Pay the Congestion Charge

The Congestion Charge is a daily fee for driving a vehicle within a defined area of central London during charging hours. Transport for London introduced it in 2003 to cut traffic and free up road space for buses, cyclists and pedestrians in the busiest square miles of the city. It is not the same as ULEZ: the Congestion Charge is about how much traffic there is, while ULEZ is about how clean your vehicle is. You can be liable for both on the same day.

The charging zone covers central London — broadly the area bounded by the roads that make up the Inner Ring Road, taking in the City, the West End, Westminster and the immediate surroundings. The Inner Ring Road itself is outside the zone, so you can drive around the edge without paying. Because the boundary follows specific streets rather than a neat circle, the surest way to know is to check an address or postcode on the TfL zone checker before you set off.

When the charge applies

The hours changed in recent years and now include the weekend, so it is worth checking them again even if you thought you knew. The charge applies from 7:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday, and from 12:00 to 18:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Outside those hours — overnight, and before noon at weekends — there is no charge. There is also no charge on the days between Christmas Day and New Year's Day bank holiday, inclusive.

Who has to pay

Most cars, vans and lorries pay the charge if they drive in the zone during charging hours. It does not matter whether you are passing through, parking or picking someone up — being inside the zone with the engine running during charging hours is what counts. Motorcycles, mopeds and licensed London taxis are not charged. Residents of the zone and Blue Badge holders can register for large discounts (see below), and a small number of vehicle types are fully exempt.

How to pay, step by step

1. Check whether your route or destination is inside the zone using the TfL zone checker.
2. If it is, and you are driving during charging hours, note the day you travel.
3. Pay the daily charge on the official TfL service — in advance, on the day, or by midnight on the third day after (at the higher rate).
4. Set up Auto Pay to have TfL record the days you drive and bill your card automatically each month.

What you need

• Your vehicle registration mark (number plate)
• A debit or credit card
• The date, or dates, you drove inside the zone

What it costs

Congestion Charge — daily rates and penalties

Item	Amount
Daily charge (paid on the day or in advance)	£18 / day
Daily charge (paid by midnight on the third day after)	£21 / day
Residents' discount (registered)	90% off
Blue Badge holder discount (registered)	100% off
Penalty charge notice	£180 (£90 within 14 days)

Discounts and exemptions

People who live inside the residents' discount zone can register for a 90% discount for a small annual fee, which brings the daily cost right down. Blue Badge holders across the UK and EEA can register up to two vehicles for a 100% discount, and vehicles in the "disabled" tax class are fully exempt. There is also a Cleaner Vehicle Discount for electric vehicles registered on Auto Pay — 25% off for electric cars and 50% off for electric vans, quadricycles and HGVs — which is due to reduce over time and be reviewed again later this decade. Emergency vehicles, NHS vehicles exempt from vehicle tax, and accredited breakdown recovery vehicles are among the categories that pay nothing.

Note: This portal links to the official service. government.london does not take Congestion Charge payments or hold your card details.

Common questions