Transport for London is intensifying efforts to penalize drivers who violate its ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) policies, following reports that a staggering 94% of the £790 million in unpaid fines can be attributed to habitual offenders. Drivers who have failed to pay have been fined up to £17,000 in 2025, with instances where cars have been seized and auctioned off, following hundreds of unheeded warning letters and enforcement visits.
More than 97% of vehicles operating within the Ulez are compliant, and Transport for London (TfL) notes that the majority of those driving older, more polluting vehicles do abide by the Ulez charge. However, a small percentage of drivers, identified as having four or more penalty notices, are responsible for 94% of the outstanding debt.
The enforcement efforts have seen about £16.5 million recovered and 530 vehicles seized in the first half of 2025, with 350 of these being sold at auction and yielding £285,000. TfL is escalating its approach, pursuing cases through county courts and, in extreme cases, considering bankruptcy proceedings.
Tampering with enforcement cameras has posed a challenge in certain parts of London, highlighting ongoing issues with compliance. Vehicle owners driving non-compliant vehicles—typically diesel vehicles over a decade old or petrol cars registered before 2004—are required to pay a £12.50 daily charge to enter the capital.
Almost 2 million drivers and over 3 million vehicles are enrolled in TfL’s automatic payment system for charges like congestion and Ulez, which operates on a number-plate recognition system. Additionally, data sharing between the Department for Transport, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, and TfL is underway to track down offenders and intensify enforcement efforts. TfL suggests there is a connection between non-compliance with Ulez charges and wider criminal activities, with the government exploring enhanced strategies to grapple with issues like registration plate tampering.
The Ulez, initially introduced under Boris Johnson’s mayoral term and subsequently expanded by Sadiq Khan, has become a contentious issue, further highlighted by Labour’s performance in the July 2023 byelection in Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
Progress reports indicate a significant reduction in roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations and other pollutants since the inception of the Ulez, despite challenges such as incorrect charges and camera tampering incidents. European drivers have also been affected, with some receiving fines in error after failing to pre-register vehicles with foreign number plates.
Alex Williams, TfL’s chief customer and strategy officer, emphasized the critical need for bold actions to address London’s public health crisis and poor air quality, asserting that Ulez is a pivotal strategy. He urged those facing financial difficulties not to ignore penalty notices but to engage with TfL, which could consider personal circumstances and assist accordingly.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/19/tfl-persistent-ulez-offenders-unpaid-fines
