Hi everyone,
Sorry if this is the wrong section.
I have a ULEZ-compliant car and recently assigned a custom registration plate to it. This registration number was previously on a non-ULEZ-compliant vehicle.
When I use the TFL "Check Your Vehicle" tool, it still shows the old non-compliant vehicle under my new registration. However, on the gov.uk website, the correct details of my ULEZ-compliant car show up.
I have Autopay set up for my original registration, but I’m hesitant to add the new plate to Autopay, as I might incur the £12 daily ULEZ charge unnecessarily due to this issue.
Am I right in thinking that if TfL’s systems are automated, I’ll likely receive a PCN in the post? If that happens, could I appeal the PCN on the grounds that my car is actually ULEZ compliant? My plan would be to:
Provide a copy of my V5 logbook (once available).
Point out that TFL’s ANPR system has likely misidentified my car due to the custom plate.
Would TFL cancel the PCN in this case?
I’ll try giving TFL a call on Monday to discuss, but since I only updated the plates yesterday, I don’t have the updated V5 logbook yet. Any advice on how to handle this situation or what to expect would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
With private plates it seems that the emission details held by the DVLA go AWOL for a seemingly random amount of time. And it's unreliable. On top of that the TFL database is not live but relies on periodic synchronisation with the DVLA database. Your car might automatically register within a month or it might never register.
Your best bet is to manually register the car with TFL before you drive into the ULEZ.
The instructions are here.If you don't register you will very likely get PCNs which you'll have to challenge and appeal. If you nominate the car on AutoPay then you will be charged and you'll lose the will to live trying to get the money back. TFL will say it's your fault for not manually registering the car.