,327,435
12,161,602
£152,020,025
1,610,688
408,781
450,763
£53,455,378.57
2024 (Up to 21 June)
929,922
6,250,019
£78,125,238
1,010,791
240,476
183,097
£17,941,191.42
Total
N/A
41,109,566
523,620,488
5,960,090
1,926,260
2,181,246
£ 241,763,641.24
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
