Driving and parking

Driving in London benefits from advance planning. Don't forget about the Congestion Charge and remember that finding a parking space can be tricky. London is an extremely busy city and driving in the centre is challenging.

To reduce the number of cars in the central London area in the daytime, a Congestion Charge of £8 per car per day applies, Monday to Friday. Evenings and weekends are free. For full details visit the Congestion Charge website

Congestion charging

Congestion charging was introduced in central London to tackle the worst traffic congestion in the UK which led to drivers in central London spending 50 per cent of their time in queues. In addition, before congestion charging, £2-4 million was lost every week in terms of lost time caused by congestion. Londoners themselves said congestion was one of the biggest issues facing the capital – and wanted it to be tackled. In February 2007 the charging zone was extended westwards so that it now covers most of the boroughs of Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster. Read about the background to the congestion charging scheme.

What is it?

Congestion charging is a way of ensuring that those using valuable and congested road space make a financial contribution. It encourages people to use public transport rather than private cars. It is also intended to ensure that, for those who have to use the roads, journey times are quicker and more reliable.

Where does it apply?

Charging zone map and postcode checking facility

Charging zones are clearly marked by signs and symbols so you will know when you are driving into the zone.

How can I pay?

See the Congestion Charge website for full details of how to pay. You can pay the charge in advance or on the day of travel, using any of the following methods:

online
at selected shops, petrol stations and car parks
by post
by telephone
by SMS text message from your mobile phone
at BT internet kiosks.

Or you can pay the next day (a slightly higher charge) via the telephone call centre or the website.

If you operate more than ten vehicles, there is a Fleet Automated Scheme to make administration and payments easier.

Penalties

If you forget to pay, a Penalty Charge Notice will be issued to the registered keeper of the vehicle you were driving as you entered the charging zone. This happens because at midnight, images of all of the vehicles that have been in the congestion charging zone are checked against the vehicle registration numbers of vehicles which have paid their congestion charge for that day. The computer keeps the registration numbers that should have – but have not – paid, and issues the penalty notices.

Find out more about penalties, removing and clamping

Exemptions and discounts

A range of exemptions and discounts is available to certain categories of drivers and certain categories of vehicles and individuals, including the following: Blue Badge holders; residents living in the charging zone; drivers of alternative fuel vehicles; vehicles with nine or more seats; drivers of roadside recovery vehicles; accredited breakdown organisations; drivers of electrically-propelled vehicles. Several of these categories require registration.

Parking in London

The primary responsibility for parking matters generally rests with the relevant local authority. However, the Mayor's Transport Strategy sets the framework for local authority parking policies.

The Association of London Government Transport and Environment Committee (ALGTEC) is responsible for administrating London parking system. The ALG also provides advisory leaflets on parking in London.

The Parking and Traffic Appeals Service makes decisions about disputed parking penalties under the decriminalised system of parking control in London.

Transport & travel

Freedom of information

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