London's Most Fined Driver Racks Up £107k Debt
Transport for London (TfL) has identified its highest single offender for both the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Congestion Charge schemes during the first nine months of 2025. The revelation came to light through a Freedom of Information request submitted by a member of the public this week.
Astronomical Debts Revealed
The most persistent offender, driving a KIA vehicle, has accumulated an eye-watering £107,980 in combined unpaid charges. This represents the largest individual debt TfL is currently pursuing.
Separately, a Renault driver owes £56,580 from 270 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) related to the Congestion Charge alone. Meanwhile, a BMW X5 driver has accumulated 270 PCNs amounting to £67,450.
TfL's Stern Warning to Motorists
Alex Williams, TfL's chief customer and strategy officer, issued a clear message: "We want to make it clear that if you receive a penalty charge for driving in the zone, you should not ignore it."
The standard penalty structure works as follows:
- PCNs for non-payment are set at £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days
- If unpaid after 28 days, a Charge Certificate increases the charge to £270
- If still unpaid 14 days after the certificate, an Order for Recovery increases the amount to £279
Crackdown on Repeat Offenders
TfL has revealed concerning statistics about persistent offenders. According to BBC reports, 94% of PCNs have been issued to drivers with more than four outstanding notices.
The transport authority stated: "We take all necessary steps to collect outstanding PCNs, including using our contracted enforcement agents to collect outstanding penalties on our behalf. We are also making greater use of powers and working with government to strengthen measures that will bring those who persistently fail to pay the charge to account."
This aggressive collection approach has proven successful, with TfL recovering more than £16.5 million of debt in the first half of 2025 alone.
The ULEZ expansion to cover all of London in 2023 means drivers of older, more polluting vehicles must pay a £12.50 daily charge. Failure to pay results in the £180 PCN, which is halved if settled within two weeks.
