A man with a new personalised number plate has been hit with more than £600 in emissions charges - despite driving a fully electric vehicle.

Grandad Keith Riding was gifted a personalised number plate for his electric MG ZS car by his children at Christmas.

Keith Riding was gifted a personalies number plate for his electric car by his children at Christmas (Credit: SWNS)

The 76-year-old, who lives in Hampton - on the southwestern outskirts of London's Ulez zone - registered his new plate with the DVLA and signed up for autopay with Transport for London (TfL) in case he needed to enter central London's Congestion Zone.

But Mr Riding - who bought his electric vehicle after the Ulez zone was expanded in 2023 - was shocked to discover recently that £625 has been taken from his bank account by the transport authority since he got his new number plate.

The retired civil engineer was charged twice for entering the capital's Low Emission Zone (Lez) and twice for being caught in the Ultra Low Emission Zones (Ulez) - despite his car being fully electric and therefore exempt from such charges.

Mr Riding believes the previous owner of the registration plate, possibly from Northern Ireland, used a commercial vehicle, which may be why he's been charged.

Mr Riding believes the previous owner of the registration plate, possibly from Northern Ireland, used a commercial vehicle, which may be why he's been charged (Credit: SWNS)

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"It's a funny thing," he said. "I've had this electric car for two years and was given a new numberplate for Christmas - all registered with the DVLA.

"But recently I suddenly found myself being debited for £625. It was a shock. The car is little used, and the charge transpired to be for just two days.

"What that entails, is £300 for the vehicle going into the Lez zone twice, and £12.50 for going into the Ulez zone twice. There are no emissions charges for electric vehicles, but the congestion charge in central London does apply."

He continued: "I registered for auto payment with TfL as I expect to occasionally enter the congestion zone for my medical condition treatment.

"The only reason I registered was in case I go into the Congestion Zone.

"If I'd been caught on a camera every day, I could have a £9,000 bill at the end of the month."

Mr Riding added that his car is even listed on his TfL account as an 'MG ZS SE EV' - with the final two initials indicating that his vehicle is electric.

"A previous owner of the plates would have been a commercial vehicle that would probably have never been near London," he continued.

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"The number plate ends with a Z, which is common for plates in Northern Ireland.

"On seeing my bank statement I phoned TfL, expecting an apology and speedy reimbursement - but not a bit of it. I was merely advised to make an online enquiry."

TfL confirmed that the issue had now been resolved and that they had been in contact with Mr Riding.

A spokesperson said: "We are sorry that Mr Riding has incorrectly received ULEZ and LEZ charges when his vehicle is compliant.

"We have refunded all the charges and have contacted him to apologise for the inconvenience this has caused."

Mr Riding added: "I do have hopes that reimbursement of my funds will eventually be forthcoming, but it's proving a warning as to what could happen with a new plate.

"Several more daily charges of £312.50 would drain me of thousands of pounds with impunity."