Using Auto Pay
Alternatively, you can pay using Congestion Charging Auto Pay. This is an automated payment system that automatically records the days travelled within the charging zone and charges the fee payable monthly to a registered debit or credit card. It is likely to be useful for small businesses operating within the zone as up to five vehicles can be registered on one account. Each vehicle costs £10 to register. Congestion Charging Auto Pay commences on 04 January 2011.
Fleet Auto Pay
Fleet Auto Pay is also available for a £9 daily charge for business car fleet operators. The minimum vehicle requirement has been reduced from 10 to six. There is a registration charge of £10 per vehicle.
How to avoid paying the London Congestion Charge
- The Green Vehicle Discount (GVD). Cars with CO2 emissions of 100g/km or lower qualify for the 100% GVD discount. These GVD qualifying vehicles must meet Euro 5 exhaust emission standards. The cost to register a vehicle for GVD is £10. Thereafter there is no charge to travel within the congestion charge zone. The GVD qualifying level of 100g/km CO2 will be reviewed to 80g/km or lower in the future.
- The Alternative Fuel Discount (AFD). This applies to alternative fuel cars – for example dual fuel vehicles such as LPG and hybrid (petrol-electric cars). If you already hold an AFD discount on 24 December 2010 you’ll continue to receive the 100% until December 2012. New registrations for the AFD dscount close on 24 December 2010. After that date, a vehicle will need to qualify on emissions alone. Vehicle registration costs £10.
- Electric Vehicle and Plug in Electric Hybrid Vehicle (PHEV). From 4 January 2011 electric powered vehicles and plug in electric hybrids also qualify for a 100% discount from the congestion charge zone. To qualify for the discount you must register the vehicle for an annual £10 payment.
Hours of operation
The congestion charging zone operates from 7am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday.
Key points of the London Congestion Charge zone
- New charges and discounts from 04 January 2011
- Charge payable Mon-Fri 0700 to 1800
- Charge is £10 payable up to midnight on day of travel
- Pay next day facility costs £12
- Non payment charge of £120
- 100% discount applies to cars with CO2 of 100g/km or less; alternative fuel cars; and electric vehicles
- There are certain no charge ‘through-routes’ across the zone
- Picture (c) Transport for London 2005
- More details can be found at www.cclondon.com