What is the London Congestion Charge and How Do You Pay It?
The london congestion charge is a daily £15 fee for driving or parking inside central London's charging zone between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday, and noon to 6pm on weekends and bank holidays. Pay online, by app or by phone by midnight the next charging day to avoid a £160 penalty.
There is no hourly rate and no grace period — any time inside the zone during charging hours triggers the full daily charge.
Key facts
How much does the london congestion charge cost in 2026?
The standard charge is £15 when you pay by midnight the day after you travel. 50.
Miss that window and TfL sends a penalty charge notice for £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days.
Auto Pay users pay the standard £15 automatically each time their vehicle enters the zone. There is no weekly or monthly cap.
Each charging day counts separately, even if you drive in and out multiple times.
Tip: Set up Auto Pay if you drive through the zone twice a month or more. It charges your card automatically and prevents missed-payment penalties.
| Payment timing | Cost per day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| By midnight next charging day | £15 | Online, app or phone |
| 1–14 days after travel | £17.50 | Late payment surcharge |
| After 14 days (penalty notice) | £160 (£80 if paid in 14 days) | Sent by post to registered keeper |
| Auto Pay | £15 | Automatic charge, monthly statement |
What are the london congestion charge hours and zone boundaries?
Charging hours are 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday and noon to 6pm Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays. No charge applies on Christmas Day or between 25 December and 1 January inclusive.
Bank holidays in 2026 include New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May, Spring, Summer bank holidays and Boxing Day.
The zone covers central London from Euston and King's Cross in the north to Elephant and Castle and Vauxhall in the south, and from Hyde Park and Paddington in the west to Aldgate and Tower Bridge in the east. Roads on the boundary are not charged; any road inside the zone is.
Signs showing a white "C" in a red circle mark the boundary. Cameras read number plates as you cross.
Use Valetly's free ULEZ and zone checker to confirm whether a postcode sits inside the congestion zone or the wider ULEZ boundary. Enter a registration or postcode and it shows both zones in one result.
Warning: Parking on a street just inside the zone for five minutes during charging hours triggers the full £15 daily charge. There is no grace period or hourly rate.
Who is exempt from paying the congestion charge?
Blue Badge holders who register their vehicle and badge details with TfL receive a 100% discount. The discount is not automatic.
Register online through the TfL website and renew when your badge expires.
50 instead of £15 per day. Motorcycles, mopeds and some historic vehicles registered before a cut-off date may qualify for exemptions.
Emergency services vehicles, licensed London taxis and certain adapted vehicles for disabled passengers are also exempt. Check the TfL congestion charge page before assuming you do not need to pay.
Zero-emission vehicles such as battery electric cars were eligible for the Cleaner Vehicle Discount, but this ended on 25 December 2025. From 26 December 2025 onwards, electric vehicles pay the full £15 charge unless the driver holds a Blue Badge or resident discount.
How do you pay the london congestion charge?
UK (via TfL), through the TfL app (iOS and Android) or by calling the automated payment line 0343 222 2222. You need your vehicle registration and a debit or credit card.
Payment can be made up to 90 days in advance if you know you will drive through the zone on a specific date.
Auto Pay is the simplest method for regular users. Register your vehicle and payment card once, and TfL charges you automatically each time you enter the zone during charging hours.
You receive a monthly statement by email. Auto Pay can be paused or cancelled at any time through your TfL account.
50 rate through the same channels. After 14 days, TfL sends a penalty charge notice to the registered keeper.
You cannot pay the congestion charge at a shop, garage or in person.
Key figure: Missing one payment and ignoring the penalty notice costs £160 — more than ten days' worth of advance charges.
What happens if you do not pay the congestion charge?
If you drive or park inside the zone during charging hours and do not pay by midnight the next charging day, TfL issues a penalty charge notice of £160 to the registered keeper. Pay within 14 days and the penalty reduces to £80.
Ignore it and the debt increases to £240. TfL can register a charge against the vehicle with the DVLA, preventing you from taxing or selling it until the debt is cleared.
Cameras at every entry point and throughout the zone record number plates automatically. There is no physical barrier or ticket to collect, so it is easy to forget you have entered the zone if you are not a regular central London driver.
Set a phone reminder to pay before midnight if you do not use Auto Pay.
You can appeal a penalty charge notice within 28 days if you believe it was issued in error. For example, if your vehicle is exempt or you were not the driver.
Appeals are submitted online through the TfL website.
You must provide evidence such as Blue Badge registration or proof of sale if the vehicle changed hands before the charge date.
Keep the car parked and still get it cleaned
Inside the congestion zone, a short errand can cost more than the errand itself. The charge covers any time parked or driving between 7am and 6pm on weekdays, whether five minutes or five hours.
A mobile valet booked to your parking space adds no extra mileage to the charged journey. The car stays exactly where it is, and the valet brings the equipment to you.
Valetly connects London drivers with vetted, insured independent mobile valets who work at your home, office or any parking location across all 32 boroughs. The valet arrives with everything needed, completes the clean on-site and sends before and after photos when finished.
Fixed prices start at £75, and the price shown at booking is the price you pay. If you are keeping the car parked to avoid an extra congestion charge, keep the car parked and still get it cleaned without adding any charged trips.
Read ULEZ Map: Check London Zone Boundaries in 2026 to understand how the two zones overlap, or see The Real Cost of a London Hand Car Wash for what a professional clean should cost.
Frequently asked questions
Do you pay the congestion charge on weekends?
Yes. Charging hours on Saturday and Sunday are noon to 6pm, and the same £15 daily charge applies.
Bank holidays follow the same noon to 6pm hours. There is no charge on Christmas Day or between 25 December and 1 January.
Can you pay the congestion charge in advance?
Yes. You can pay up to 90 days before you plan to drive through the zone.
Use the TfL website, app or phone line, and enter the date or dates you expect to travel. This is useful if you have a hospital appointment, meeting or event scheduled in central London.
Does the congestion charge apply to electric cars?
Yes, from 26 December 2025 onwards. The Cleaner Vehicle Discount for zero-emission vehicles ended on 25 December 2025.
Electric cars now pay the full £15 daily charge unless the driver holds a Blue Badge or resident discount.
What is the difference between the congestion charge and ULEZ?
The congestion charge is a £15 daily fee for driving in central London during set hours. 50 daily charge for vehicles that do not meet emission standards, covering all of Greater London inside the M25.
The two charges are separate — you may need to pay both if you drive a non-compliant vehicle inside the congestion zone during charging hours.
How do I check if I need to pay the congestion charge?
Use the ULEZ and zone checker to see whether a postcode or address sits inside the congestion zone. Enter your vehicle registration or location, and the tool shows both the ULEZ boundary and the congestion charging area on one map.
The london congestion charge is straightforward once you know the hours, the zone and the payment deadline. Pay by midnight the next charging day to avoid the surcharge, or set up Auto Pay if you drive through the zone regularly.
Missing the payment costs far more than the charge itself.
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.
