Do you have to pay Congestion Charge if you enter before 7am?

How can I pay the London Congestion Charge in advance? You can pay Congestion Charge up to 90 days in advance of your journey either online or by phone. Driving before 7am or after 10pm means you will not have to pay the Congestion Charge.



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Congestion charge FAQ How do I know if I have to pay Congestion Charge? You will need to pay a daily charge if you drive within London's Congestion Charge zone between 07:00-18:00 Mon-Fri, 12:00-18:00 Sat-Sun, and on Bank Holidays.

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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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If you don't pay by midnight on the third day after travel in the zone, you will receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). Not all drivers have to pay. Find out about discounts and exemptions. You can pay the Congestion Charge in several ways.

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Who doesn't have to pay congestion charges?
  • Blue Badge holders.
  • Roadside recovery vehicles.
  • Accredited breakdown vehicles.
  • Vehicles with nine or more seats.
  • Cars that emit 75g/km or less of CO2.
  • Zero-emission vehicles (Fully electric vehicles and any other zero emissions vehicles)


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That means you won't need to pay the fee if you drive into a congestion zone in an electric car, so that can save some real money if you regularly drive in the city. Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) are not exempt from the charges, and you'll have to pay if you drive in congestion charge zones.

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According to the 2023 report, the typical driver in the country lost 51 hours in congestion in 2022, up 15 hours from 2021, costing the average driver $869 in lost time. Nationally, drivers spent 4.8 billion hours in congestion, which is still short of 2019's 6 billion lost hours.

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This includes most combustion-engined cars on the road, including hybrids. Only zero-emission cars have been exempt from the Congestion Charge, such as electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. However, from December 2025, even drivers of zero-emission vehicles will be required to pay the congestion charge.

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The congestion zones themselves work by using cameras to capture the registration plates of those driving there. A fee will be issued to you if you have not pre-paid, and you will be notified of this – so, even if you drove in the zone accidentally, you will find out.

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