So you are planning to rent a car in London for your UK getaway and want to make sure that you have all of the fees and charges marked down for better planning. Did you know that London now has a congestion charge for vehicles operating within the city? It is true, but do not worry, we at Auto Europe are here to help you navigate the ins and outs of knowing the who, what, when and where of the congestion charge including the price, time frame, discounts and exemptions, as well as additional fees should you not pay the congestion charge on time. Read on to learn all there is to know about paying your London Congestion Charge for your vacation in England!
To help fight climate change as well as to cut down on vehicle based emissions, London has enforced a congestion charge of 11.50 Pounds ($14.18 USD) per day when driving within the congestion charge zones of the city. Drivers should also keep in mind that only vehicles meeting the Ultra Low Emission Standard (ULEZ) are able to drive within the ULEZ zone in the center of the city. These include electric vehicles, modern motorcycles and other vehicles that emit ultra low levels of carbon emissions.
Drivers wishing to pay for their congestion charge ahead of time can do so by setting up and automatic payment through the TFL website. By doing this you can link your debit or credit card to be automatically deducted whenever you enter the congestion zone. Be warned though that you have to open a profile on the site, registration for which is 10 Pounds ($12.44 USD). You can also prepay by phone at 0343 222 2222.
Drivers of vehicles are able to apply for discounts or exemptions if they meet any of the following criteria. Resident Discounts, Blue Badge Holders, Tow trucks and other breakdown vehicles, vehicles with 9 or more seats, street cleaning vehicles, motorcycles.
Discounts and Exemptions | |
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Residents | To qualify for the 90% residents' discount you must live within the Congestion Charge residents' discount zone. |
Blue Badge Holders | If you hold a valid Blue Badge in the European Economic Area, you're eligible to register for a 100% discount, even if you don't own a vehicle or drive. |
9+ Seater Vehicles | Vehicles with nine or more seats are eligible for 100% discount of the Congestion Charge. You need to register with us for your 100% discount if your vehicle is not licensed with the DVLA as a bus (taxation classes 'buses' and 'reduced pollution buses'). |
Motorcycles | Two-wheeled motorbikes (and sidecars) and mopeds are exempt from needing to pay congestion charges if they are registered with the DVLA |
If you receive a penalty charge you have two options. One: you can pay the PCN charge or two: Challenge the PCN. If you decide to pay the PCN within the first 14 days of receiving notice the cost is 50% off and will equal 80 Pounds ($98.68 USD). If you pay within the after the 14th day, but before the 28th the prices goes up to 160 Pounds ($197.35 USD). Failure to pay within 28 days will result in a Charge Certificate being issued and a fee of 240 Pounds ($296.03 USD) will need to be paid. Below we have broken out the different charges and times for easier readability.
Fees and Penalties | |
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Day 1 - 14 | 80 Pounds ($98.68 USD) |
Day 15 -28 | 160 Pounds ($197.35 USD) |
After Day 28 | 240 Pounds ($296.03 USD) |
Be aware of unofficial websites that have no affiliation with TFL and only use the official payment page on their site to pay for your congestion charge. Many of these sites may offer additional services that either do not exist, or are already offered by TFL. While these sights claim to pay the TFL on your behalf, many fail to do so, which then causes the driver to incur a penalty for driving within the congestion zones. Even if they claim to reimburse any penalty charge you will still be better off just making your payments through the official TFL site.
Below you will find the contact information for the TFL including links on how to challenge a PCN in the event you believe you were wrongly charged. Also, in the event that you have any questions or concerns about your unlimited mileage car rental, please contact our award winning customer support team at 888-223-5555. They will be more than happy to assist you with any questions or concerns you might have!
How To Contact Transport For London and Challenging a PCN | |
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Hours of Operation | Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM |
UK Phone Number | 0343 222 2222 |
International Phone Number | +44 (0)343 222 2222 |
Text Phone (For the hearing impaired) |
020 7649 9123 |
Challenging A PCN | |
By Phone | 0343 222 3333 |
Challenge a PCN Additional Information | Additional Information on Challenging a PCN |