How can I check if I entered congestion zone?
Can I check if I entered the Congestion Charge zone? You can check the Congestion Charge zone on the TFL website to find out exactly which areas of London are included in the zone and whether you've driven in them, in which case you'll need to pay.
When to pay. If you drive within the zone, you'll have to pay by midnight on the third day following the journey. Fail to pay on time and you risk getting a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). To see if and what you need to pay, check your vehicle.
- Blue Badge holders.
- Roadside recovery vehicles.
- Accredited breakdown vehicles.
- Vehicles with nine or more seats.
- Cars that emit 75g/km or less of CO2.
- Zero-emission vehicles (Fully electric vehicles and any other zero emissions vehicles)
It covers approximately the area from Kings Cross in the north to Vauxhall in the south, and Paddington in the west to Whitechapel in the east. All roads around the perimeter of the zone are monitored by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. There is an interactive map of the Congestion Charge zone.
If you do not pay the PCN within 28 days of the date of service, the original penalty amount will increase by 50% and a charge certificate will be sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle. You have 14 days from the date of service in which to pay this.
The rules for refunds of paid congestion charges as set out in the Scheme Order are the same whatever payment method is used. Refunds are only available for unused future days of monthly (20 day) and annual (252 day) charges. Refunds are not available for any part of daily or weekly (5 day) charges.
The Congestion Charge is a £15 daily charge if you drive within the Congestion Charge zone 7:00-18:00 Monday-Friday and 12:00-18:00 Sat-Sun and bank holidays. No charge between Christmas Day and New Year's Day bank Holiday (inclusive). The easiest way to pay is by setting up Auto Pay.
If you intend to drive within the LEZ, you should check with your hire company that the vehicle meets emissions standards. If it doesn't, and the hire company hasn't made an arrangement to pay the daily charge, you'll need to pay it.
Via the TfL website. By telephone: 0343 222 2222 (see TfL website for more information)
Yes. From 25 October 2021, the ULEZ is expanding from central London to create a single, larger zone up to, but not including, the North Circular Road (A406) and South Circular Road (A205).
Do I have to pay to drive in London?
London road user charging
You may need to pay the Congestion Charge, Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and/or the Low Emission Zone charges to drive in London. Your number plate (Vehicle Registration Mark) will tell us which charges you need to pay.
The main measures mean that from 21 February, there will be no charges in the evenings after 18:00, and operating hours on weekends and bank holidays will reduce to 12:00-18:00. The current charge level of £15 will be retained. These changes will directly address the traffic challenges in central London.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) will no longer be exempt from the London congestion charge after 2021, as part of a new package of measures aimed at tackling congestion and improving air quality.
If you hold a valid Blue Badge, you're eligible to register for a 100% discount from the Congestion Charge, even if you don't own a vehicle or drive. If your vehicle has a disabled road fund licence (tax disc) you will receive the 100% discount automatically, with no need to register.
What time does the Congestion Charge end? The Congestion Charge operates 7am-10pm every day except for Christmas day. That means you can travel through the zone before 7am or after 10pm without paying the charge. The ULEZ may still apply, though.
- a vehicle that's ultra low emission.
- a disabled passenger tax class vehicle.
- a disabled tax class vehicle.
- a military vehicle.
- a historic vehicle.
- a vehicle retrofitted with technology accredited by the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme ( CVRAS )
- certain types of agricultural vehicles.
The Congestion Charge is £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.
Making an appeal
The Road User Charging Adjudicators (RUCA) are an independent tribunal which decides appeals against Congestion Charging, Low Emission Zone and Ultra Low Emission Zone penalty charge notices. They are supported by London Tribunals, an administrative body operated by London councils.
💡 Tips. Uber has introduced the Central London Fee to support drivers and help them maintain their earnings. For every trip that starts, ends or passes through the Congestion Charge zone, a £1.50 contribution will be added to the drivers.
If your vehicle is involved in a contravention on the red route, you'll be sent a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for £160. You need to pay this within 28 days. If you pay this within 14 or 21 days (it will say on the PCN), the amount will be reduced to £80.
Do you have to pay Congestion Charge on Sundays?
The Congestion Charge in London applies between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday and 12pm to 6pm on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays, except between Christmas Day and the New Year's Day bank holiday. The Congestion Charge costs £15 if you pay in advance or on the same day.
Most vehicles need to meet the ULEZ emissions standards or you must pay a £12.50 daily charge to drive inside the zone. This includes: Cars, motorcycles, vans and specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes)
The congestion zone covers the following postcode area: EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4, SE1, SW1, W1, WC1 and WC2.
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year (except Christmas Day) to help clean up London's air. The zone now covers all areas within the North and South Circular Roads. The North Circular (A406) and South Circular (A205) roads are not in the zone.
Central London ULEZ
Most vehicles, including cars and vans, need to meet the ULEZ emissions standards or their drivers must pay a daily charge to drive within the zone: £12.50 for most vehicle types, including cars, motorcycles and vans (up to and including 3.5 tonnes)
The congestion zone covers the following postcode area: EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4, SE1, SW1, W1, WC1 and WC2.
What time does the Congestion Charge end? The Congestion Charge operates 7am-10pm every day except for Christmas day. That means you can travel through the zone before 7am or after 10pm without paying the charge. The ULEZ may still apply, though.
The Pay-Next-Day scheme will allow drivers to pay the £8 Congestion Charge until midnight on the day, or pay £10 until midnight on the following charging day.
The Congestion Charge is £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.
- Time your visit so that you will only be driving after 6pm on weekdays or at the weekend. ...
- Download a free parking app, or check the parking notices and drive around to find pay and display bays, as they are the ones that are usually free at particular times.
Is Congestion Charge free after 6pm?
The Congestion Charge is a £15 daily charge if you drive within the Congestion Charge zone 7:00-18:00 Monday-Friday and 12:00-18:00 Sat-Sun and bank holidays. No charge between Christmas Day and New Year's Day bank Holiday (inclusive). The easiest way to pay is by setting up Auto Pay.
Below the 'Destinations' section on Google Maps, you should find an 'Options' hyperlink. Click on that and one of the options which comes up is 'Avoid'. Tick the box next to 'Tolls' and your route should refresh, giving you a route which circumnavigates the Congestion Zone.
What are the proposed operating hours and days for the Congestion Charge? We are proposing that the Congestion Charge operates on weekdays from 07:00-18:00 and on weekends and Bank Holidays from 12:00-18:00 from 28 February 2022.
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 operates 07:00-18:00 Mon-Fri, 12:00-18:00 Sat-Sun and bank holidays.
The main measures mean that from 21 February, there will be no charges in the evenings after 18:00, and operating hours on weekends and bank holidays will reduce to 12:00-18:00. The current charge level of £15 will be retained. These changes will directly address the traffic challenges in central London.
Most vehicles need to meet the ULEZ emissions standards or you must pay a £12.50 daily charge to drive inside the zone. This includes: Cars, motorcycles, vans and specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes)
"Drivers can already pay their congestion charge at more than 250 petrol stations and 1,800 retail outlets within the M25, and over 11,000 throughout the rest of the UK, as well as by phone, text and on-line.
London road user charging
You may need to pay the Congestion Charge, Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and/or the Low Emission Zone charges to drive in London. Your number plate (Vehicle Registration Mark) will tell us which charges you need to pay.
The rules for refunds of paid congestion charges as set out in the Scheme Order are the same whatever payment method is used. Refunds are only available for unused future days of monthly (20 day) and annual (252 day) charges. Refunds are not available for any part of daily or weekly (5 day) charges.
You can pay the charge online, over the phone, or through an app. If you pay before midnight on the day you enter London, the congestion charge comes to only £11.50. If you pay the charge the next day, however, the congestion charge costs £14.
