Do Electric Cars Pay Congestion Charge?

Find out whether or not electric cars are exempt from paying the congestion charge

If you’re planning on driving through central London, you might have to pay a fee called the congestion charge. The congestion charge was introduced by the government in 2003 to deter people from driving through the centre of the capital.

The aim? To reduce traffic and, most importantly, air pollution in the city. But do electric cars have to pay congestion charges, or are they exempt?

What is the congestion charge zone?

The ‘Congestion Charge Zone’ (or CCZ for short) is an area in central London that you have to pay to drive through. The area covers the busiest parts of the city, including the City of London and the bustling West End. You’ll know you’re entering it when you see a road sign with a big white ‘C’ in a red circle.

Drivers that enter the congestion zone have to pay a flat fee of £15 per day. The congestion charge applies between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday, and midday to 6pm on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.

This is different to the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ), which applies 24 hours a day, seven days a week – the only exception is Christmas Day. But more on that later.

Are electric cars exempt from the congestion charge?

Under the new rules, all vehicles entering the Congestion Charge zone during charging hours must pay the congestion charge, though there are still reduced rates available if you register for Auto Pay with Transport for London.

Here’s how it works now:

The standard daily congestion charge for most vehicles is £18.
Electric cars registered for Auto Pay receive a 25 % discount, meaning they’ll pay £13.50 per day.
Other electric vehicles such as vans, HGVs and quadricycles on Auto Pay get a 50 % discount (for example, £9 per day).
If you do not register for Auto Pay, you’ll pay the full daily charge with no discount.

How do you apply for a congestion charge exemption?

Electric vehicles are no longer exempt from the congestion charge, so if you plan to drive into central London, you’ll need to make sure the charge is paid.

The easiest way to do this is by registering for Auto Pay through the Transport for London website. Once set up, the congestion charge will be paid automatically each time you drive into the zone during charging hours.

If you don’t register for Auto Pay or forget to pay the charge in advance, you could receive a penalty charge notice, even if your vehicle is electric.

Do electric cars pay ULEZ?

No, electric cars are exempt from paying ULEZ too. ULEZ covers a much bigger area than the congestion charge zone, and now applies across all London boroughs, up to (but not including) the M25 motorway.

We briefly touched upon it earlier, but ULEZ charges apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week (the only exception is Christmas Day), and anyone entering the zone has to pay £12.50 per day (unless you’re fully electric, that is).