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London Lifts Congestion Charge to £18 as EV Exemption Is Replaced by Tiered Discounts in 2026

City Hall says the overhaul curbs growing traffic from rising EV numbers.

Overview

  • From January 2, 2026, the daily charge increases from £15 to £18, with future annual rises linked to Tube fare changes.
  • The 100% exemption for electric vehicles ends on the same date, replaced by 25% off for electric cars and 50% off for electric vans and lorries, available only to drivers registered for TfL AutoPay.
  • From March 2030, EV discounts reduce further to 12.5% for cars and 25% for vans, HGVs and quadricycles.
  • From March 2027, new applicants for the 90% residents’ discount must own an electric vehicle, while current recipients keep their status; low-income and disabled residents in the zone retain a 100% exemption until 2030.
  • TfL says the changes are needed to avoid roughly 2,200 additional vehicles on a typical weekday, as motoring groups and unions warn of higher costs and potential setbacks to EV uptake.