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Fines for non-payment of zero emission zone (ZEZ) charges

What to do if you receive a penalty charge notice (PCN) for non-payment of a ZEZ charge.

Warning

Don't forget to pay your fine. You will not get a reminder.

We may issue a penalty charge notice (PCN) for non-payment of the daily charge following entry into the zone.

You have 28 days from the date of service to pay the fine (£60) or make a formal challenge (called a representation). The date of service is two working days after the post date on the front of the PCN, excluding weekends and Bank Holidays. 

If you pay the fine within 14 days of the date of service, we will accept 50 per cent of the £60 penalty charge, which is £30. 

You'll find more information on the PCN.

How to pay a fine

You will need:

  • the penalty charge notice (PCN) number from your penalty charge notice
  • your car registration number
  • a valid credit or debit card.

If you don't know your PCN number, you can contact us.

Pay a fine issued in Oxfordshire

Pay by telephone

You can pay your zero emission zone fine over the phone with a debit or credit card.

Phone 0345 337 1138 (option 1).

Pay by post

Do not send cash.

Make your cheque or postal order payable to 'Oxfordshire County Council'. Write the penalty charge notice (PCN) number on the back of the cheque.

Complete the slip on the PCN, attach it to the cheque, and send it to the address given on the notice.

What happens if you don't pay a fine

We'll issue a late penalty if you fail to pay or submit a formal challenge within 28 days (charge certificate). After that, the penalty will increase by 50 per cent, which is £90. 

You have 14 days to pay. After that, we can register the debt with the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC) at Northampton County Court.

The TEC will issue an 'order for recovery of unpaid penalty charge' (PE2). The charge will be the unpaid PCN, plus a £9 debt registration fee.

The PE2 includes a statutory declaration form (PE3).

You have 21 days to either:

  • pay the PCN, plus a £9 registration fee
  • return a signed and completed statutory declaration form.

If you don't pay or complete a statutory declaration, we can ask the TEC for authority to prepare a warrant of execution.

The warrant authorises a certificated bailiff to seize and sell goods belonging to you to the value of the outstanding amount plus the cost of executing the warrant.

Making a statutory declaration

You can only use the statutory declaration form for one of these three reasons.

  1. You did not get a PCN.
  2. You made a formal challenge (representation) but didn't get a rejection notice.
  3. You appealed to a parking adjudicator against our decision to reject your representations but received no response to the appeal.

You must sign a statutory declaration in the presence of one of these people.

  • A commissioner for oaths
  • An officer of a county court appointed by a judge to take affidavits
  • A justice of the peace. 

Filing a false declaration knowingly and wilfully is a criminal offence under Section 5 of the Perjury Act 1911. You may be imprisoned for up to two years or fined (or both).

Warrant of execution

If you don't pay or complete a statutory declaration, we can ask the TEC for authority to prepare a warrant of execution. The warrant authorises a bailiff to seize and sell goods belonging to you. They will take goods:

  • to the value of the outstanding amount 
  • plus the cost of executing the warrant.