A single driver has accumulated nearly £150,000 in penalty charges from Transport for London (TfL) within a 12-month period, according to data released under a Freedom of Information request. Between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, a Kia Ceed 3 automatic received 354 penalty charge notices (PCNs) for entering the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) without payment and 201 PCNs for failing to pay the Congestion Charge when driving into Central London.
Breakdown of fines and charges
The Kia driver's total of 555 PCNs makes them the highest single offender for both charges. Each unpaid PCN carries a charge of £270 if not settled within 28 days, resulting in a total debt of £149,850. This amount is five times the cost of a brand new Kia Ceed 3 automatic.
Drivers of pre-2005 petrol vehicles or pre-2015 diesel vehicles must pay a daily charge of £12.50 to drive in Greater London under ULEZ rules. Entering Central London's congestion zone requires a daily payment of £15. Non-payment penalties are set at £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days, but increase to £270 after 28 days.
Other notable offenders and diplomatic immunity
A Ford Focus driver received an even higher number of PCNs specifically for ULEZ non-payment, with 361 notices issued over the same period. However, TfL expressed particular frustration over a diplomatic vehicle attached to an international embassy, which accrued the most Congestion Charge fines—290 PCNs in total.
In response to the Freedom of Information request, a TfL spokesperson stated: "We and the UK Government are clear that the Congestion Charge is a charge for a service and not a tax. This means that diplomats are not exempt from paying it. The majority of embassies in London do pay the charge, but there remains a stubborn minority who refuse to do so, despite our representations through diplomatic channels."
TfL's pursuit of unpaid charges
The spokesperson added: "We will continue to pursue all unpaid Congestion Charge fees and related penalty charge notices and are pushing for the matter to be taken up at the International Court of Justice."
TfL continues to enforce these charges, and the data highlights ongoing challenges with both individual repeat offenders and diplomatic non-compliance.
