Congestion charge changes: The new rules drivers need to know before they hit the road TODAY

DRIVERS face new rules on the congestion charge from today.

Motorists will now only need pay the £15 fee if they travel into central London within the 11-hour window from 7am to 6pm on weekdays.

And the fee will only be in force for six hours from 12pm to 6pm on weekends and bank holidays.

Before, drivers had to pay the £15 charge for travelling within the congestion zone for the 15 hours between 7am and 10pm seven days a week.

Transport for London confirmed the changes in December following a ten-week consultation last year which had almost 10,000 responses.

The capital's transport network operator wants the change to boost London's nightlife and hospitality businesses after the pandemic.

The congestion zone operates every day of the year except on Christmas Day and the days leading up from December 25 until after New Year's Day.

Last June, the zone charge jumped in London by an extra 30 per cent - £3.50 more a day - which bosses said was temporary

TfL said this was introduced under the terms of its £1.6billion bailout by the Government.

They also claimed the increased fee could reduce car trips by a third and encourage more people to walk or cycle.