Are EVs Exempt from the Congestion Charge?

Are electric cars exempt from the London Congestion Charge?
No, electric cars are no longer exempt from the London Congestion Charge following rule changes introduced in December 2025. Previously eligible vehicles could receive a 100% discount through the Cleaner Vehicle Discount scheme, but most electric vehicle drivers must now pay the daily charge when entering congestion zones in central London. However, electric vehicles remain exempt from the Ultra Low Emission Zone ULEZ charge, meaning the two schemes operate differently.

There are plenty of charges and rules to be aware of when travelling into our capital city by car. The key point is that the rules are changing all the time, and EVs, which were once exempt from the congestion charge, are now expected to pay. While many assume electric cars are exempt from congestion charges because they have zero tailpipe emissions, policy changes now make the situation more nuanced.

Transport for London manages multiple congestion zones and environmental charging schemes, including the Congestion Charge and the Ultra Low Emission Zone ULEZ. This guide explains how electric vehicles are treated today, what changed in December 2025, and how drivers can manage their costs when entering the congestion charge zone.

Most electric vehicles now pay the Congestion Charge when travelling within the central London charging zone, as the previous Cleaner Vehicle Discount, which provided a full exemption for qualifying vehicles, ended in December 2025.

Today, the standard daily charge is £18 if paid on the day of travel or in advance, rising to £21 if paid within three days after travel, although residents registered for the Congestion Charge Residents’ Discount continue to receive 90% off and pay £1.80 per day. The charge applies when driving within the zone during operating hours, typically 07:00–18:00 Monday to Friday and 12:00–18:00 on weekends and bank holidays, with no charge between Christmas Day and the New Year’s Day bank holiday period. While EV drivers typically pay, reduced rates may apply in certain circumstances, such as discounts available through Auto Pay registration. Payments must be made through a London Road User Charging account. Failing to pay the required daily charge may result in penalty charge notices issued through enforcement systems.

Before December 2025, qualifying vehicles could receive a 100% discount through the Cleaner Vehicle Discount scheme administered by Transport for London. Eligibility covered fully battery-electric vehicle models and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, provided they were properly registered with TfL, meaning electric cars were exempt from the Congestion Charge during the scheme’s operation. That exemption has since ended as policy shifted to better align with congestion management goals, but a revised, tiered discount structure has been introduced to continue encouraging the transition to electric vehicles.

These discounts are available only for vehicles registered for Auto Pay and include a 25% reduction on the daily charge for electric cars and a 50% reduction for electric vans, HGVs, and quadricycles. In practical terms, this reduces the daily charge to £13.50 for eligible electric cars and £9 for eligible electric vans and similar vehicles, compared with the standard £18 rate. If a vehicle is not registered for Auto Pay, the discounted rate does not apply, reinforcing the importance of proper account setup when entering the charging zone.

If you are an EV driver entering congestion zones you need to ensure you have set up Auto Pay through a London Road User Charging account, monitor your travel activity within central London, and confirm that any applicable daily charges are paid on time. Taking this approach simplifies ongoing compliance and reduces the risk of receiving penalty charge notices, making the management of road user charges more straightforward and predictable.