The Congestion Charge is £15 per vehicle per day if you pay in advance or before midnight on the day you enter the zone. If you forget, you can still pay the fee up to three days later but the price increases to £17.50.

In 2026, driving into central London has become more expensive due to the first Congestion Charge increase in six years. As of January 2, 2026, the daily Congestion Charge is £18 if paid in advance or on the day of travel. If you wait to pay until midnight on the third day after travel, the cost rises to £21. In addition to this, if your vehicle does not meet specific emission standards, you must also pay the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charge, which remains at £12.50 per day. This means a non-compliant car could cost over £30.50 daily to operate in the city center. There are some reliefs: electric vehicles registered for Auto Pay receive a 25% discount on the Congestion Charge, while electric vans and HGVs get a 50% discount. It is important to note that the Congestion Charge operates from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays and 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM on weekends and bank holidays, whereas the ULEZ is in effect 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day.