Congestion Charge
If you drive in central London, you pay the Congestion Charge once a day. The fee is £18 when you pay on the day of your journey or in advance. Pay up to 3 days later and it goes up to £21.
On a weekday the charge runs from 07:00 to 18:00. £18 if you pay on the day or before.
Prices and penalty
What you pay depends on your timing and on whether you drive an electric car signed up to Auto Pay. Auto Pay is a free TfL service that takes payment automatically for any day you drive into the zone.
| Situation | Cost |
|---|---|
| Paid on the day or earlier | £18 daily |
| Paid in the 3 days after | £21 daily |
| Electric car on Auto Pay | £13.50 daily, a 25% saving |
| Penalty if unpaid | £180 |
| Penalty settled within 14 days | £90 |
These numbers are taken from the TfL page covering changes to the Congestion Charge.
Congestion Charge costs and hours
- £18a day if you pay on the day or before
- £21if you pay within 3 days after
- 07:00 to 18:00on weekdays
- 12:00 to 18:00weekends and bank holidays
No charge from Christmas Day to the New Year's Day bank holiday. Electric cars registered for Auto Pay get 25% off (£13.50 a day). A penalty is £180, cut to £90 if paid within 14 days.
These figures come from TfL.
Where the Congestion Charge zone is
These figures come from TfL.
Charging hours and days
On a weekday, the charge applies if you're driving in the zone from 07:00 until 18:00. Weekends and bank holidays are different. Then you only pay from 12:00 to 18:00.
Between Christmas Day and the New Year's Day bank holiday, no charge applies at all.
Do you also owe the ULEZ?
The Congestion Charge doesn't depend on how old or clean your car is, so most drivers pay the same £18. Whether you also owe the ULEZ depends on your vehicle, and TfL's official checker can tell you if you enter your number plate. You'll find it on the TfL vehicle-checking page.
The Congestion Charge and ULEZ are separate charges, so meeting the ULEZ rules does not mean you avoid the Congestion Charge. A car that fails the ULEZ standard and enters the centre during charging hours owes both, £12.50 for the ULEZ plus £18 for the Congestion Charge.
Where the zone is
The zone covers the busiest part of central London. Our London map shows its edge over the main roads, alongside all 33 London local authorities, so you can see roughly where it starts.
If you need to check a particular street near the edge, there's a link to TfL's own zoomable map.
Savings for electric cars and people living in the zone
The previous full exemption for cleaner vehicles is no longer available. If you drive an electric car and you're on Auto Pay, you get 25% off automatically. Without Auto Pay there's no discount.
New applicants will see updated Residents' Discount rules from TfL in 2027.
Paying with Auto Pay
Registering for Auto Pay costs nothing. You'll need a London Road User Charging account, which is TfL's shared account for all its driving charges.
Auto Pay covers the Congestion Charge, ULEZ and London LEZ, and bills you each month. TfL's guidance says this keeps you safe from a penalty. Their other advice is to avoid paying through sites that aren't official.
Common questions
Does the charge stop in the evening?
Yes. Charging stops at 18:00 every day, so an evening drive is free of the Congestion Charge. The ULEZ runs 24 hours, though, so if your car doesn't meet its standard you'd still owe that £12.50.
Do I pay the Congestion Charge on a Sunday?
On Sundays, the Congestion Charge applies from noon to 6pm, except during the break from Christmas Day to the New Year's Day bank holiday. The separate ULEZ charge may still apply outside these hours.
Is the Congestion Charge the same as the ULEZ?
No. The Congestion Charge is a flat daily fee for driving in central London during charging hours. The ULEZ is a separate £12.50 charge that only applies if your vehicle doesn't meet the emissions standard. The standard charge is £18 if you pay in advance or on the day, or £21 if you pay within three days afterwards. Electric cars on Auto Pay pay £13.50.