Congestion and ULEZ charges on foreign registered vehicles
Request ID: FOI-2964-2223 Date published: 10 March 2023
You asked
During the period 1st Jan 2021 and 31st December 2021 how many CC and ULEZ PCN notices were issued to foreign registered vehicle owners. Please list the information by country of vehicle registration.
I would like to know the amount of penalty charges successfully collected and the amount written off, ideally identified by country for PCN’s during the above period.
I would like to know of the amount collected and what is the cost of collection assuming that TFL contracts out such debt collection.
What steps are taken to collect penalties from foreign drivers/owners.
Is there a statutory or TFL practice time limitation between the date of infringement and date on which the PCN can be issued.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-2964-2223
Thank you for your request received on 11 February 2023 asking for information about penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued for the Congestion Charge and Ultra-low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to foreign registered vehicles.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.
Foreign registered vehicles are subject to both the Congestion Charge and the ULEZ in the same way UK registered vehicles are.
In order to establish whether a vehicle is compliant with the ULEZ emission standards we predominantly use the vehicle data held by the DVLA. In most cases we can establish a vehicle’s compliance status by the date it was first registered as new.
For non-UK registered vehicles we do not have access to the vehicle emissions/compliance data held by the overseas equivalents of the DVLA and therefore we have set up an enquiry service for motorists using a foreign registered vehicle within the ULEZ. This allows them to register the vehicle with us and confirm that it’s compliant prior to driving within the ULEZ. Once registered no penalties will be issued.
If a foreign registered vehicle isn’t registered with us, or is non-compliant, and is used in the ULEZ then the vehicle details are passed to our service provider Euro Parking Collections (EPC). On receipt of the information EPC will then endeavour to obtain the vehicle details from the local vehicle licensing authority with a view to establishing compliance or issuing a penalty. If the vehicle is found to be compliant the records are updated and no penalties are issued.
You asked:
• During the period 1st Jan 2021 and 31st December 2021 how many CC and ULEZ PCN notices were issued to foreign registered vehicle owners. Please list the information by country of vehicle registration. • I would like to know the amount of penalty charges successfully collected and the amount written off, ideally identified by country for PCN’s during the above period.
The attached information details the number of penalties issued which have been collected and uncollected. The uncollected PCNs include those which are still outstanding along with those which have been cancelled or returned to TfL as unpaid. We do not report separately on the number of penalties written off.
• I would like to know of the amount collected and what is the cost of collection assuming that TFL contracts out such debt collection.
For Congestion Charge PCNs, we have received £492,640 in payments to date. For ULEZ we have received £391,480 in payments. Please note these figures will change over time as further payments are made.
Details of the contract with Euro Parking Collection PLC (EPC) are published on our website along with all contracts awarded over £5000 on our website at: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/contracts-awarded-tfl.pdf. Details of the EPC contract are on page 120.
We are not obliged to provide you with the details of payments that specifically relate to the recovery of penalties issued for non-compliance with the Congestion Charging and ULEZ schemes as this information is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2). In this instance the section 43(2) exemption has been applied as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice our commercial interests, as well as those of EPC. There are other companies who provide similar products and disclosure of this information could enable a competitor to work out the 'unit price’ we are paying them for their range of services, which could hinder the ability of EPC plc to competitively tender for similar contracts, as well as hinder TfL’s ability to negotiate the best value for money for similar services in the future.
The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, particularly where the expenditure of public money is concerned, but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that we are able to obtain the best value for public money outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of our processes.
• What steps are taken to collect penalties from foreign drivers/owners.
Please see above.
• Is there a statutory or TFL practice time limitation between the date of infringement and date on which the PCN can be issued.
There is no statutory limit on the timeframe between a penalty being incurred and the actual notice being issued.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
