Over the past six years, drivers in London have collectively incurred over £70 million in penalty charge notices (PCNs) related to the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez), according to official statistics.
Among the boroughs, Croydon topped the list, with £4 million in fines, followed closely by Hillingdon (£3.8 million), Ealing (£3.7 million), and Enfield (£3.5 million).
Originally, the Ulez was confined to the Congestion Zone; however, it expanded in 2021 to encompass the North and South Circular roads, and once again in 2023 to include the entire city of London.
A representative from Transport for London (TfL) stated: “The purpose of the Ulez is not to generate profit. Any revenue obtained from it is being reinvested into public transportation, particularly in enhancing bus services in outer London.”
In 2024, nearly one million PCNs were issued by TfL, marking it as the highest number recorded in any single year, though approximately £2.4 million in refunds related to Ulez were processed from August 2020 to July 2024.
According to data acquired through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, £5.6 million in penalties were paid in 2024, which is less than half of the £11.8 million recorded in the previous year.
The year that saw the largest fines was 2022, when drivers paid £22.1 million.
These statistics do not include PCNs issued to drivers outside of London’s 32 boroughs.
In contrast, the lowest amounts in fines were reported in the City of London (£58,000) and the boroughs of Camden (£950,000), as well as Kensington, Tower Hamlets, and Hammersmith, each at £1.2 million.
A representative from TfL further commented: “The broader Ulez initiative has contributed to improving air quality, while the net revenues have continued to decrease, much like the earlier expansion to central London where many transitioned to greener vehicles.”
Recent data indicates that over 96% of vehicles observed within the Ulez zone meet compliance standards.
Should a driver receive a PCN, they have the option to pay a 50% discounted fee within 14 days, or they can settle the full amount within a 28-day period or contest the charge by submitting a representation.
