It’s a significant shift for London’s drivers and for the capital’s green agenda as Transport for London (TfL) confirms sweeping reforms to the London Congestion Charge in just a few weeks’ time.
The headlines may be around EVs having to pay the congestion charge for the first time with a £13.50 fee applying (as long as drivers register on TfL’s Auto Pay system), but all drivers will be paying more with the standard Congestion Charge also rising from £15 to £18.
The news comes on the back of leaked proposals from central government to charge a pay-per-mile tax on electric vehicles from 2028, with many accusing legislators of mixed messaging. Only a matter of months ago the UK’s Electric Car Grant was introduced to incentivise people to buy EVs with up to £3,750 off the price of some electric cars. Now EV owners are looking at the potential of new congestion charges and other tax increases.
The Congestion Charge proposals aren’t easy to understand with discounts available, late payment possibilities, deals for Central London residents and different rates for vans and trucks. Here is everything you need to know about the changes to congestion charges in London so you don’t get caught out.
EV congestion charge changes
Why the change?
TfL says the CCZ remains a vital tool for relieving traffic pressure in central London, and that the previous exemption for EVs is increasingly undermining the scheme’s effectiveness now that electric vehicles are far more common.
As the official briefing puts it: “Without these changes, we estimate there could be more than 2,000 additional vehicles driving during operating hours in the Congestion Charge zone on an average weekday.”
For his part, Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “Keeping London moving by reducing congestion is vital for our city and for our economy. While the congestion charge has been a huge success since its introduction, we must ensure it stays fit for purpose, and sticking to the status quo would see around 2,200 more vehicles using the congestion charging zone on an average weekday next year.
“We must support Londoners and businesses to use more sustainable travel, so I’m pleased that substantial incentives will remain in place for Londoners who switch to cleaner vehicles, as we work to build a greener and better London for everyone.”
What it means in practice
What the critics say
Motoring groups and business representatives have not held back. The AA president Edmund King said: “This is a backward step which sadly will backfire on air quality in London. Our AA UK EV Readiness Index shows that many drivers are not quite ready to make the switch to electric vehicles, so incentives are still needed to help them over the line. The mayor needs to reconsider, to continue to help more essential van and car journeys in the capital go electric.”
Likewise, the Electric London Coalition, representing firms such as Royal Mail and Openreach, warned the changes could cost professional drivers up to £3,000 a year if they enter the zone five days a week.
What EV drivers should do now
Why it matters for EV adoption
This is a landmark moment: the exemption that once made central London truly free for electric car drivers is gone. That changes the dynamic of London’s transition to zero-emissions transport. While some incentives remain, the message is clear: even cleaner vehicles now pay a meaningful road charge in London.
That may sharpen decisions for businesses, private motorists, chauffeur and courier firms, and those still weighing the switch to EVs in the capital.
