LONDON CONGESTION CHARGE

By the AA 

Transport for London (TfL) impose a charge per weekday on most vehicles, being used in Central London.

You pay for the charge for the day and can drive within the charging zone as often as you want within the day.

How does it work?

If your journey takes you into the charging zone you can either pay in advance, pay before midnight that day, or, for a small surcharge, pay before midnight the following charging day.

A network of cameras reads vehicle numberplates as you enter, drive around and leave the zone.

Once the car number plate has been matched against the database of those who have paid the charge or who do not have to pay as their vehicle is exempt or registered for a 100% discount, the photographic images of the vehicle are automatically wiped off the database.

Any vehicle recorded as having been in the zone during charging hours but where no daily charge has been paid by midnight the following charging day must pay a penalty charge.

Scheme started: 17 February 2003

Zone operates: 7am to 6:00pm weekdays excluding bank and public holidays

Pay by phone: +44 (0)343 222 2222

Pay online: www.cclondon.com

What does it cost?

The daily charge is £10 if you pay in advance or on the day,  but increases to £12 if payment is made by midnight on the following charging day.

You can reduce the daily charge to £9 by registering with Congestion Charging Auto Pay- up to five vehicles can be registered.

Ways to pay

• Online - up to 90 days in advance, on the day or by midnight the next day
• SMS - register an account online first
• AutoPay - register a credit or debit card for automated payment and save every day
• Phone - +44 (0)343 222 2222, in advance, on the day or up to midnight the next day
• Post - in advance, at least 10 days before travel

Urban road charging schemes

London isn't the only European city operating a wide-area road charging scheme.  Similar schemes are in place in towns and cities in Malta, Norway and Sweden with more likely to follow in the future.

Bergen - applies to all vehicles
Durham - applies to all vehicles
Gothenburg - only applies to vehicles registered in Sweden
London - applies to all vehicles including foreign-registered vehicles
Milan - applies to all vehicles including foreign-registered vehicles. Minimum emissions standards apply too.
Norway - applies to all vehicles including foreign-registered vehicles
Oslo - applies to all vehicles including foreign-registered vehicles
Stockholm - only applies to vehicles registered in Sweden
Trondheim - applies to all vehicles including foreign-registered vehicles
Valletta - applies to all vehicles including foreign-registered vehicles