There’s been a lot of traffic news lately in London, most notably the car ban on one of London’s most well-known streets and some road closures over the Christmas period, and now we have some more news on that front.
From time to time, the Congestion Charge changes to keep up with the city’s traffic and environmental needs, and here at Secret London, we like to keep you up to date with the latest updates so you’re never caught out.
From 1 March 2027, new applicants to the Congestion Charge Residents’ Discount will get the 90% discount only for electric vehicles. People who already hold the discount keep it for any vehicle. If you live in the charging zone and drive a petrol or diesel car, the timing of your application now matters.
It’s important to remember that this change applies to the discount, not to the charge itself, which stays as it is.
What is the Residents’ Discount?
The standard daily Congestion Charge is £18 if you pay on the day of travel or in advance. It rises to £21 if you pay within three days after travel. Residents of the charging zone who hold the Residents’ Discount pay £1.80 a day instead, a saving of £16.20 on every charging day. That’s pretty worth it, if you ask me.
If you do the maths, that means that over 100 charging days, a resident with the discount pays £180 while someone paying the full rate pays £1,800, so you can see how important the Residents’ Discount is.
What do the new rules mean?
- Existing holders: keep the 90% discount for any type of vehicle.
- New applicants from 1 March 2027: the discount will apply only to electric vehicles.
- Residents on certain low-income or disability benefits: you can still use a non-electric vehicle if you apply before 3 March 2030.
What to do if you drive a non-electric vehicle
If you live in the zone, drive a petrol or diesel vehicle and don’t yet hold the discount, you might want to register before the new rule kicks in.
Applying early keeps your eligibility for a non-electric vehicle. Once the change takes effect, a new applicant with a petrol or diesel car will pay the full daily rate of £18, or £21 if they pay late.
If you want to find out more details about the change and the Congestion Charge in general, you can check out Transport for London’s website.
