How to Appeal a Congestion Charge Fine UK 2026

Understanding the London Congestion Charge

The congestion charge applies to most vehicles driving within the central London zone during charging hours (7am-6pm Mon-Fri, 12pm-6pm weekends and bank holidays). The daily charge is currently £15, payable by midnight the day after driving in the zone. If not paid, a PCN of £160 is issued (reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days). The scheme operates under the Greater London Authority Act 1999 and the Transport Act 2000.

Common grounds for appeal

• Payment was made via the TfL website or app but was not registered
• Your auto-pay account was active but TfL did not process the charge
• Your vehicle is zero-emission (100% electric) and should be exempt
• You hold a Blue Badge and were registered for the disabled person's discount
• You are a resident within the zone and registered for the resident's discount
• Official diversions or road closures forced your vehicle into the zone
• The ANPR camera misread your number plate
• The TfL payment system experienced errors or was unavailable

How to make your appeal

Submit a formal representation to TfL within 28 days of the PCN. Include your PCN reference number, vehicle registration, the date in question, and your grounds for appeal with supporting evidence. If TfL rejects your representation, you can escalate to London Tribunals — an independent adjudication service — at no cost. The adjudicator's decision is final and binding on TfL.

Auto-pay failures — your strongest defence

One of the most common and successful grounds for appeal is auto-pay failure. If your TfL account shows auto-pay was enabled and your payment method was valid, but TfL did not process the charge, this is TfL's error, not yours. Provide screenshots of your TfL account settings, payment method details, and account activity to prove auto-pay was active on the date in question.