What time does the Congestion Charge end? The Congestion Charge operates 7am-10pm every day except for Christmas day. That means you can travel through the zone before 7am or after 10pm without paying the charge. The ULEZ may still apply, though.
Do you pay Congestion Charge when leaving the zone?
You only need to pay once, no matter how many times you drive in and out of the Congestion Charge zone on the same day. You can pay in advance, on the day of travel or by midnight of the third day after travel.
What happens if you accidentally go into the congestion zone?
They don’t care if you strayed in, because once the the zone, you’ll have to pay and knowing that, you may as well drive around in it where you want.
What time is Congestion Charge free from?
The Congestion Charge is a £15 daily charge if you drive within the Congestion Charge zone 7:00-18:00 Monday-Friday and 12:00-18:00 Sat-Sun and bank holidays. No charge between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day bank Holiday (inclusive). The easiest way to pay is by setting up Auto Pay.
Can you go in and out of the congestion zone?
You can drive in and out of the congestion zone as many times as you like on the day — you only pay one fee.
How do I know if I am going through the congestion charge zone?
Using the congestion charge checker is as easy as entering your number plate. This will tell you whether or not you need to pay the charge. You can also enter a London postcode or address to see if it falls within the Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ).
How can I avoid paying the Congestion Charge?
Since 25 October 2021, only zero-emission vehicles – such as EVs and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles – have been exempt from the congestion charge. From December 2025, however, even drivers of zero-emission cars will be required to pay.
What happens if you go through Congestion Charge?
Penalties for not paying the Congestion Charge
Drivers who don’t pay the Congestion Charge within three days of travel will be sent a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for £160. If the PCN is paid within 14 days, the fee is £80. You must pay the charge within 28 days or challenge the PCN.
Is Congestion Charge changing hours?
In the second phase, the operating hours for the Congestion Charge have narrowed to 07:00-18:00 on weekdays and 12:00-18:00 on weekends and bank holidays (previously its hours were 07:00-22:00.) The first round of changes introduced on 20 December 2021, which remain in place, were: The charge level is £15.
Where does the Congestion Charge start and finish?
It covers approximately the area from Kings Cross in the north to Vauxhall in the south, and Paddington in the west to Whitechapel in the east. All roads around the perimeter of the zone are monitored by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. There is an interactive map of the Congestion Charge zone.
How much is the penalty charge for not paying Congestion Charge?
Penalty charge £1000, if paid within 14 days £500
More than 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight: Lorries.
How does Congestion Charge work overnight?
The Congestion Charge operates 7am-10pm every day except for Christmas day. That means you can travel through the zone before 7am or after 10pm without paying the charge. The ULEZ may still apply, though.
What areas do you have to pay Congestion Charge?
The Congestion Charge costs £15 if you pay in advance or on the same day.
London’s Congestion Charge Zone covers the following areas:
- Barbican.
- Bloomsbury.
- Borough.
- Charing Cross.
- City of London.
- Clerkenwell.
- Covent Garden.
- Euston.
How do congestion zones work?
The Congestion Charge is an £11.50 daily tariff and payment enables motorists to drive around, leave and re-enter the charging zone as many times as required in one day. There are no barriers or tollbooths; instead drivers are paying to register their Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) on a database.