London Congestion Charge for Electric Cars in 2026: What EV Drivers Pay

Electric cars are no longer fully exempt from the London Congestion Charge. In 2026, eligible electric cars registered for Auto Pay can receive a 25% Cleaner Vehicle Discount, reducing the standard £18 daily charge to £13.50.

The change is important for anyone who regularly drives an EV in central London. While electric cars can still benefit from lower charging costs and avoid the ULEZ charge, the Congestion Charge is now an additional cost to consider.

Do Electric Cars Pay the London Congestion Charge in 2026?

Yes. Electric cars can pay the London Congestion Charge in 2026.

The previous 100% Cleaner Vehicle Discount has ended. Eligible electric cars can receive a 25% discount, but they must be registered for TfL Auto Pay.

This means an eligible electric car driver pays:

• £13.50 per day with the Cleaner Vehicle Discount

• £18 per day without the discount, when paid in advance or on the day of travel

• £21 per day when paid within three days after travelling

The discount is not applied simply because the vehicle is electric. The correct Auto Pay setup is required.

How Much Is the Congestion Charge for Electric Cars?

The standard London Congestion Charge is £18 per day if paid on the day of travel or in advance. Eligible electric cars on Auto Pay receive a 25% Cleaner Vehicle Discount, reducing the charge to £13.50.

The discounted rate can make a significant difference for drivers who regularly enter central London during charging hours.

For example, an eligible EV driver entering the Congestion Charging Zone 20 times in a month could pay £270 at the discounted rate. The actual monthly cost depends on how often you drive within the zone during charging hours.

What Is the Cleaner Vehicle Discount?

The Cleaner Vehicle Discount replaced the previous full exemption for eligible electric vehicles.

In 2026:

• Eligible electric cars receive a 25% discount

• Eligible electric vans, HGVs and quadricycles receive a 50% discount

• The discount is only available when the eligible vehicle is registered for Auto Pay

For electric cars, the 25% discount reduces the £18 daily charge to £13.50.

The discount is scheduled to reduce further from 4 March 2030, when electric cars are due to receive a 12.5% discount under the current plans.

Check: Used Electric Car Lease Deals UK

How Do Electric Car Drivers Get the Congestion Charge Discount?

For a UK-registered electric car, you need to:

1. Set up a TfL London Road User Charging account

2. Register for Auto Pay

3. Add the electric vehicle to your Auto Pay service

4. Check that the vehicle details are correct

If the vehicle is eligible and correctly registered for Auto Pay, the Cleaner Vehicle Discount is applied.

Drivers already using Auto Pay should check that their vehicle details remain correct.

For vehicles registered outside the UK, the vehicle must also be registered with TfL before the discount can apply.

What Are the London Congestion Charge Times?

The Congestion Charge applies during the following times:

There is no Congestion Charge from Christmas Day to the New Year's Day bank holiday, inclusive.

Is There a Congestion Charge on Sunday?

Yes. The Congestion Charge applies on Sundays from 12:00 to 18:00.

Does the Congestion Charge Apply on Bank Holidays?

Yes, the charge generally applies between 12:00 and 18:00 on bank holidays. The exception is the period from Christmas Day to the New Year's Day bank holiday.

Also Check: Electric Car Road Tax

Do Electric Cars Pay ULEZ as Well as the Congestion Charge?

ULEZ and the Congestion Charge are separate schemes.

Eligible fully electric cars do not pay the daily ULEZ charge because they produce no tailpipe emissions. However, this does not mean they are exempt from the Congestion Charge.

An electric car can therefore:

• Pay £0 for ULEZ

• Pay £13.50 for the Congestion Charge with the Cleaner Vehicle Discount and Auto Pay

• Pay the standard Congestion Charge if the discount does not apply

This distinction matters for anyone comparing the cost of driving different vehicles in London.

Do Hybrid Cars Pay the London Congestion Charge?

Most hybrid cars are not eligible for the Cleaner Vehicle Discount available to fully electric cars.

A hybrid vehicle may meet ULEZ emissions standards and avoid the ULEZ charge, but ULEZ compliance does not provide an exemption from the Congestion Charge.

Drivers should check the specific vehicle and current TfL rules before travelling.

How Do the 2026 Congestion Charge Changes Affect EV Running Costs?

The end of the full EV exemption means the cost of running an electric car in London should now be calculated more broadly.

For drivers who regularly enter central London, the Congestion Charge can become a recurring monthly expense. This should be considered alongside:

• Charging costs

• Insurance

• Vehicle payments

• Parking

• Mileage

• Other London road charges

For example, an eligible electric car entering the zone 10 times per month during charging hours would pay £135 per month in Congestion Charges at the discounted rate. At 20 chargeable days, the cost would rise to £270 per month.

For occasional visits, the cost may have less impact. For regular commuting into central London, however, it can become an important part of the overall cost of running an EV.

Is an Electric Car Still Worth Choosing for London Driving?

For many drivers, yes.

Electric cars can still offer advantages in London because eligible fully electric vehicles avoid the daily ULEZ charge and can receive the Cleaner Vehicle Discount on the Congestion Charge.

However, the £13.50 discounted Congestion Charge means the overall cost of driving an EV in central London now depends more heavily on how often you enter the zone.

When comparing a new electric vehicle, it makes sense to look beyond the vehicle's headline price or monthly payment. Regular London drivers should consider the full cost of using the car, including charging, insurance and Congestion Charge payments.

This is also relevant when considering an electric car lease. Leasing can provide a fixed monthly vehicle cost, but the Congestion Charge remains a separate running expense. Comparing the total monthly cost can help determine which EV and lease arrangement best suits your driving pattern.

For drivers who only occasionally enter the Congestion Charging Zone, a different EV may be more suitable than for someone who travels into central London several days each week.

Will the Electric Car Congestion Charge Discount Change Again?

Yes. Under the current TfL changes, the discount for eligible electric cars is scheduled to reduce from 25% to 12.5% on 4 March 2030.

This means an EV that currently receives a £4.50 daily discount on the standard £18 charge would receive a smaller discount under the planned future system.

London road charging rules can change, so drivers should check the latest TfL information before travelling.

Before Driving an Electric Car in Central London

Before entering central London in an EV, check:

• Whether your route enters the Congestion Charging Zone

• The charging hours for the day you are travelling

• Whether your electric car is correctly registered on Auto Pay

• Whether the Cleaner Vehicle Discount applies

• Whether your vehicle is eligible for ULEZ exemption

• The current TfL rules before travelling