Are London black cabs exempt from congestion charge?

Taxis. Taxis (black cabs) are exempt from paying the Congestion Charge when actively licensed by Transport for London. A vehicle will be removed from the register of exempt vehicles on the surrender, expiry or revocation of the licence.



In 2026, the rules for London Black Cabs regarding the Congestion Charge remain unique compared to private vehicles. Historically, all licensed London taxis (Black Cabs) have been 100% exempt from the Congestion Charge because they are considered part of the city's essential public transport infrastructure and are required to be wheelchair accessible. While Transport for London (TfL) has introduced significant changes in 2026—including the removal of the "Cleaner Vehicle Discount" for private electric cars—the statutory exemption for licensed taxis remains in place to support their role in the capital's mobility. However, private hire vehicles (like Uber or Bolt) do not enjoy this same exemption and must pay the daily charge, which has risen to £18 as of January 2, 2026. This distinction is a major point of difference between "Hailing" a black cab versus using a ride-share app; the taxi fare already accounts for the fact that the driver doesn't pay the daily zone entry fee, whereas ride-share passengers may see a surcharge reflected in their final pricing.

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Taxis. London-licensed taxis are exempt from ULEZ charges. Older, more polluting taxis are subject to a 12 year age limit, with newer, cleaner taxis extended to 15 years. All newly licensed taxis must be zero emission capable (ZEC) vehicles.

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Drive a lower emission car if possible. Electric cars are exempt from the London Congestion Charge. If you're only visiting for the day, consider parking outside the zone and using public transport for the rest of your journey.

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Who is exempt from the congestion charge? Zero-emission vehicles such as electric cars are exempt from paying the congestion charge, as are motorbikes. If you drive an EV, you need to apply for the Cleaner Vehicle Discount before driving into the charge zone.

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London black cab fares are metered, and the minimum charge is £3.20. Additional charges apply when you take a black cab from Heathrow, book by phone, and on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. All black cabs accept payment by credit or debit card without a surcharge.

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Tipping taxi drivers It is polite to tip 10 to 15% of the taxi fare for black cabs and licensed minicabs in London. However, most people simply round up the fare to the nearest £1 and tell the driver to keep the change.

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A hackney or hackney carriage (also called a cab, black cab, hack or London taxi) is a carriage or car for hire.

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London's famous taxis (black cabs) can be: Booked in advance - by phone, app or website. Hailed on the street (when the yellow light is showing) Picked up from designated taxi ranks.

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