Council told you your vehicle was compliant before the fine
If the council or TfL contacted you before any penalty was issued — by letter, email, or phone — and told you that your vehicle was exempt or met the clean air zone rules, you were entitled to rely on that. A penalty notice issued afterwards may be invalid because you acted on official assurance that you were in the clear.
Legal basis
R v North & East Devon HA ex p Coughlan [2001] QB 213; misrepresentation principles
How to identify this in your case
Recipient has dated correspondence from the council/TfL stating their vehicle is exempt/compliant.
Sample appeal wording
To: [Authority] [CAZ/LEZ/ULEZ] Team Re: PCN [PCN_NUMBER] On [DATE_LETTER] I received correspondence from your authority [letter/email/call] confirming my vehicle was exempt/compliant. Copy enclosed. I relied on this representation. Under R v North & East Devon HA ex p Coughlan [2001] QB 213, you cannot now penalise me contrary to your prior assurance. Please cancel. Yours faithfully, [Keeper Name]
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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 submits it to the council on your behalf. Only pay if you win.
Scan my ticketSources
- R v North & East Devon HA ex p Coughlan [2001] QB 213
Related appeal grounds
- Aberdeen LEZ: Special Vehicle Local Exemption
- Advisory bay has no legal force behind it
- Airport Land Isn't "Relevant Land" — They Can't Pin the Driver's Charge on You as Keeper
- Appeal to an Independent Tribunal
- Bath Clean Air Zone discount not applied to your charge
- Birmingham CAZ — NHS Worker / Hospital Visitor Exemption