Request ID: FOI-2448-2223 Date published: 19 January 2023
You asked
Dear Sir
I have just been sent a PCN by TfL, erroneously demanding payment for a vehicle which is ULEZ compliant.
I am wondering: how often does this happen and is it only a ULEZ mistake?
Please can you provide data for PCNs issued in each of the past 5 years, broken down by category of PCN, how much money has been collected; and then those where there has been a successful challenge and the reason for the challenge, including issuance in error.
We answered
Our ref: FOI-2448-2223/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 29 December 2022 asking for information about PCNs issued in error.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.
TfL operate two emissions based charging schemes the London wide Lowe Emissions zone (LEZ) and the Ultra-Low emission Zone (ULEZ).
In order to establish compliance we predominantly use the vehicle information held by the DVLA. In the vast majority of cases this information allows us to establish if the vehicle meets the relevant emission standards.
However the information held by the DVLA isn’t always comprehensive enough to establish compliance. In order to address this we have established a registration process. This allows a motorist to contact us and provide evidence to confirm their vehicle is compliant. Once received and verified we update our records and mark the vehicle compliant.
Please can you provide data for PCNs issued in each of the past 5 years, broken down by category of PCN, how much money has been collected; and then those where there has been a successful challenge and the reason for the challenge, including issuance in error.
The tables below detail the number of PCNs issued for the LEZ and the ULEZ since 1 January 2018.
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Total
LEZ
39,612
45,122
24,601
76,169
51,911
237,415
ULEZ
482,037
332,344
546,442
1,970,992
3,331,815
Total
39,612
527,159
356,945
622,611
2,022,903
3,569,230
The ULEZ was launched on 8 and covered the same area as the Congestion Charging zone. On 25 August 2020 it was expanded to cover the area up to, but not including the North and South circular roads. This represented an 18 fold increase in the size for the charging area which is why PCNs issued in 2021 and 2022 are higher than previous years.
When a motorist receives a PCN they have a right to challenge it by submitting a representation. If a motorist receives a PCN and believes it has been incorrectly issued due to their vehicle being compliant we ask that they provide evidence to confirm this. Once received, and verified the PCN, will be cancelled and our records updated to mark the vehicle compliant.
The table below lists the total number of all representations received against PCNs issued for LEZ and ULEZ
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Total
LEZ
3,150
2,579
1,594
6,498
3,637
17,458
ULEZ
N/A
71,009
46,626
75,147
215,475
408,257
The table below shows the number of representations accepted and the reason why.
Reason
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Total
LEZ
A048 - LEZ compliant
191
119
295
1,877
1,005
3,487
A098 - Sold vehicle before PCN incurred
45
17
79
544
327
1,012
A107 - Valid Hire Agreement - Liability Transferred
3
1
209
137
350
A056 - Mitigating circumstances.
20
1
85
168
15
289
A049 - LEZ compliant - Not Registered
18
40
12
157
40
267
Other
1,628
1,343
615
807
504
4,897
Total
1,905
1,520
1,087
3,762
2,028
10,302
ULEZ
A136 - ULEZ - Compliant
1,185
1,712
7,159
35,705
45,761
A098 - Sold vehicle before PCN incurred
1,543
2,587
6,503
21,267
31,900
A108 - Vehicle not activated to ULEZ Auto Pay Account
1,395
1,218
6,644
18,747
28,004
A091 - Ringer/ Clone
410
542
2,600
10,925
14,477
A125 – Paid charge for incorrect vehicle - Web Customer Error
