Camera misread your number plate

The cameras used to enforce the ULEZ zone can sometimes read a number plate incorrectly — for example if the plate is dirty, uses characters that look alike (such as O and 0, or B and 8), or is partly blocked by a trailer or motorcycle fairing. If the camera picked up the wrong plate, a fine was sent to the wrong driver. If you can show your vehicle was somewhere else at the time, the penalty charge notice must be cancelled.

Legal basis

Road User Charging (Enforcement and Adjudication) (London) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2313) regulation 13(3)(c) — representations that "no penalty charge is payable under the charging scheme" — and regulation 13(2), which allows 28 days from service of the penalty charge notice; Greater London Authority Act 1999 Schedule 23 (the road user charging power); the Greater London LEZ/ULEZ Charging Order made under it.

How to identify this in your case

Recipient has telematics, fuel receipt, work timesheet, dashcam, or ANPR record from elsewhere proving vehicle's actual location.

Sample appeal wording

Before you send this

Deadline. A late submission can be turned down without your argument being read. Check your notice for the deadline and how it is counted.
Paying may end it. Paying can count as accepting the notice and can close a challenge already under way. Part-paying or acknowledging an old debt can also revive a time limit that had expired.
The amount can change. Check what happens to the sum if you challenge — it may be held, re-offered lower, or keep rising, and fees or enforcement can continue meanwhile.
Use the official route. Use the method, recipient and form your notice specifies, with any reference, evidence and signature it asks for. Sent elsewhere, it may not count.
Only say what is true. Do not copy any statement of fact unless it is true for you, and check the legal point still applies. Delete what does not fit. It may be treated as your statement.
Careful what you volunteer. Avoid unnecessary admissions — naming the driver or accepting responsibility can remove arguments. But answer anything you are legally required to answer, and do include the evidence your ground needs.
Keep the record. Keep what you sent, the attachments, any receipt, and the reply. Note the next deadline.

Sample wording to adapt and send yourself — it may not fit your notice or the stage you are at. Replace the bracketed prompts with your own details; leave any case citation as it is.

To: TfL ULEZ Team Re: ULEZ PCN [PCN_NUMBER] This PCN is issued to a vehicle that was not at the alleged location at [TIME] on [DATE]. Evidence of my vehicle's actual location: [telematics / fuel receipt / dashcam / employer log] enclosed. The ANPR has misread a different VRM (likely [O/0, 8/B, I/1] confusion). Please cancel. Yours faithfully, [Keeper Name]

Beat It writes this argument automatically

Scan your PCN — our AI checks if this ground applies to your specific ticket, drafts a properly-cited appeal letter, and sends it for you where the council takes email — guiding you through their own online form where they use one, so you press submit. The win fee is only charged if you win.

Camera misread your number plate

Legal basis

How to identify this in your case

Sample appeal wording

Beat It writes this argument automatically

Sources

Related appeal grounds

Next steps