How these PCNs happen
Cameras read your plate; TfL’s systems check whether the vehicle is compliant (ULEZ) or whether the charge was paid (Congestion Charge). If the computer says no, the registered keeper gets a PCN by post. Paying within 14 days halves it — but if the PCN is wrong, you have 28 days to make representations, free, and TfL cancels a lot of them.
The grounds that work
- Your vehicle is actually compliant. ULEZ compliance is checked against DVLA records, which are sometimes wrong or outdated — especially for imports, retrofits and older Euro-6 diesels. Check your vehicle on TfL’s own checker, and if it shows compliant (or your V5C proves the emissions standard), say so and attach the evidence.
- You paid. Congestion Charge paid for the right day but a typo in the registration, or paid for the wrong vehicle on a multi-car account? Provide the payment reference — these are routinely cancelled.
- Auto Pay should have covered it. If you’re registered for Auto Pay and the system failed to collect — expired card, account glitch — argue that the failure was TfL’s system, not a failure to pay. First-time Auto Pay mix-ups are often cancelled.
- You’d sold the vehicle. If the V5C transfer was in progress on the date in question, send the sale evidence — liability follows the keeper on the date.
- Exemptions and discounts. Blue Badge holders can register for a Congestion Charge discount; some vehicles are exempt entirely. If an exemption applied but wasn’t registered, explain and ask for discretion — TfL often cancels a first PCN while you register.
First-offence discretion is real. TfL has publicly said it takes a proportionate approach to first contraventions, particularly for ULEZ. If this is your first PCN of this kind, say so explicitly and ask for cancellation on that basis alongside your other grounds.
The process
- Step 1: make representations within 28 days — TfL’s online form (tfl.gov.uk, under “pay or challenge a PCN”) is the fastest route. Attach evidence: payment records, compliance checker screenshots, V5C, sale paperwork.
- Step 2: if TfL rejects your representations, the rejection letter gives you a free right of appeal to London Tribunals, the independent adjudicator. Independent adjudicators decide on the evidence and are not part of TfL.
Don’t pay first “to be safe”. Paying a PCN closes the case — you can’t appeal afterwards. If your grounds are genuine, challenge within the deadline instead; the discount question is dealt with in the reply.