How do I know if I have to pay ULEZ or Congestion Charge?
Use the official TfL vehicle checker with your registration number to instantly see if your vehicle is liable for ULEZ or Congestion Charges. ULEZ depends on emissions (generally petrol after 2006, diesel after 2015), while the Congestion Charge applies to driving in central London during specific hours.
How do I know if I am due to pay a congestion charge?
You must pay the 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. Exemptions and discounts are also available.
If you drive within the Congestion Charge zone or through the tunnels during charging times you need to pay, even if you meet the ULEZ and LEZ emissions standards or have paid those daily charges.
Yes, you do need to pay the £12.50 ULEZ charge for Heathrow Airport if your vehicle isn't compliant with the emissions standards, as the airport is within the expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) for Greater London, effective from August 2023, and the charge applies for driving in the zone 24/7 (except Christmas Day). You'll pay this fee in addition to any other airport drop-off/pick-up charges if your vehicle doesn't meet the ULEZ criteria.
How long after entering a congestion zone do you have to pay?
If you don't pay on the day of entering the zone (or before), you have up to midnight of the third day after you enter the congestion charge zone to pay the charges, and you're charged £17.50 for it.
Do I need to pay Congestion Charge to go to London City Airport?
London City Airport is not in the London Congestion Charge zone, but drivers entering central London must have permits when driving within the congestion zones (look out for the Congestion Charge signs). The charge is payable on a daily basis.
No, you do not have to pay the ULEZ charge for driving on the M25 itself, as the zone covers all London boroughs but explicitly excludes the M25 motorway, even where it runs through Greater London. However, if you take diversion routes during M25 closures that lead you into the ULEZ (which is most of London), you will be charged £12.50 daily for a non-compliant vehicle, so always check signs or use a ULEZ checker before deviating, as sat-navs can direct you into the zone.
Only non-compliant vehicles need to pay daily charges to drive in the ULEZ. The compliance results are based on the ULEZ standards published by TfL, but we do not guarantee their accuracy. To check compliance for older vehicles, we advise you to use the TfL vehicle checker on the TfL website.
A daily congestion charge is a fee to drive in busy city centers, like London's £18 (or £21 if paid late) charge for central London (Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, weekends/holidays 12pm-6pm). These charges aim to reduce traffic, with systems often involving cameras reading license plates, and sometimes offer discounts for cleaner vehicles or residents, like London's new electric vehicle incentives. Oxford also has its own separate congestion charge.
You could also swap your car for a motorbike or moped – most new ones are Euro 3 compliant and aren't forced to pay the ULEZ charge. Alternatively, you could ditch your car and use a car club, or stop driving around central London entirely and embrace public transport, perhaps just driving out of town at weekends.
Do I need to pay Congestion Charge if I live in London?
Yes, London residents living within the Congestion Charge zone can get a 90% discount, but they must register with Transport for London (TfL) and meet specific criteria like being on the electoral register and having their main home in the zone. Starting March 2027, this 90% discount for new applicants will be restricted to electric vehicles, though existing registrants can keep their discount for non-EVs if renewed annually.
How do I check if I entered the London congestion zone?
To know if you entered the London Congestion Zone, check the official Transport for London (TfL) website using their postcode/location checker or map, look for physical "C" signs on roads, or use the TfL Pay to Drive in London app; if you suspect you did, check the TfL website within three days to pay the charge and avoid a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) fine.
Yes, you do need to pay the £12.50 ULEZ charge for Heathrow Airport if your vehicle isn't compliant with the emissions standards, as the airport is within the expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) for Greater London, effective from August 2023, and the charge applies for driving in the zone 24/7 (except Christmas Day). You'll pay this fee in addition to any other airport drop-off/pick-up charges if your vehicle doesn't meet the ULEZ criteria.
Is any part of the M25 in the congestion charge zone?
No, the M25 motorway is not part of the London Congestion Charge zone, nor is it within the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), even where the M25 runs within Greater London's boundary. The Congestion Charge applies to central London, while the ULEZ covers all London boroughs, but both explicitly exclude the M25 itself, as indicated by Transport for London (TfL).
Will I get notified if I need to pay a Congestion Charge?
No, you generally won't get a notification to pay the standard London Congestion Charge; it's your responsibility to pay by midnight the next day (or by midnight on the third charging day for a higher fee) to avoid a £180 Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) sent to the registered keeper. You must proactively pay online, via app, or set up Auto Pay to get reminders and automatic payments, otherwise, you'll receive a PCN if you're caught entering the zone without paying.
No, Stansted is about 20 miles outside the ULEZ area, so there's no need to worry about the charge. Is London Luton (LTN) within London's ULEZ? No, Luton is also outside the ULEZ zone, so you won't be affected by the charge unless you travel through the ULEZ zone to get there.
Buckingham Palace is located in London in the central zone 1 area of the city. It is located close to Green Park tube station and has served as the official London Royal residence since 1837.
How much does it cost to go from zone 1 to zone 4 in London?
A single trip from London Zone 1 to Zone 4 costs around £3.60 with Oyster/Contactless (off-peak) or £7.00 with a paper ticket, while the daily cap is £12.80, offering unlimited travel within those zones for the day on Tube, DLR, Overground, and National Rail. For unlimited travel, a Zones 1-4 Day Travelcard is about £16.60, and a 7-Day Travelcard is around £64.20.
