Kia driver owes £149,850 in ULEZ and Congestion Charge fines

A single vehicle has incurred a debt of £149,850 through 555 Transport for London fines over a 12-month period. Between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, a Kia Ceed 3 automatic received 354 penalty charge notices for entering the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and 201 notices for failing to pay the Congestion Charge in Central London.

The fines were issued at the escalated rate of £270 per notice, which applies when penalty charge notices remain unpaid after 28 days. Standard charges for non-payment are £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days. The total debt of £149,850 for the Kia driver is reported as the highest for a single offender for both charges.

Other High Fine Offenders

During the same period, a Ford Focus driver received 361 penalty charge notices specifically for ULEZ non-compliance. Transport for London also reported that a diplomatic vehicle, associated with an international embassy, accrued 290 Congestion Charge fines.

Transport for London stated that the Congestion Charge is considered a service charge and not a tax, meaning diplomats are not exempt. The authority indicated that while most embassies comply, a minority refuse to pay despite representations through diplomatic channels. Transport for London is pursuing unpaid fees and is seeking to escalate the matter through the International Court of Justice.