Do electric cars pay congestion charge?

If you drive an electric car in London, the congestion charge rules have changed. Since January 2026, electric vehicles are no longer fully exempt from the London congestion charge. Instead, EV drivers pay a discounted daily rate under a new tiered system.

Electric vehicles are still exempt from the LEZ and ULEZ, so there is no extra charge for driving across Greater London. But the congestion charge zone in central London now works differently. Here is everything you need to know, including what you will pay, how to register, and what is changing next.

Are electric cars exempt from the congestion charge?

Yes, electric cars now pay the London congestion charge. The previous 100% Cleaner Vehicle Discount ended on 25 December 2025, and from 2 January 2026 a new tiered discount system took its place.

Here is what electric vehicle drivers currently pay:

• Electric cars registered for Auto Pay get a 25% discount, bringing the daily charge to £13.50 (down from the standard £18)
• Electric vans, HGVs, and quadricycles registered for Auto Pay get a 50% discount, paying £9 per day
• Hybrid cars lost their exemption back in October 2021, so they pay the full charge. If you are weighing up whether to keep yours, check out our guide on whether to sell your hybrid car

These discounts are set to reduce further. From March 2030, the car discount drops to 12.5% and the van and HGV discount drops to 25%. With the 2035 ban on petrol and diesel cars on the horizon and EV numbers rising, TfL says the charge needs to keep managing congestion even as more drivers go electric.

What is the London congestion charge?

The congestion charge is a daily fee for driving in central London. It was introduced in 2003 and London’s congestion charge zone remains the largest in the world. The charge was designed to:

• Reduce congestion and traffic in central London
• Combat air and noise pollution
• Fund Transport for London services such as buses, tubes, and trams

The primary goal has always been to cut the number of vehicles on central London’s roads, not just to target emissions. That is why electric vehicles are now included. Even though EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions, they still take up road space, and TfL says too many exemptions were weakening the charge’s ability to manage congestion.

Since the congestion charge launched, the LEZ and ULEZ have been introduced with stricter rules focused specifically on CO2 emissions.

What happens if I drive in the congestion charge zone?

The standard daily congestion charge is now £18 if paid on the day of travel or in advance. If you pay within three days after travelling, it rises to £21.

You pay once per day, no matter how many times you enter the zone. The charge applies during these hours:

• Monday to Friday: 07:00 to 18:00
• Saturday, Sunday, and bank holidays: 12:00 to 18:00
• No charge: Christmas Day through to the New Year’s Day bank holiday (inclusive)

If you drive an electric car registered for Auto Pay, you pay the discounted rate of £13.50 per day. Electric vans and HGVs on Auto Pay pay £9 per day.

Am I automatically exempt from the congestion charge?

No. The Cleaner Vehicle Discount is not applied automatically. You need to register for it yourself, or you will be charged the full £18 daily rate regardless of what you drive.

Here is how to set it up:

• Create a London road user account on the TfL website
• Provide your vehicle’s V5C registration certificate as proof that your car qualifies
• Pay the £10 annual registration fee

Once registered, you can manage and renew your discount through the same account. It is worth doing this before you drive into the zone. Challenging charges after the fact is possible, but sorting the admin upfront saves you time and money.

Where does the London congestion charge operate?

The congestion charge zone covers central London only, within the London inner ring road. It has not expanded since it was first introduced.

That said, the boundaries can catch you out. For example, driving to Vauxhall bus station may narrowly miss the zone, but heading to the other side of the station for train passengers could take you right through it. It is worth checking the TfL congestion charge zone map before you set off.

How do I know if I’m in the congestion charge zone?

Look for road signs showing a large white letter ‘C’ inside a red circle. These mark the boundary of the congestion charge zone and warn you before you enter.

You will not be stopped or approached at the boundary. The zone is enforced through automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, so your vehicle is detected and charged automatically.

Do electric cars pay congestion charge in London suburbs?

No. The congestion charge only applies in central London, so there is no congestion charge for driving through the suburbs, whether your car is electric or not.

However, London has three separate driving charge schemes and it helps to know the difference:

• Congestion Charge (CCZ): Central London only. EVs now pay a discounted rate
• Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ): Covers all of Greater London up to the M25. EVs are fully exempt, but non-compliant petrol and diesel vehicles pay a daily charge. You can check your car with our ULEZ checker
• Low Emission Zone (LEZ): Covers most of Greater London and mainly affects older, larger vehicles such as vans and lorries. EVs are fully exempt

If you are driving a petrol or diesel vehicle across London, check out our ULEZ guide to make sure you will not be caught out.

Ready to sell your car?

With congestion charge rules changing and EV running costs shifting, it is worth knowing exactly what your car is worth right now. Get a free, instant valuation on Motorway, or track your car’s value over time with our Car Value Tracker so you can sell at the right moment.

Ready to learn more about valuing, maintaining, and selling your car? Check out more of our guides here, covering everything from hybrid and electric car depreciation to converting your car to dual-LPG fuel.

• Electric cars — the ultimate guide
• Electric cars — should you buy or sell?
• How long does it take to charge an electric car?
• How & where to charge your electric car at home and on the road
• What is a hybrid car and how do they work?
• Do electric cars need servicing?
• LPG cars — the ultimate guide
• Do you pay tax for an electric car?