How much is congestion charge in London?
A how much is congestion charge takes moments. 50 if you pay by midnight the following charging day.
The charge applies to most vehicles driven or parked inside the central London congestion charging zone between 07:00 and 18:00, Monday to Friday, and between 12:00 and 18:00 on weekends and bank holidays.
Payment is made directly to Transport for London through their website, app or by phone.
Key facts
What does the £15 congestion charge cover?
The £15 daily charge grants you unlimited entries and exits within the congestion charging zone for one calendar day. If you drive in at 08:00, leave at 11:00, then return at 15:00 on the same day, you pay only once.
The charge covers the administrative cost of the scheme and contributes to Transport for London's budget for public transport improvements and road maintenance.
The zone itself runs roughly from King's Cross in the north to Vauxhall in the south, and from Hyde Park in the west to Tower Bridge in the east. Cameras at every entry and exit point read number plates automatically, and the system cross-references your registration against payment records.
If no payment is found by midnight, a penalty charge notice is generated.
Tip: Set up Auto Pay if you drive into the zone regularly. It deducts £15 automatically each day you enter, so you never miss the midnight deadline.
The congestion charge is separate from the Ultra Low Emission Zone charge. A vehicle that does not meet ULEZ emissions standards pays both charges on the same journey, and the two must be paid separately through Transport for London.
How and when do you pay the congestion charge?
You can pay through the Transport for London website, the TfL Go app, by phone on 0343 222 2222, or at selected retail outlets displaying the Payzone sign. Payment is accepted from 90 days before travel up to midnight on the day you drive in the zone.
50 rate.
Auto Pay is a registered account that deducts the charge automatically each time cameras detect your vehicle in the zone. You add your card details once, register your number plate, and the system bills you at the end of each charging period.
There is no extra fee for Auto Pay, and it removes the risk of forgetting.
50 more, and missing the second midnight triggers a £160 penalty charge notice — eight times the original charge.
If you receive a penalty charge notice, you have 28 days to pay the full £160 or 14 days to pay the reduced £80 rate.
Challenging the notice suspends payment while Transport for London reviews your case, but you must submit evidence (proof of payment, exemption certificate or vehicle sale documents) within the same 28-day window.
Who is exempt from the congestion charge?
Several categories of vehicle and driver are exempt from the daily charge, though most require advance registration with Transport for London. Blue Badge holders who live inside the zone receive a 100% discount, but must register their vehicle and badge number before travel.
Residents who live within the zone pay a reduced rate of £10 per month for unlimited travel, again after registering.
Motorcycles, mopeds and certain ultra-low-emission vehicles (those emitting 75g/km CO₂ or less and meeting Euro 5 or Euro 6 standards) are exempt until December 2025, when the cleaner vehicle discount ends.
Emergency service vehicles, NHS vehicles displaying an exempt permit, and vehicles adapted for disabled passengers are also exempt, as are buses and licensed taxis.
Key figure: Only about 6% of vehicles entering the zone qualify for an exemption or discount in 2026, down from 12% in 2023.
If you believe your vehicle qualifies, check the Transport for London exemptions page and apply at least five working days before your first journey. Some exemptions (Blue Badge, resident) require proof of address, identity documents and a photograph of the badge or permit.
| Exemption type | Monthly cost | Registration required | Proof needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone resident | £10 | Yes | Address, vehicle documents |
| Blue Badge holder (zone resident) | £0 | Yes | Badge, address, ID |
| Motorcycle / moped | £0 | No | None |
| Ultra-low-emission vehicle (until Dec 2025) | £0 | Yes | V5C, emissions certificate |
What happens if you drive in the zone without paying?
If cameras record your number plate inside the zone during charging hours and no payment is found by midnight, Transport for London posts a penalty charge notice to the registered keeper within 14 days.
The notice states the date, time and location of the detected entry, and gives you 28 days to pay £160 or 14 days to pay the reduced £80 rate.
Ignoring the notice escalates the penalty. After 28 days without payment or challenge, the charge increases to £240, and Transport for London can register a county court judgement against the keeper.
That judgement affects credit ratings and can lead to bailiff action or vehicle clamping.
You can challenge a penalty charge notice if you have evidence that the charge does not apply: proof that you paid on time, that the vehicle was sold before the date in question, that it is exempt, or that the camera misread the number plate.
Submit your challenge through the Transport for London website with scanned copies of supporting documents. If Transport for London rejects your challenge, you can appeal to an independent tribunal at no cost.
Warning: Repeated unpaid charges add up quickly — three missed days cost £480 in penalties, far more than the £45 in original charges.
How much is congestion charge compared to parking and other zone costs?
Parking in central London costs between £4 and £8 per hour at public car parks, with daily maximums of £40 to £60.
A single errand — dropping documents at an office, picking up a parcel, meeting someone for lunch — can therefore cost £15 in congestion charge plus £20 to £30 in parking, turning a 90-minute trip into a £35 to £45 expense.
50 for the day. The combined cost of congestion charge, ULEZ and parking can exceed £75 for a half-day visit, more than many people spend on their car in a week.
- A return train journey from outside the M25 to a central London station averages £25 to £35, still cheaper than driving in and parking.
Tip: Use Valetly's free ULEZ and zone checker to see instantly whether your postcode sits inside the congestion charging zone and whether your vehicle meets ULEZ standards.
Getting the car cleaned inside the zone without adding mileage
If you live or park inside the congestion charging zone, every additional journey adds to the charge you have already paid.
Driving out to a car wash and back costs nothing extra on the same day, but it does cost time, and finding a convenient car wash that handles the job properly while you wait is harder in central London than in outer boroughs.
Booking a valet who comes to the zone removes that trip entirely. The valet arrives at your parking space, completes the clean on site, and leaves before you return to the car.
No additional mileage, no second journey, no extra congestion charge or parking fee.
For someone who pays £15 every time the car moves, that saving is immediate.
Valetly connects drivers across all 32 London boroughs with vetted, insured independent valets who bring their equipment to the customer's address. Prices are fixed from £75, shown at booking, and the service includes before and after photos.
If something is missed, the valet returns at no extra cost.
Coverage extends across the entire congestion charging zone and into areas we cover around the M25 commuter belt.
A how much is congestion charge check takes seconds and costs nothing.
Next, read London Congestion Charge: Cost, Zone & How to Pay in 2026 for the detail behind that decision. Next, read London Congestion Charge: Pay, Zone & Times in 2026 for the detail behind that decision.
Frequently asked questions
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Yes. The congestion charge applies every day of the year between 12:00 and 18:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.
The weekday hours of 07:00 to 18:00 apply Monday to Friday. There is no exemption for weekends, and the cost remains £15 per day.
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Yes. You can pay up to 90 days before travel through the Transport for London website or app.
Advance payment is useful if you have a fixed schedule or want to avoid forgetting on the day. You specify the date of travel when you pay, and the system activates the charge on that date only.
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50 instead of £15. Miss that second deadline and you receive a penalty charge notice for £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days.
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No. The congestion charge applies to entering central London during set hours, regardless of the vehicle's emissions.
The Ultra Low Emission Zone charge applies to vehicles that do not meet minimum emissions standards, across a much wider area covering all of Greater London.
You can pay one, both or neither, depending on where you drive and what you drive.
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Most electric vehicles qualified for the cleaner vehicle discount until the end of 2025, when that exemption ended. From January 2026, pure electric vehicles pay the full £15 daily congestion charge unless the driver qualifies for a different exemption, such as Blue Badge holder or zone resident.
Conclusion
The congestion charge costs £15 per day when paid on time, with operating hours that now cover evenings and weekends as well as weekday mornings. Paying late, missing the deadline or ignoring a penalty notice turns a manageable daily cost into a three-figure penalty.
Check your vehicle's exemption status before the first journey, and set up Auto Pay if you enter the zone regularly.
Book a valet who comes to the zone to keep the car clean without adding charged mileage to your day.
Valetly is a London mobile valeting marketplace (company number 17255496) connecting vetted, insured independent valets with drivers across all 32 London boroughs, with fixed prices from £75.
