If you’re planning to drive in central London, you may have to pay the Congestion Charge. The daily fee is enforced in certain parts of the capital city, but not everyone has to pay.
So, what exactly is the Congestion Charge zone, where does it apply, how much does it cost, who is exempt, and what are the penalties for not paying? Find out in our helpful guide.
What is the Congestion Charge Zone?
If you’ve driven a car into central London, you’ll probably have noticed the Congestion Charge zone. Launched in 2003, it was designed to reduce traffic congestion in the city centre.
Managed by Transport for London (TfL), the Congestion Charge is in force in certain areas of inner London. It requires motorists to pay a standard £15 fee to travel within its boundaries at certain times of the day.
The Congestion Charge zone has expanded over time and now covers an area that runs approximately from Kings Cross (north) to Vauxhall (south) and from Paddington (west) to Whitechapel (east). The scheme tracks vehicles using a vast network of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras located on roads around the perimeter of the zone.
How Much are Daily London Congestion Charge Zone Fees?
If you’ve asked what the Congestion Charge zone is, you’re probably wondering how much motorists are required to pay to drive a vehicle within its boundaries.
The daily Congestion Charge fees are:
- £15 per day if you pay in advance or on the day you travel
- £17.50 if you pay before midnight on the third day after your journey
The Congestion Charge only needs to be paid once per day, no matter how many times you drive in and out of the zone within a 24-hour period.
When do Congestion Charges Apply?
The London Congestion Charge is in force seven days a week, though it operates on reduced hours at weekends.
Motorists who enter the zone must pay the daily charge during the following times:
- Monday to Friday: 7am until 6pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 12pm until 6pm
- Bank Holidays: 12pm until 6pm
The London Congestion Charge zone is only inactive twice a year: Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. It is active at all other times and must be paid to avoid penalties and fines.
Is the Congestion Charge Zone the Same as ULEZ and LEZ?
No, the Congestion Charge zone is different from the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Low Emission Zone (LEZ). As a result, drivers could face additional fees for taking vehicles into other parts of London.
The key difference between these three motoring tariff schemes is that the Congestion Charge aims to reduce traffic congestion in central London, while ULEZ and LEZ were introduced to lower vehicle pollution levels and improve air quality in the capital.
ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year except for Christmas Day (25 December) across all London boroughs (the M25 motorway is not in the zone). Vehicles that do not meet ULEZ emissions standards must pay a £12.50 daily charge to drive within the zone.
Lorries, vans, and other heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) as well as buses, coaches, and minibuses over 5 tonnes GVW are exempt from the ULEZ charge. However, they must pay the LEZ charge if they do not meet the LEZ emissions standard.
LEZ was introduced to encourage heavy diesel vehicles with the highest polluting levels to become cleaner. It is in operation in Greater London 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including weekends and public bank holidays.
The LEZ charge ranges between £100-£300 depending on the type of vehicle:
- £100 – vans of specialist diesel vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes GVW and minibuses up to 5 tonnes GVW which do not meet Euro 3 standards.
- £100 – HGVs, lorries, vans, specialist heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes as well as buses/minibuses and coaches over 5 tonnes which do not meet Euro 4 (NOx and PM) standards, but do meet Euro 4 (PM).
- £300 – HGVs, lorries, vans, and specialist heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes as well as buses/minibuses and coaches over 5 tonnes which do not meet Euro 4 (PM) standards.
How Will I Know I’ve Entered the Congestion Charge Zone?
Clear signage like the above is located on and alongside central London roads to warn motorists they’re entering the Congestion Charge zone.
These road signs tell you when you’re approaching the zone, where the boundary starts, when you’re within the zone, and when you leave it. Signs have also been erected to display details of the times when the zone is operational.
What Happens if I Don’t Pay the Daily London Congestion Zone Charge?
The London Congestion Charge. You’ll be penalised and fined if you ignore it or fail to pay the daily fee. When you drive within the zone your vehicle will be picked up by ANPR cameras, so there’s no avoiding the £15 charge.
If you don’t pay the Congestion Zone charge before midnight on the third charging day after your journey, you’ll receive a formal notification called a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
You have 28 days from the date of issue to pay the PCN, but the sooner you pay, the cheaper it is. The initial fee is £180, discounted to £90 if paid within 14 days of receipt.
I’ve received a Penalty Charge Notice. What do I do Next?
If you’ve received a PCN, don’t ignore it even if you think you’ve already paid the Congestion Charge, are exempt, or are entitled to a 100% discount.
You can either pay the PCN within 28 days of the date of service or challenge it.
- Penalty charge: £180
- Paid within 14 days: £90
If the PCN isn’t fully paid within the 28 days, the fee increases to £270, and a Charge Certificate will be sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle. You’ll then have a further 14 days to pay this higher fine, and there is no means of appeal.
However, if you did not receive the original PCN, or have not had a reply to an appeal, you can make a statutory declaration.
How Can I Challenge a PCN?
If you believe a PCN has been issued wrongly or unfairly you can appeal it. Again, you have 28 days from the date the PCN was issued to either pay or appeal.
You can appeal a PCN for the following reasons:
- You were not the vehicle’s keeper at the time of the offence
- You had already paid the Congestion Charge
- You had registered for a 100% discount
- Your vehicle was exempt from Congestion Charge fees
- The vehicle was being used by someone else
- The vehicle was used or taken without your consent
Transport for London also states that it will consider appeals ‘on any other grounds’.
You can contest a PCN via the TFL website or by writing to: Congestion Charging, PO Box 344, Darlington, DL1 9QE.
Which Cars Pay to Enter the Congestion Charge Zone?
In general terms, any car that produces 76g/km of CO2 emissions or more must pay the £15 daily Congestion Charge when they enter central London.
This applies to cars with the following emission standards:
- Petrol, Euro 4 (NOx)
- Diesel, Euro 6 (NOx and PM)
The Congestion Charge applies to the majority of cars on the road, apart from those that are exempt. Also, drivers of non-UK registered cars have to pay the charge or risk a fine.
Which Cars are Exempt from Paying the Congestion Charge?
The following are exempt from paying the London Congestion Charge subject to a £10 annual registration fee:
- Blue badge holders/disabled drivers
- Petrol cars with emission standards of Euro 5 or Euro 6 (NOx)
- Electric cars and all zero emission vehicles (hydrogen fuel cell etc)
- Taxis licensed with London Taxi and Private Hire (TPH)
- NHS vehicles exempt from vehicle tax
- Official HM Coastguard or Port Authorities vehicles
- Armed Forces vehicles
- Motorised tricycles
- Two-wheeled motorcycles or mopeds, plus sidecar
- Vehicles with nine or more seats (minibuses etc)
- Emergency services vehicles (ambulance, police, fire engine)
- Emergency services vehicles (ambulance, police, fire engine)
- Breakdown and roadside recovery vehicles
- Vehicles used by London borough authorities
- Royal Parks Agency vehicles
Also, people who can prove they live within the Congestion Charge Zone are entitled to a 90% discount.
Does the Congestion Charge Zone Apply to Electric Cars?
No, if you drive an electric car or a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, you won’t have to pay the Congestion Charge until 24 December 2025. From there on, electric car drivers will be required to pay the daily £15 fee unless they qualify for further exemptions or discounts.
To qualify for electric car exemption, you need to apply for a Cleaner Vehicle Discount through Transport for London.
How Can I Pay the London Congestion Charge?
You can pay the Congestion Charge online through the Transport of London payment portal. This can be done in advance if you know when you’ll be travelling into central London. You can also pay on the day itself, or within three days of the date of your journey (rising to £17.50).
If you drive to and from central London on a regular basis, you can also pay the Congestion Charge via TfL’s Auto Play facility, which will bill you automatically once you’ve set up a personal or business account.
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