Ulez exempt but cant drive without paying

[rob07]

My car is now historic class and I have got free road tax via the post office. However TFL cannot update their system for up to several weeks and say the only way is for me is to pay the daily charge and hopefully get it refunded later. This is madness.

[//j17]

Your car is exempt by dint of being registered with the historic tax band so I'd just drive it in the ULEZ zone. If you get issued with a non-payment fine notification you just challenge it as being invalid as the vehicle is exempt from the charge.

Following the expansion of the zone I not live on the edge of it and have driven through it a few times already this year and haven't had any letters or anything yet.

[rob07]

My understanding is that it's exempt only once its in compliance with their system,this could take another 6 weeks from today.

[swisstoni]

If they take up to six weeks to process a fairly standard registration I’d hate to think how long it would take to get a series of refunds.

[rob07]

The dvla said they could take up to six weeks to send back my historic v5c, TFL said they would then take a further 10 days once I send them a copy of my new v5c.

[swisstoni]

rob07 said:

The dvla said they could take up to six weeks to send back my historic v5c, TFL said they would then take a further 10 days once I send them a copy of my new v5c.

To be fair to TFL they turned around my EV’s congestion charge exemption (yes you even had to register and EV for exemption) in well under the 10 days it was supposed to.

[mgtony]

Just so you are aware when you are checking the ULEZ compliant/exempt websites to see when and if your car shows as 'Exempt', it will show as there is a charge to pay (non exempt). Actually it will tell you 2 charges, the CC and the ULEZ even when it IS ULEZ exempt.
If you click 'Pay Charges' , it's only then it will show as exempt from the ULEZ payment.
This is because the checker sites are using its emissions data and not its registered status on the V5C.

[rob07]

Thanks for that mgtony ,however I went through it as you described and even though my car is eligible for ulez excemption its not yet showing on their system. So I could wait up to almost 8 weeks !!. When I rang tfl second time they said categorically that if I drive wthout the excemption on their system then I have to pay charge and if I do not pay then I will be fined which cannot be successfully challenged.

[lornemalvo]

It is this type of power mad bureaucracy that makes modern life so complicated and this country such a miserable place in which to live

[mickrick]

I left UK in 1992, I'm glad I don't live there now. Actually, if I have to go back and drive through London, I'd have no idea what any of this means. I just wouldn't bother, and let them chase me for it.

[swisstoni]

Deterrence is exactly what TfL want to achieve.
They want everyone walking, on public transport or on a bike. Or a taxi at a push.

[lornemalvo]

swisstoni said:

Deterrence is exactly what TfL want to achieve.
They want everyone walking, on public transport or on a bike. Or a taxi at a push.

If that isn't a form of fascism I don't know what is

[C70R]

mickrick said:

I left UK in 1992, I'm glad I don't live there now. Actually, if I have to go back and drive through London, I'd have no idea what any of this means. I just wouldn't bother, and let them chase me for it.

Thanks Mick. Really helpful post there.

[Frybywire]

lornemalvo said:

fascism I don't know what is

You said it.

[Touring442]

C70R said:

Thanks Mick. Really helpful post there.

Pot/kettle.