ULEZ PCN received

Hi folks,

Recently received a PCN from TfL for driving within ULEZ with a non-compliant vehicle.

I've had the same car for a number of years, 2011 diesel, and early in my ownership of the car I did pay ULEZ fees for journeys as the TfL checker showed my vehicle was non-compliant.

Then, 2-3 years ago I put a private registration number plate on the car, and for reasons unknown to me, the TfL checker stated that my vehicle was now compliant, so I didn't need to pay. I didn't give TfL my V5 or have any dealings with them for them to make this decision.

A month ago I placed the original plate back on the vehicle and to date, TfL's checker still hasn't updated with my vehicle details. At the time of contravention, I naively thought, why pay the ULEZ fee if the outcome of TfL updating their database could mean my vehicle remains compliant?

I genuinely don't know the inner workings of TfL's databases, what is updated, when, or more importantly, why they considered my vehicle to be non-compliant (years ago), then on the private reg it was considered ULEZ compliant without any input from me, but now they don't hold any information about my vehicle a month onwards? (But supposedly they did have vehicle details when previously on the original number plate, when I did pay ULEZ years ago).

I did take screenshots of the checker when previously driving on private reg which said my vehicle was compliant, but I don't know how helpful these would be when making representations.

I had even emailed TfL customer services before my journey querying the above (at the time, a hypothetical scenario, I wasn't sure when or what the outcome of their online checker would be).

I'd be grateful for any input on challenging this.

Edit: PCN states: For the following: the use of a vehicle on a road in the charging area to which a charging scheme applies without payment of the appropriate charge, at the time and location stated below:

Presumably the private reg had previously been on a car that was compliant and the system had not been updated to show it was now on a non-compliant car.  Having reverted to the original reg this was still in the database as non compliant.  You could appeal on the basis of expectation that it was OK, but that might cause TFL to look back and try and send a raft of PCNs [although I am not sure they can do that].  Might be best to pay this one and keep quiet about the last 3 years....

Presumably the private reg had previously been on a car that was compliant and the system had not been updated to show it was now on a non-compliant car.  Having reverted to the original reg this was still in the database as non compliant.  You could appeal on the basis of expectation that it was OK, but that might cause TFL to look back and try and send a raft of PCNs [although I am not sure they can do that].  Might be best to pay this one and keep quiet about the last 3 years....

Thanks for your reply.

Unlikely that the private reg was on another car previously, as I bought it directly from DVLA.

When TfL considered the vehicle as compliant with ULEZ whilst on the private reg, I thought perhaps they had updated their databases, or adjusted some measure in their criteria of what's "compliant" - didn't think much more of it. That's why I hesitated with not paying ULEZ on the original plates, thinking whatever made the previous reg compliant should carry over, it's the same car.

Toying with the idea of just paying it...

PCN states: For the following: the use of a vehicle on a road in the charging area to which a charging scheme applies without payment of the appropriate charge, at the time and location stated below:

Pleawse post the PCN, redact only name and address