Guides › Parking Fines › ULEZ Penalty Charge: How to Challenge It
ULEZ Penalty Charge: How to Challenge It
If you get a ULEZ penalty charge notice, you have 28 days from the date it was served to pay or challenge it, and a 50% discount if you pay within 14 days. If TfL rejects your challenge, you have 28 days from the Notice of Rejection to appeal to the independent Road User Charging Adjudicators.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Challenging a PCN
Grounds and Deadlines
You have 28 days from the date of service to pay or make a representation; later representations need not be considered. Grounds include: you were not the keeper; you paid the charge; no penalty is payable; the penalty exceeds the amount due; you are a hire firm with a signed statement from the hirer. Pay within 14 days for a 50% discount. source
If Rejected
You will get a Notice of Rejection. You have 28 days from it to appeal to the Road User Charging Adjudicators (not TfL); the form comes with the rejection. If unpaid after a charge certificate, the amount increases. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 28 daysChallenge the PCNFrom the date of service
- 28 daysAppeal to the adjudicatorsFrom the Notice of Rejection
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check the photo, vehicle and date.
Step 2 of 5
Check whether your vehicle meets the standard or you paid.
Step 3 of 5
Make a representation within 28 days with evidence.
Step 4 of 5
If rejected, appeal to the adjudicators within 28 days.
Step 5 of 5
Do not ignore it: the amount rises.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Transport for London
Make a representation.
Road User Charging Adjudicators (London Tribunals)
Appeal after a Notice of Rejection.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Challenging may mean losing the 50% discount, so weigh up your evidence.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/challenge-a-penalty-charge-notice Checked 13 October 2026