London’s congestion charge is a fixed daily price to drive in Central London (Congestion Charge Zone) between 7 am and 6 pm Monday through Friday, 12 pm and 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and on bank holidays.
This is separate to the ULEZ charge detailed at the bottom of this article.
You don’t have to pay the Congestion Charge on:
- Monday to Thursday between 6 pm–7 am (18:00–07:00)
- Friday 6 pm–12 pm (18:00–12:00) Saturday
- Saturday 6 pm–12pm (18:00–12:00) Sunday
- Sunday 6 pm–7 am (18:00–07:00) Monday
How much is the London Congestion charge?
The Congestion charge is £15 per vehicle per day if you pay in advance or before midnight when you enter the zone on the day. If you neglect to pay, you can still do so up to three days later, but the charge will then be £17.50. You may enter and leave the congestion zone as often as you like on the day, but you will only be charged once.
Do you need to pay if you park in a car park in the zone?
Driving within the congestion charge zone between 7 am and 6 pm Monday through Friday, and between 12 pm and 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, is when you would be charged (if you drove there).
When you leave your vehicle in a parking area for a few days, you are not required to pay the congestion charge. You will only be charged for the days you drive into or out of the car park during the congestion charge period.
How to pay the Congestion Charge
There are a few ways that you can pay. The quickest ways for visitors to pay include:
Pay online
TfL allows you to pay the Congestion Charge online without registering or creating a password. You must enter your car’s licence plate number and the country where it was registered in order to pay. Payments are made with a credit or debit card.
Paying the Congestion Charge using the official Transport for London (TfL) website is the only way to do so. This is the official website URL:
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge
Paying for London transport using other websites is not recommended. They charge more than the official rate, sometimes as much as £5 extra. You should never pay more than £15 on the day or £17.50 up to three days after your journey date. On the 22nd of June 2020, the prices increased.
Pay through the TfL Pay to Drive in London app
Using the Pay to Drive in London app from TfL is the best way to pay the charge. You can get it from the Apple app store or Google Play for free.
Pay by Phone
TfL’s Pay to Drive in London service can be contacted via 0343 222 2222 between 8 am and 8 pm Monday through Friday, or +44 343 222 2222 outside the UK.
You will need:
- Vehicle registration number
- Country of registration
- Your credit/debit card details
You can still pay for the London congestion zone entrance if you enter it frequently. Retail stores and petrol stations no longer accept Congestion Charge payments as of July 2013.
What happens if you don’t pay?
Cameras record your entry and exit from the zone, and if you don’t pay by midnight on the third day after entering, a £160 Penalty Charge Notice is sent to your home address. Paying within 14 days lowers the fine to £80. The charge must be paid within 28 days or you can challenge the PCN. If you don’t pay or dispute the PCN within 28 days, the charge rises to £240.
Where does the Congestion Charge apply?
Central London, including the City of Westminster, the City of London, and parts of Camden, Lambeth, and Southwark, is covered by the Congestion Charge Zone.
There will be big “C”s in red circles on signs and road markings to let you know you’ve entered the Congestion Charge Zone.
The Congestion Charge Zone covers the below areas:
- Barbican
- Bloomsbury
- Borough
- Charing Cross
- City of London
- Clerkenwell
- Covent Garden
- Euston
- Finsbury
- Fitzrovia
- Holborn
- London Bridge
- Mayfair
- Soho
- St James’s
- St Pancras
- Waterloo
- Parts of Marylebone, Lambeth, Southwark and Westminster
An additional charge for driving in London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)
Beginning April 8, 2019, driving in central London has been subject to the Ultra-Low Emission Zone Charge (ULEZ). On October 25, 2021, the ULEZ zone was expanded outside the Congestion zone (to the North and South Circular roads).
Vehicles that don’t meet Euro 4 emission standards for petrol vehicles (registered after 2005) or Euro 6 emission standards for diesel vehicles (registered after September 2015) are subject to a surcharge.
Check to see if your vehicle is liable for ULEZ using the TfL online checker.
In case your vehicle is liable, you must pay for the ULEZ and the Congestion Charge. If you enter London outside of Congestion Charge hours, you only need to pay for the ULEZ.
What is the difference between the London Congestion Charge and the Ultra Low Emission Zones?
The Ultra Low Emission Zone is 24/7 every day (except Christmas Day) and only applies to high emission vehicles including Diesel cars with the aim to improve air quality.
The congestion charge is intended to reduce the volume of cars in central London so only applies at peak time.
