Not every crossing works the same way. Your notice says who to challenge and by when. For road user charging schemes, an independent tribunal hears appeals once the authority has rejected your representations.
Which kind of charge do I have?
Some crossings are run as road user charging schemes. Appeals about those go to an independent tribunal: London Tribunals for the London schemes, the Traffic Penalty Tribunal for most others in England.
Other tolls and crossings are run privately and have their own process. Go by what your notice says about who to write to and how.
What are the usual steps for a road charging penalty?
For a road user charging penalty you usually cannot appeal to the tribunal straight away: you first challenge it with the authority that issued it, by making representations. If it rejects them it sends a Notice of Rejection, and you can then appeal to the tribunal. Your notice and any rejection letter give the dates.
Do not let the dates on the notice pass while you wait for a reply. The notice, not a guide, sets them.
What should I check on the notice?
- The date and time of the crossing, and that the vehicle details are yours.
- How and by when to pay or to challenge.
- Who issued it and the address, website or email it gives for challenges.
- Whether it says what happens if nothing is done by the date.
Which grounds work?
Grounds like these are common for road user charging penalties. Each scheme has its own list, so check the notice. Each ground applies only if it is true for you.
- You were not the registered keeper when the contravention happened, for example you had sold the vehicle before the crossing.
- The owner is a vehicle hire firm and the hirer signed an agreement accepting liability for penalty charges.
- The vehicle was taken without the owner's consent, for example it was stolen.
- The road user charge was paid on time and as required.
- The penalty is more than the amount that applies.
Not sure which of these fit your notice? Check it free. You see the verdict and the deadline before you pay.
What does ByeFine do?
ByeFine reads the notice and tells you free whether a challenge looks worth making. If you go ahead and give your permission, it writes the challenge from the notice and what you tell it, asking for the charge to be cancelled in full. Our team files it by the route printed on the notice.
ByeFine is not a law firm. It cannot promise a result, and it does not handle court papers.
Last checked 13 October 2026. General information for England and Wales, not legal advice. Always go by the dates printed on your own notice.
Common questions
Who decides if the operator refuses my challenge?
For a road user charging scheme, an independent tribunal: London Tribunals for the London schemes, the Traffic Penalty Tribunal for most others in England. For any other toll or crossing, go by what the notice says.
Is a crossing charge handled the same way as a council ticket?
For a road user charging scheme the usual steps are similar: representations to the authority first, then an appeal to the tribunal if they are rejected.
What if I had sold the vehicle before the crossing?
Not being the registered keeper when the crossing happened, for example because you had sold the vehicle, is a common ground for road user charging penalties. It applies only if it is true for you.
Where this comes from
Written by the ByeFine editorial team from the official and tribunal pages below. Nothing here is copied from another appeal service. How we check our guides.