London's Congestion Charge And You!

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!

What Is London's Congestion Charge And How Much is It?

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.

How To Pay the Daily Charge?

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.

Discounts and Exemptions

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.

Penalties and Enforcement Charges

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.

Be Wary of Unofficial Sites

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.

How To Contact Transport For London

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!