Car Insurance
The cost of driving in London…
A quick guide to the Congestion Charge
Naturally, if you live in, or close to Central London, you’ll be only too familiar with Ken Livingstone’s Congestion Charge. But if you live in the regions and are perhaps thinking of taking your car into the Capital, then there are quite a few things you need to know.
So, before you dare roll your front wheels into the C-Zone, take a few minutes to read our easy-to-follow guide to the Congestion Charge and how it all works.
The Congestion Charge was introduced in February 2003, with the intention of lessening the amount of traffic that regularly brings Central London’s streets to a standstill, and also to raise funds to help pay for much-needed transport improvements within London itself.
What is the C-Charge and how much does it cost?
There are two different amounts charged, depending on what time you intend to bring your car into the city. £8 if you pay by midnight on the day you actually travel, or £10 if decide to pay by midnight the following day. For those two fixed fees, you can travel in and out of the C-Zone as many times as you wish with a day.
You don’t have to pay at weekends – so those West End shopping trips are still on, if you can afford the parking, of course. Bank Holidays and the 3-day break between Christmas and the New Year are also C-Charge-free. Well, it is the season of goodwill, after all.
So how does the C-Charge work?
Placed in and around the Congestion Charge Zone are a number of cameras. These read the registration numbers of vehicles as they enter and exit Zone and check them against a database. If you’ve been good and paid your C-Charge, or you qualify for discount or exemption, your registration will be cleaned from the database.
However, if you’ve not paid your Charge, you’ll find yourself on the receiving end of a Penalty Charge Notice, which is a stiff £100. Pay up within 14 days and that’s reduced to £50. Fail to pay within 28 days and it goes up to £150. After that, you’re in the hands of the County Court. A lot easier then, to pay your £8 or £10 up front.
How do you pay for the C-Charge?
The Mayor of London has made it as straightforward as possible for us to pay for the privilege of driving around the Capital – you can pay quickly and easily online or via SMS on your mobile. Or you can pay at selected shops and fuel stations, and even by the good old postal system.