This is an incredible amount of money
Transport for London (TfL) has revealed the highest single offender for both ULEZ and the Congestion Charge from January to September this year. A member of the public submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request this week.
For the Congestion Charge – a daily fee to drive a vehicle within a specific zone in central London during charging hours, designed to reduce traffic – a Renault driver owes a whopping £56,580. This is from 270 PCNs (Penalty Charge Notices).
A BMW X5 driver also racked up 270 PCNs, which cost £67,450. But the winner – who owes an astronomical amount – for both ULEZ and Congestion Charge payments is a KIA driver who needs to cough up an eye-watering £107,980.
Alex Williams, TfL’s chief customer and strategy officer, said: “We want to make it clear that if you receive a penalty charge for driving in the zone, you should not ignore it.”
PCNs issued for non-payment of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Congestion Charge are set at £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days. If the PCN remains unpaid after 28 days, a Charge Certificate (CC) may be issued, increasing the charge to £270. If the PCN remains unpaid 14 days after the CC is issued, an Order for Recovery (OfR) is issued, increasing the amount to £279.
TfL added: “We take all necessary steps to collect outstanding PCNs, including using our contracted enforcement agents to collect outstanding penalties on our behalf. We are also making greater use of powers and working with government to strengthen measures that will bring those who persistently fail to pay the charge to account. “
It comes after TfL announced the majority of ULEZ PCNs issued involve repeat offenders, according to the BBC . Some 94% of PCNs have been issued to drivers with more than four outstanding notices. TfL says it has recovered more than £16.5m of debt in the first half of 2025.
Since Ulez expanded to cover all of London in 2023, drivers of older, more polluting vehicles must pay a £12.50 daily charge. If unpaid, a £180 PCN is issued, halved if paid within 14 days.
Initially covering the Congestion Zone, Ulez was expanded in 2021 to cover the North and South Circular roads and widened again in 2023 to all of London.
