The Congestion Charge applies between 07.00 and 22.00 seven days a week.
3rd September 2020
London Environmental Zones Update – Part 1, Congestion Charge
What is it?
The congestion charge is a daily levy imposed on drivers choosing to drive within central London.
Where is it?
The Congestion Charge Zone covers most of central London including the City of Westminster, the City of London and parts of the London Boroughs of Camden, Lambeth and Southwark.
Please note that the speed limit in the Congestion Charge Zone is 20 miles per hour.
There is no Congestion Charge:
- Monday to Sunday between 10pm–7am
- Bank holidays (31 August 2020, 2 & 5 April 2021 )
- Christmas Day (25 December 2020)
- Boxing Day (26 December 2020)
- 27–30 December 2020
- New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (31 December 2020 and 1st January 2021)
The Congestion Charge prices increased on 22 June 2020.
The Congestion Charge is now £15 per vehicle per day if you pay in advance or before midnight on the day you enter the zone.
If you forget, you can still pay the fee up to three days later but the price increases to £17.50 per vehicle per day.
You can drive in and out of the congestion zone as many times as you like on the day — you only pay one fee.
1. Online Payment
You can pay online up to 90 days in advance, on the day of travel or by midnight the next charging day by using the official Transport for London (TfL) website:
tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge
Do not use other websites to pay. They charge more than the official rate – in some cases up to £5 extra. The maximum amount you should pay is £15 on the day, or £17.50 up to three days following the date of travel.
2. Pay via the TfL Pay to Drive in London app
TfL has a Pay to Drive in London app to pay the charge. It’s available from the Apple app store or Google Play. The app is free to download.
3. Pay by phone
Call 0343 222 2222 between 8am–8pm Monday–Friday to pay by phone.
Cameras record when you enter and exit the zone. If payment is not received by midnight on the third day after entering the Congestion Charge Zone, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for £160 is sent to your home address. If you pay within 14 days, the fine is reduced to £80.
Exemptions
Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers qualify for the 100% Congestion Charge discount (you will be required to pay an annual registration fee of £10 to register each vehicle for the discount).
Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) drivers qualify for the 100% Congestion Charge discount until 25th October 2021 (£10 annual registration fee also applies)
Summary of London’s Environmental Zone Charges
Charging days run from midnight to midnight. So if you drive within the zones between 23:30 and 01:00 the next day, you need to pay for 2 days.
The ULEZ covers central London, in the same area as the Congestion Charge. The LEZ operates across most of Greater London.
The charges only need to be paid if you drive your vehicle within the zone. Parked vehicles are not subject to any charges.
As well as ULEZ and LEZ charges, you may also need to pay the Congestion Charge. The Congestion Charge applies from 07:00-22:00, every day, except Christmas Day (25 December). If you drive within the Congestion Charge zone during these times you need to pay the Congestion Charge, even if you meet the ULEZ and/or LEZ emissions standards or have paid those daily charges.