Can I be fined for not paying the congestion charge?

THE London congestion charge was brought in to encourage travellers to use public transport as well as freeing up congested streets.

However, some still need to use their car to travel around the capital so what happens if they don’t pay the congestion charge?

What is the congestion charge and how much does it cost?

The congestion charge is the fee charged to motorists driving in central London.

It was introduced in February 2003, as an attempt to reduce the amount of traffic and pollution in the capital.

It was also hoped to encourage more use of public transport as well as walking and cycling.

The scheme is in operation from Monday to Friday between 7am and 6pm and from 12pm till 6pm on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.

The only bank holidays on which the congestion charge doesn’t apply are Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, where the levy is axed between the two dates.

The fee is £15 a day, however, exemptions and discounts are available as well.

Regular motorists who drive into the zone are encouraged to set up auto-pay which can be done online.

A yearly £10 fee for registering your vehicle is charged.

The congestion zone covers a 21 sq km area – covering most of Zone 1 on the Transport for London Tube map.

What are the fines and how do I appeal?

Anyone who drives in the congestion zone and hasn’t paid the fee by midnight on the day has three days to pay and won’t be issued with a fine.

However, if after that time the driver hasn’t paid, a penalty charge notice (PCN) will be issued for £160 but this is reduced to £80 if it is paid within 14 days.

You can challenge the decision by applying online or sending a letter.

Challenges can be made for the following reasons although other factors can be considered:

• You were not the keeper at the time of the contravention
• You had paid the charge
• Your vehicle was exempt
• The vehicle was used or taken without your consent
• You had registered for a 100 per cent discount
• The vehicle was on hire to someone else

If you do not pay the penalty charge within 28 days, the amount due will increase by 50% of the full penalty charge, hence you’ll have to pay £240.

You’ll have 14 days to pay this amount.

What is the Ulez congestion charge?

Ulez is London’s ultra-low emission zone.

It originally just covered a small part of central London but was drastically expanded in October 2021 to cover most of the capital.

Drivers of older vehicles will need to pay a £12.50 charge before driving into this zone or face a £160 fine. 

This mostly affects drivers of petrol cars built before 2005, and diesel cars built before 2015, but anyone unsure of their vehicle’s eligibility should .

These older vehicles are deemed to be the most polluting, and the Ultra Low Emission Zone is designed to reduce harmful emissions in the capital. 

It now covers the North and South Circular roads, absorbing an area roughly 18 times the size of the existing zone. 

Motorists driving older vehicles will still need to pay the £15 Congestion Charge in addition to the Ulez. 

This means that somebody driving a non-compliant car may need to spend a total of £27.50 to drive into the very centre of London. 

Ulez operates every day for 24 hours, except on Christmas Day.

You risk being fined for both if you forget to pay the charges on time.

The £160 fine is halved to £80 if paid within 14 days. 

Petrol cars that don’t meet Euro 4 standards, and diesel cars that don’t meet Euro 6 standards, are the vehicles targeted by the Ulez.

All electric cars are exempt from the Ulez charges, but hybrid cars must comply with their respective emissions regulations. 

Vans up to 3.5 tonnes pay the same £12.50 rate as cars do, though anything bigger such as a truck will be subject to the elevated £100 daily fee.