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What Cars are Exempt from the London Congestion Charge?

Find out which cars don't have to pay the congestion charge in London.

Fully electric vehicles, emergency service vehicles and London Taxis are all on the list of vehicles exempt from the London Congestion Charge.

 

If you do not drive any of these vehicles, or qualify for a discount, you will have to pay a daily charge of £15, if you drive within the zone between 7:00 and 18:00, Monday to Friday, and between 12:00 and 18:00 on weekends.

 

What Vehicles are Exempt from the London Congestion Charge?

The charge applies Monday to Friday, and on Saturdays and Sundays, and bank holidays, it is from 12:00 to 18:00. There is no charge between Christmas Day and New Years Day.

 

Exempt

  • Electric vehicles
  • London Taxis
  • Blue Badge holders
  • Emergency vehicles
  • Two-wheeled motorbikes and mopeds

 

Not Exempt

  • ICE passenger cars
  • Heavy Goods Vehicles
  • Light Goods Vehicles
  • Private Hire Vehicles

 

An infographic outlining the vehicles exempt from the London Congestion Charge.

Electric Vehicles

All fully electric vehicles are exempt from the London Congestion charge, but you must register the car before you plan to drive in the zone.

 

You can do this online on the Transport for London (TFL) website. You must provide your V5C vehicle registration certificate issued by the DVLA. You can upload images of these or send copies via post.

 

It will cost you £10 to register your vehicle for the discount and you will need to renew it every year.

 

Taxis

Taxis that are licenced with London Taxi are exempt from paying the congestion charge.

 

Private Hire Vehicles are not exempt and will be expected to pay the congestion charge if they travel within the zone during chargeable hours.

 

Blue Badge Holders

If you hold a valid Blue Badge, your vehicle is exempt and you’re eligible for a 100% discount.

 

You must supply TFL with both sides of your Blue Badge along with proof of identity. You only need to provide one form, such as a passport, driver’s licence, or birth certificate.

 

You are required to pay a £10 fee to register for the discount and will need to be renewed with your Blue Badge. You can do this on the TFL website.

 

Other Exemptions

You are exempt from paying the charges, or having to register with Transport For London if the vehicle is recorded at the DVLA in one of these categories:

  • Two-wheeled motorbikes and motorbikes, including those with sidecars

  • Emergency service vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines

  • NHS vehicles that are exempt from vehicle tax

  • Vehicles with disabled taxation class

  • Vehicles for more than one disabled person, with disabled taxation class

 

Other categories of exemption include:

  • Certain operational vehicles used by the London Boroughs

  • Royal Parks Agency

  • Breakdown Organisations

  • The Armed Forces

  • HM Coastguard and Port Authorities

 

If you believe your vehicle falls under one of these categories, contact TFL on their website.

 

a map outlining the ULEZ and the congestion zone in London.

 

How Can I Check to See if My Vehicle is Exempt?

If you are unsure if you need to pay the congestion charge, you can check on the Transport For London website. Simply enter your number plate and the country of registration, and it will inform you which charges you will need to pay.

 

If your car is exempt, the website will tell you that the vehicle meets the ULEZ emissions standards.

 

If you’d like to know more about registering your electric car for the London Congestion Charge, you can do so here.

 

How Much is the Congestion Charge and How Do I Pay for It?

The charge is £15 per day and is enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.

 

You can be fined as much as £160 if you fail to pay. It will be reduced to £80 if you pay the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) within 14 days. You have 28 days to pay the fee or file a PCN challenge.

 

You can pay the London Congestion Charge on the Transport For London website.

 

Do I Still Need to Pay the ULEZ Charge if I’ve Paid the Congestion Charge?

As the London Congestion Charge boundaries are within the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone), you will also need to pay the ULEZ charge if your vehicle does meet the standards.

 

The ULEZ charge is £12.50, and you can read more about it here.

 

Are There Congestion Charges Outside of London?

There are other congestion charges in various Clean Air Zones in the UK, such as Portsmouth, Birmingham, and Bath. However, many of these only charge larger ICE vehicles such as buses, coaches and HGVs.

 

It is worth checking with each CAZ before you travel, as passenger cars are charged to drive in some, such as Oxford.

 

Read More

Follow the links below to find out more about the designated Clean Air Zones around the country, and any charges you may have to pay if you don’t have a compliant vehicle.

Bath

Bradford

Birmingham

Bristol

Newcastle upon Tyne

Oxford

Portsmouth

Sheffield