London driving charge
Congestion Charge checker
Check whether London's Congestion Charge applies today, what time it runs, and the payment deadline for a trip into the charging zone.
Today
Congestion Charge is on now
The charge applies from 07:00 to 18:00.
- Date
- Monday 13 July 2026
- Hours
- 07:00-18:00
- Daily charge
- £18
- Payment deadline
- Thursday 16 July 2026
The Congestion Charge zone
The Congestion Charge zone covers roughly 21 square kilometres of central London — the West End, the City, Westminster, Soho, Covent Garden, Mayfair, Holborn and Clerkenwell, plus a small area south of the river around Waterloo and Southwark.
The boundary follows the Inner Ring Road:
- North
- Marylebone Road, Euston Road, Pentonville Road
- East
- Tower Bridge Road
- South
- Elephant and Castle, New Kent Road
- West
- Park Lane, Edgware Road, Vauxhall Bridge Road
The boundary roads themselves are not charged. You can drive along Euston Road, Park Lane or Tower Bridge Road without paying. The charge applies only when you enter the area inside them. This catches people out more than any other rule, because the zone edge does not always sit where you would expect and some routes cross in and out.
Signs with a white C on a red circle mark every entry point. There are no barriers or toll booths. Instead, cameras read your number plate.
Exemptions and discounts
- Motorcycles, mopeds and bicycles: exempt
- Disabled and disabled passenger vehicle tax class: exempt
- Residents of the residents' discount zone: 90% discount, with a £10 annual registration charge
- Electric cars on Auto Pay: 25% discount
- Electric vans, HGVs and quadricycles on Auto Pay: 50% discount
Electric vehicles now pay. Until 2026 EVs were exempt under the Cleaner Vehicle Discount. From 2 January 2026 that ended, and EVs only get the discounts above if registered on Auto Pay.
The residents' discount is changing. Existing registered residents keep the 90% discount. From 1 March 2027 new applicants will only qualify with an electric vehicle, with limited concessions letting certain low-income and disability benefit recipients register non-electric vehicles until 2030.
The residents' discount applies to the Congestion Charge only. There is no equivalent for ULEZ.
How to pay
You can pay from the day of travel until midnight on the third day after, or up to 90 days in advance.
- TfL website: card payment, one-off or in advance
- Pay to Drive in London app: TfL's official app
- Auto Pay: links a card to your number plate and charges automatically. Best for regular drivers, and required to get the EV discounts
Pay on the day of travel or in advance and the charge is £18. Leave it until after you have driven and it rises to £21, payable by midnight on the third day.
If you don't pay
Miss the deadline and TfL issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £180, reduced to £90 if you pay within 14 days. Leave it unpaid and it escalates further.
Auto Pay exists precisely to prevent this. It is the single best way to avoid a penalty if you drive into the zone more than occasionally.
Charges and rules current as of 9 July 2026. Always confirm with TfL before travelling.
Congestion Charge FAQ
Is the Congestion Charge on today?
Usually, yes. The Congestion Charge applies every day in the zone, with weekday hours from 07:00 to 18:00 and weekend or bank holiday hours from 12:00 to 18:00. It does not apply between Christmas Day and the New Year's Day bank holiday, inclusive.
What is the Congestion Charge zone?
The Congestion Charge zone covers about 21 square kilometres of central London, bounded by the Inner Ring Road: Marylebone Road, Euston Road and Pentonville Road to the north, Tower Bridge Road to the east, Elephant and Castle and New Kent Road to the south, and Park Lane, Edgware Road and Vauxhall Bridge Road to the west. The boundary roads themselves are not charged; the charge applies inside them.
How much is the Congestion Charge?
The standard daily charge is £18 if paid on the day of travel or in advance. TfL charges £21 if paid by midnight on the third day after travel.
Do electric cars pay the Congestion Charge?
Yes. Electric vehicles lost their exemption on 2 January 2026. Electric cars registered on Auto Pay get a 25% discount, and electric vans, HGVs and quadricycles get 50%, but only if registered on Auto Pay.
Does the Congestion Charge apply on bank holidays?
Yes, except during the Christmas to New Year pause. Bank holiday hours are 12:00 to 18:00.
Do I pay the Congestion Charge at weekends?
Yes, but with shorter hours. The charge runs 07:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday, and 12:00 to 18:00 at weekends and on bank holidays. It does not apply between Christmas Day and the New Year's Day bank holiday.
How do I pay the Congestion Charge?
Pay through the TfL website, the TfL Pay to Drive in London app, or by setting up Auto Pay. You can pay up to 90 days in advance, on the day of travel, or by midnight on the third day after travel at the higher rate.
What is the Congestion Charge fine?
Missing the payment deadline results in a Penalty Charge Notice of £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.
Is this an official TfL Congestion Charge checker?
No. This page uses TfL's published Congestion Charge rules to make the date easier to check. Always use TfL for payment, account, exemption and penalty decisions.