The London Congestion Charge is a daily fee for driving most vehicles inside the central London zone during charging hours. Licensed London taxis are exempt; most private hire vehicles are not. If you drive PHV in London, this is one cost you cannot ignore.
Hours and fee
The charge currently applies Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm and at weekends and bank holidays from 12pm to 6pm, except certain Christmas dates. Charging hours and the fee are reviewed by TfL — always check the latest figures before driving.
Who is exempt?
- Licensed London hackney carriages (black cabs).
- Vehicles on TfL's specific exemption lists.
- Some accessible PHVs registered with TfL — check eligibility carefully.
Most standard PHV cars must pay daily. Don't assume your operator handles it — confirm in writing.
How to pay
Use TfL's website, the official TfL Pay to Drive in London app, or set up Auto Pay. Auto Pay records every entry and bills monthly, so you never miss a payment if you set it up correctly.
Penalty Charge Notices
Miss a payment and you'll get a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). Pay within the discount window to halve it. Don't ignore PCNs — they escalate quickly and can affect your TfL licence renewal.
Common mistakes
- Assuming weekend mornings are free — they aren't after 12pm.
- Forgetting bank holidays.
- Driving a partner's car into the zone without paying because you 'usually' use a compliant vehicle.
- Missing a PCN because the V5C address is out of date.
Practise the rules
Take our Congestion Charge practice quiz and combine with ULEZ practice for the full London compliance picture. Related reading: ULEZ for private hire drivers.
Disclaimer: UK Test Hub is independent and not affiliated with TfL. Confirm fees and rules on tfl.gov.uk.
