Transport for London (TfL) has revealed that persistent offenders account for 94% of the £790m owed in unpaid fines from the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez). The transport body has promised to crack down on the small minority of drivers with four or more penalty charge notices (PCNs).
Non-payers have faced fines of up to £17,000 this year. In one extreme case, a driver's car was seized and sold at auction after he ignored 130 warning letters and 14 visits by enforcement officers. TfL recovered about £16.5m through enforcement in the first half of 2025, seizing 530 vehicles and selling 350 at auction for £285,000.
The Ulez requires drivers of non-compliant vehicles – typically diesels over a decade old or petrol cars registered before 2004 – to pay a £12.50 daily charge. Nearly 2 million drivers and 3 million vehicles are signed up to TfL's automatic payment system. TfL is escalating action to county courts and, in extreme cases, potential bankruptcy proceedings.
The Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency are now sharing data with TfL to track offenders. TfL noted a link between deliberate evasion and other criminal activity, and the government aims to increase powers to seize vehicles and tackle number plate tampering.
Alex Williams, TfL's chief customer and strategy officer, said: 'We know that we need bold solutions to tackle the public health crisis and poor air quality in London and Ulez does just that. Only a very small minority of vehicles now don’t meet the standards.' He urged those facing financial difficulties to engage with TfL staff rather than ignore PCNs.
