How much is the London congestion charge and how do I pay it?
The London congestion charge costs £15 per day if you pay by midnight on the day you drive inside the zone. 50 if you settle the following day, or face a £160 penalty (reduced to £80 within 14 days) if you miss both deadlines.
The charge applies Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 18:00, excluding public holidays.
You pay online at the Transport for London (TfL) website, by phone on 0343 222 2222 or through the TfL app.
The zone covers central London from Marylebone Road south to Elephant and Castle, and from Hyde Park east to Tower Bridge.
Key facts
What is the London congestion charge?
The London congestion charge is a daily fee for driving or parking a motor vehicle inside a defined zone in central London during charging hours. Introduced in 2003 to reduce traffic, the charge is managed by Transport for London.
The zone runs from Marylebone Road in the north to Elephant and Castle in the south, and from Hyde Park west to Tower Bridge east. The boundary roads themselves carry no charge; only movement inside the perimeter triggers the fee.
One payment covers the entire day, regardless of how many times you enter or leave between 07:00 and 18:00. If you park inside the zone overnight but do not move the car during charging hours, you owe nothing.
Weekend driving and public holidays are free.
More than 200 automatic number-plate recognition cameras record every vehicle entering or moving within the zone.
Tip: Save the TfL congestion charge page as a browser bookmark so you can pay within seconds of parking.
How do I pay the congestion charge?
You pay directly to TfL through four routes. uk/congestion-charge, where you enter your registration, select the date and pay by card.
The site accepts payment up to 90 days in advance and up to three days after you drove (at the higher rate).
Auto Pay charges your card automatically each time cameras detect your registration inside the zone, so you never miss a deadline.
The TfL app offers identical functionality on your phone. By telephone, call 0343 222 2222 between 08:00 and 20:00 any day.
You can also pay at selected retail outlets displaying the PayPoint logo, though this requires you to know your registration and date in advance.
50, and missing the next-day deadline triggers a £160 penalty.
All payments are per vehicle per day. Three cars driven into the zone on the same day cost £45; multiple trips in one car count as one charge.
| Payment method | Same day | Next day | Advance? |
|---|---|---|---|
| TfL website | £15 | £17.50 | Up to 90 days |
| TfL app | £15 | £17.50 | Up to 90 days |
| Telephone | £15 | £17.50 | Up to 90 days |
| PayPoint shop | £15 | £17.50 | Same day only |
| Auto Pay (online) | £15 | £15 | Automatic |
What are the congestion charge zone boundaries and times?
The congestion charge zone covers roughly 21 square kilometres of central London.
The northern boundary follows Marylebone Road and Pentonville Road. The western edge runs along Park Lane and Grosvenor Place.
The southern limit sweeps from Vauxhall Bridge Road through Kennington Lane to Tower Bridge. The eastern side follows Commercial Street and Mansell Street.
Boundary roads themselves are exempt. You can drive along Marylebone Road or Park Lane without paying.
Charging hours are 07:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday. Weekends, public holidays and the period between Christmas and New Year are free.
Enter the zone at 06:59 or 18:01 and you pay nothing. The cameras operate continuously but only flag vehicles detected between start and end times on chargeable days.
Use Valetly's free ULEZ and zone checker to confirm whether a specific postcode sits inside the boundary. The tool shows both the congestion zone and the wider Ultra Low Emission Zone on one map.
Key figure: More than 200 automatic number-plate recognition cameras enforce the charge.
Who is exempt from the London congestion charge?
Certain vehicles and drivers do not pay, though most exemptions require prior registration with TfL.
Blue Badge holders who live inside the zone receive a 100 per cent discount after registering their vehicle and uploading a copy of the badge. 50 per day) on one vehicle, provided they register and supply proof of address.
All zero-emission vehicles (battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell) were exempt until December 2025. From 25 December 2025, they pay the full charge unless covered by another exemption.
Motorcycles, mopeds and some mobility scooters remain permanently exempt and do not need to register. Emergency services vehicles, licensed London taxis and certain vehicles used by disabled people are also exempt, though registration is usually required.
- Blue Badge holders inside the zone: 100% discount (registration required).
- Residents inside the zone: 90% discount on one vehicle (registration and proof of address required).
- Motorcycles and mopeds: automatic exemption, no registration.
- Zero-emission cars: full charge applies from 25 December 2025.
- Licensed London taxis: automatic exemption.
Commercial fleets and rental cars are never exempt unless the individual vehicle qualifies. If you hire a car and drive into the zone, you pay the charge before the hire company adds an administrative fee.
Tip: Register exemptions online at least five working days before you drive to avoid paying in error.
What happens if I don't pay the congestion charge?
If you drive inside the zone during charging hours and do not pay by midnight the following day, TfL issues a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) to the registered keeper. The standard penalty is £160, reduced to £80 if you pay within 14 days.
Automatic number-plate recognition cameras record every vehicle entering, leaving and moving within the zone, so non-payment is detected within hours. You receive the PCN by post at the address on the vehicle registration, usually within two weeks.
The letter explains the contravention, the penalty amount and how to pay or appeal. If you believe the charge was issued in error — for example, your vehicle is exempt or you had already paid — challenge the notice through TfL's online portal with evidence such as proof of payment or Blue Badge documentation.
Warning: Ignoring a PCN escalates the debt to county court and can lead to bailiff action or a civil enforcement agent visiting your home.
If you pay the reduced £80 within 14 days, the matter closes. Miss that window and the full £160 applies.
Persistent non-payment results in a court order, and the debt can be recovered through wage deduction or vehicle clamping.
Why getting your car cleaned inside the zone can cost less than moving it
If you park inside the congestion charge zone for work or errands, even a short trip out and back during charging hours costs £15. Driving the car to a hand wash bay on the zone boundary, then returning, doubles the cost when you re-enter.
A mobile valet who comes to your parking space or office car park adds no extra mileage and no extra charge, because the car stays where it is. This matters most for drivers who live or work near the boundary and would otherwise drive a few hundred metres to reach a DIY bay or avoid residential parking restrictions.
The congestion charge applies only when you move the vehicle between 07:00 and 18:00 on a weekday. A valet appointment at 08:00 or after 18:00 lets you keep the car in one place all day and avoid the fee entirely.
Valetly connects you with vetted, insured mobile valets who work across all 32 London boroughs, including every postcode inside the congestion zone. Each valet brings their own equipment and cleans the car at your space, whether that is street parking, an office car park or a residential bay.
Fixed prices from £75 mean no surprise charges and no need to move the car.
Keep the car parked and still get it cleaned.
For the broader emissions picture, read ULEZ Map: Check London Zone Boundaries in 2026. For cost comparisons, see The Real Cost of a London Hand Car Wash.
Frequently asked questions
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No. The charge applies only Monday to Friday, 07:00 to 18:00.
Weekends and public holidays are free, so you can drive into central London on Saturday or Sunday without paying.
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Yes. You can pay up to 90 days in advance through the TfL website, app or telephone line.
Advance payment suits regular commutes or known meeting dates inside the zone.
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No. The Ultra Low Emission Zone is a separate daily charge for vehicles that do not meet emissions standards, covering all of Greater London 24 hours a day.
The congestion charge applies only inside the smaller central zone during weekday daytime hours. You can owe both on the same journey.
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You still owe the charge. TfL does not offer a grace period or refund for accidental entry.
Leave the zone and pay online before midnight to avoid the higher rate. The cameras record your registration the moment you cross the boundary.
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Yes, from 25 December 2025. The cleaner vehicle discount that previously exempted zero-emission cars has ended.
Electric and hydrogen vehicles now pay the full £15 daily charge unless the driver qualifies for a resident or Blue Badge discount.
Conclusion
The London congestion charge is £15 per day if you drive inside the central zone between 07:00 and 18:00 on a weekday and pay by midnight. Late payment raises the cost; missing the deadline brings a £160 penalty.
Pay through the TfL website, app or phone line, and check the zone boundary before you travel. Where the car can stay parked, booking a mobile valet to your space avoids the charge altogether.
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.
