Electric vehicles now subject to London congestion charge as daily fees rise

Electric vehicle (EV) drivers in central London are now required to pay the city’s congestion charge for the first time, following changes that also increased the daily fee for non-electric vehicles.

From 2 January 2026, the daily charge for conventional vehicles rose from £15 to £18, marking its first increase since 2020. Drivers of pure battery-electric vehicles registered for Auto Pay can still claim a 25% discount, reducing the fee to £13.50 per day. The update was announced in November by Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan.

The congestion charge, which has operated since 2003, covers central London weekdays between 07:00 and 18:00, and weekends and bank holidays from 12:00 to 18:00.

Impact on driversJoan Owen, an EV driver who travels into London for volunteer work with the NSPCC, said the changes reduce the incentive to switch to electric vehicles.

“I usually drive at night, so the charge won’t affect my regular schedule much,” she said. “But additional shifts over bank holidays will now cost extra, adding paperwork for the charity if they try to claim it back. It feels like an unnecessary barrier.”

Policy backgroundTransport for London (TfL) had previously considered removing the EV exemption entirely. Officials warned that without the changes, an estimated 2,200 additional vehicles could enter the congestion zone on an average weekday by 2026, potentially worsening traffic and undermining the scheme’s goals.

Electric vans, heavy goods vehicles, and quadricycles registered for Auto Pay currently receive a 50% discount, though this is set to fall to 25% in 2030, alongside the EV discount, which will drop to 12.5%. From March 2027, new applicants for the residents’ 90% discount will also see reduced eligibility for EVs.

Christina Calderato, TfL’s director of strategy, said the adjustments were necessary to manage traffic and congestion effectively.

“The changes support a transition to cleaner vehicles and sustainable transport while ensuring central London remains manageable for all road users, businesses, and organisations,” she said.