Appeal congestion charge with electric vehicle

anthonyd923

Hi all,
Hope someone can help.
I recently leased an electric vehicle. Previously I'd used ZipCars to get around London, or my father-in-laws diesel car.
For the diesel car I had registered for the ULEZ and congestion charges in central London.
I incorrectly assumed that the electric car was exempt from the congestion charge fees.
Now I have been issued with 8 or 9 fines for January, and am expecting a lot more to come through.
Representation against the charges is my only way to try and avoid paying £1,000s in fines.
I've read that TFL will not accept lack of understanding as a successful defence. Does anyone know the best way to phrase my defence?

Has anyone successfully appealed against congestion zone fines?
Hope someone can help!

daveyjp

What electric vehicle did you lease?

anthonyd923

daveyjp said:

What electric vehicle did you lease?

ID3 from VW. Fully electric.
The fines have been sent to them. It's taken over 20 days for the letter to come to me. In the meantime, more and more fines have been incurred.

Belenus

A quick google suggests that the ID3 is exempt from the CC congestion charge. I haven't had a comprehensive look so get googling yourself.

Link.

Link2

If yes, then you should be able to get the charges cancelled

Perhaps the registration number record with the authority is incorrect.

Good luck

PS: It has since occurred to me that perhaps exempt vehicles need to be registered as such so perhaps the fines will be hard to overturn.

I have no idea if the lessor or the lessee would be responsible for registration.

Supersonos

daveyjp said:

What electric vehicle did you lease?

Because that's what's important...

daveyjp

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge/discounts-and-exemptions

Looks like lots of hoops to jump through.

AdrianC

Belenus said:

A quick google suggests that the ID3 is exempt from the CC congestion charge.

It qualifies for a 100% discount... but the car needs to be registered with TfL in advance.

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge/discounts-and-exemptions

DrEskimo

Yes, as Adrian says. You still need to register the car and apply for the clean car discount and pay the £10/year registration fee.

It can take a few days to get the discount approved for the EV.

shinytop

Not quite the same but I got a ULEZ fine because my car had a private plate and the system didn't recognise it as being exempt. I wrote to them with proof that my car was ULEZ compliant and they revoked the fine and registered the car for future use. 

Petriix

You might get lucky if you appeal. I know that some people have had single fines cancelled for the same reason, but not multiple. Best to write to them and explain.

anthonyd923

DrEskimo said:

Yes, as Adrian says. You still need to register the car and apply for the clean car discount and pay the £10/year registration fee.

It can take a few days to get the discount approved for the EV.

That's my concern.
I lease an electric vehicle, because I wanted to avoid the congestion & ULEZ charges.
Posts on other forums have said that a defence of "I didn't know" is often not good enough.