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London drivers, your city centre trip to Soho, Covent Garden or the South Bank is about to get more expensive. The Congestion Charge, which is applied to drivers hitting the roads of central London, will increase next year.
In a bid to combat air pollution and the climate crisis, Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that in 2026 the daily fee will rise and the 100 per ent discount for electric vehicles will change. This is the first increase since 2020, and TfL said it’s necessary to stop an extra 2,000 vehicles trucking through the busy zone on an average weekday.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: ‘Keeping London moving by reducing congestion is vital for our city and for our economy. While the congestion charge has been a huge success since its introduction, we must ensure it stays fit for purpose.
‘We must support Londoners and businesses to use more sustainable travel, so I’m pleased that substantial incentives will remain in place for Londoners who switch to cleaner vehicles.’
How much is the new London congestion charge?
The fee will increase by £3 (or 20 percent) from £15 to £18 per day, 7am-6pm on weekdays and 12pm-6pm on the weekend.
At the moment, electric vehicles don’t pay anything for the congestion charge – but soon this exemption will be scrapped. Electric cars will get a 25 percent discount, and vans and lorries will get 50 percent off the full fee.
People who live in the congestion charging zone currently enjoy a 90 percent residents’ discount. Those who register as a resident on Auto Pay before March 1 2027 will keep their concession, but won’t be able to get a new one if they apply after that date unless they have an electric vehicle.
Low-income and disabled residents will be able to continue using their residents’ discount until March 2030 regardless of what type of car they have.
When does the new charge come into effect?
The increase will be applied from January 2 2026 onwards. From March 4, 2030, further changes in the congestion charge are expected as EV adoption is predicted to grow. TfL plans to decrease electric cars’ discount from 25 percent to 12.5 percent and electric vans, HGVs and quadricycles will be given a 25 percent discount.
So, if you’re able to travel to central London without a car, it might be time to top up your Oyster card or get your bike serviced, as driving in the capital will be getting more expensive.
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