Congestion Charge
Congestion Charge, Central London
Congestion Charge, Central London in England: every car pays £18 a day, whatever its emissions. Transport for London operates the scheme, with enforcement beginning on 17 February 2003.
Transport for London, Changes to the Congestion Charge (as of 26 September 2026); Transport for London, Congestion Charge (as of 2 January 2026); Transport for London, Congestion Charge discounts and exemptions (as of 2 January 2026); Transport for London, Congestion Charge: penalties and enforcement (as of 30 July 2026); Greater London Authority, Congestion Charge (boundary and exemptions) (as of 17 February 2003)Local rules
Central London: boundary, charges and exemptions
The charge has run since 17 February 2003 and now stands at £18 if you pay on the day or in advance, or £21 if you pay by midnight on the third day after travelling. From 2 January 2026 the old 100 per cent Cleaner Vehicle Discount was replaced, so an electric car on Auto Pay gets 25 per cent off and an electric van, HGV or quadricycle 50 per cent, with both reducing again on 4 March 2030. The trap is the weekend, because charging runs from noon to 18:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays, which drivers who remember the old weekday only scheme still miss.
Transport for London, Changes to the Congestion Charge (as of 26 September 2026); Transport for London, Congestion Charge (as of 2 January 2026); Transport for London, Congestion Charge discounts and exemptions (as of 2 January 2026); Transport for London, Congestion Charge: penalties and enforcement (as of 30 July 2026); Greater London Authority, Congestion Charge (boundary and exemptions) (as of 17 February 2003)4 vehicle types
Daily charges by vehicle type
| Vehicle | Daily charge | Standard that avoids it |
|---|---|---|
| Car, van, lorry, bus or coach | £18 | No standard is published for this row |
| Electric car registered for Auto Pay | £13.50 | No standard is published for this row |
| Electric van, HGV or quadricycle registered for Auto Pay | £9 | No standard is published for this row |
| Motorcycle, moped or motor tricycle | Not charged | No standard is published for this row |
One daily charge covers however many times you enter and leave in the same day. It does not cover any other scheme that overlaps the same streets.
Minimum emissions standard
Emissions standards
- This is not an emissions charge. A new petrol car pays the same £18 as a twenty year old one, so nothing about the Euro standard helps here.
- The only emissions related reduction is the Cleaner Vehicle Discount, and it applies solely to fully electric vehicles registered for Auto Pay.
The vehicle record or certificate of conformity gives the Euro standard. A registration year can straddle a change, so confirm the result with the operator's vehicle checker before travelling.
Where and when
Boundary and hours
- Boundary
- Central London inside the Inner Ring Road, which links Euston Road, Pentonville Road, City Road, Commercial Street, Mansell Street, Tower Bridge, the Elephant and Castle, Vauxhall Bridge Road, Park Lane and Marylebone Road. The Inner Ring Road is the boundary itself rather than part of the zone.
- Hours of operation
- 07:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday, and 12:00 to 18:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Nothing is charged between Christmas Day and the New Year's Day bank holiday inclusive.
- Enforcement since
- 17 February 2003
6 exemptions and discounts
Who does not pay
- Motorcycles, mopeds and motor tricycles are not charged.
- Residents on the electoral roll inside the residents' discount zone get a 90 per cent discount after a £10 annual registration. From 1 March 2027 new applicants qualify only with an electric vehicle, unless they receive one of the benefits TfL lists.
- Blue Badge holders get a 100 per cent discount. Registration costs £10 and is renewed alongside the badge.
- Vehicles registered with the DVLA in the disabled taxation class are exempt automatically, with no registration needed.
- Electric cars on Auto Pay get 25 per cent off, and electric vans, HGVs and quadricycles 50 per cent, from 2 January 2026. From 4 March 2030 those fall to 12.5 per cent and 25 per cent.
- There is a reimbursement scheme for NHS staff and patients.
Most of these have to be applied for, and several are time limited. An exemption you have not registered is not an exemption the cameras know about.
If you do not pay
Penalty charge
£180, reduced to £90 if you pay within 14 days. If the penalty is still unpaid after 28 days a charge certificate raises it by half, to £270.
Transport for London, Changes to the Congestion Charge (as of 26 September 2026); Transport for London, Congestion Charge (as of 2 January 2026); Transport for London, Congestion Charge discounts and exemptions (as of 2 January 2026); Transport for London, Congestion Charge: penalties and enforcement (as of 30 July 2026); Greater London Authority, Congestion Charge (boundary and exemptions) (as of 17 February 2003)Charges, hours and exemptions
Does a car pay in the Congestion Charge?
Yes. Every car pays £18 a day to enter, whatever its emissions, because this is a charge for driving into the zone rather than an emissions standard. Only the published discounts reduce the charge.
When does the zone operate?
07:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday, and 12:00 to 18:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Nothing is charged between Christmas Day and the New Year's Day bank holiday inclusive. Enforcement started on 17 February 2003, and those hours have applied since, unless the operator has published a change.
Where does the zone start and end?
Central London inside the Inner Ring Road, which links Euston Road, Pentonville Road, City Road, Commercial Street, Mansell Street, Tower Bridge, the Elephant and Castle, Vauxhall Bridge Road, Park Lane and Marylebone Road. The Inner Ring Road is the boundary itself rather than part of the zone. Use the operating authority's map to plan the exact route through the enforcement boundary.
What is the penalty if I do not pay?
£180, reduced to £90 if you pay within 14 days. If the penalty is still unpaid after 28 days a charge certificate raises it by half, to £270.
Who is exempt?
Published exemptions and discounts include: Motorcycles, mopeds and motor tricycles are not charged; Residents on the electoral roll inside the residents' discount zone get a 90 per cent discount after a £10 annual registration. From 1 March 2027 new applicants qualify only with an electric vehicle, unless they receive one of the benefits TfL lists; Blue Badge holders get a 100 per cent discount. Registration costs £10 and is renewed alongside the badge. Most have to be applied for in advance, so read the full list before you travel.