London Congestion Charge

Who pays

Anyone driving a vehicle within the zone during charging hours, unless the vehicle is exempt or registered for a discount. One payment covers the whole day, however many times you enter. Two-wheeled motorbikes and mopeds are exempt.

When it applies

07:00-18:00 Monday to Friday; 12:00-18:00 Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays. No charge from Christmas Day to the New Year's Day bank holiday (inclusive).

How much

Discounts and exemptions

• Residents' discount: 90% off for people living in the residents' discount zone (£10 a year to register)
• Cleaner Vehicle Discount (from 2 January 2026): 25% off for electric cars, 50% off for electric vans, HGVs and quadricycles - Auto Pay only, applied automatically; the old 100% discount has ended
• Electric car club vehicles picked up and returned to the same bay inside the zone: 100% discount
• Blue Badge holders: 100% discount for up to two vehicles (£10 to register, renewed with the badge)
• Vehicles with 9 or more seats: 100% discount (£10 per vehicle per year)
• Accredited breakdown vehicles, roadside recovery vehicles, and small motor tricycles (1 m wide or less, 2 m long or less): 100% discount (£10 per vehicle per year)
• Exempt: two-wheeled motorbikes and mopeds; emergency service vehicles; NHS vehicles exempt from vehicle tax; vehicles in the 'disabled' tax class; London-licensed taxis; wheelchair-accessible private hire vehicles on a booking; some armed forces, coastguard, port authority, borough and Royal Parks vehicles
• Private hire vehicles are not exempt
• NHS staff, patients, charities and care home workers may be able to claim reimbursement
• These discounts do not cover the ULEZ charge

How to pay

Auto Pay is easiest: free to set up with a London Road User Charging account, up to 5 vehicles (Fleet Auto Pay for 6 or more), billed monthly to a debit or credit card or by Direct Debit, and it protects you from PCNs. Or pay online at TfL 'Pay to drive in London', in the free official TfL Pay to drive in London app, or by phone 0343 222 2222 (international +44 343 222 2222; textphone 020 7649 9123), Monday to Friday 08:00-20:00, closed weekends and bank holidays. You can pay up to 90 days in advance. Use only TfL's official service.

Payment deadline

£18 if paid in advance or by midnight on the day of travel; £21 if paid by midnight on the third day after travel. After that a PCN is issued.

If you don't pay

PCN £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days; rises to £270 (charge certificate) if not paid within 28 days.

Good to know

Price rose from £15 to £18 (£21 late) with the new tiered Cleaner Vehicle Discount from 2 January 2026. Announced: from 1 March 2027 the 90% residents' discount will only be available to NEW applicants for electric vehicles (existing holders keep it if they renew each year; people on certain benefits can add non-electric vehicles if they apply before 4 March 2030). From 4 March 2030 the Cleaner Vehicle Discount falls to 12.5% for electric cars and 25% for electric vans, HGVs and quadricycles. Revised Mayoral guidance lets TfL raise the charge each year (in line with Tube fares, inflation + 1% or less) without consultation; any rise is not automatic. TfL's penalties page words the deadline as midnight on the third 'charging day' after travel, while the payments page says the third day after travel.