Guides
Plain-English answers on paying UK road charges on time, what happens if you miss a deadline, and how to challenge a penalty.
Each guide answers one question drivers actually ask: how long you have to pay the ULEZ or the Congestion Charge, what a Clean Air Zone penalty costs, or what to do after using the Dartford Crossing without paying. They’re written from the official TfL, GOV.UK, council and operator rules, and each one shows when it was last updated (how we research them). For every scheme’s charge and deadline in one table, see UK road charges.
London
Forgot to pay the ULEZ? Here’s what to do
Forgot to pay the ULEZ? You have until midnight on the third day after driving in. How to pay late, what the penalty is, and how to challenge a ULEZ PCN.
Congestion ChargeForgot to pay the Congestion Charge? Here’s what to do
Forgot to pay the Congestion Charge? Pay £21 by midnight on the third day after driving in to avoid a £180 penalty. How to pay, and what if you missed it.
ExplainerULEZ vs Congestion Charge vs Clean Air Zones: what’s the difference?
The difference between the ULEZ, the London Congestion Charge and Clean Air Zones: who pays each, when, how much, and whether you can owe more than one.
ULEZ complianceIs my car ULEZ compliant? Euro 4, 5 and 6 explained
Is your car ULEZ compliant? The Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel rules by year, plus Euro 5, hybrids, vans, motorbikes and how to check your reg.
Congestion Charge · ULEZTfL Auto Pay: how it works and who it suits
TfL Auto Pay explained: what it covers, why it’s free, the Congestion Charge and tunnel discounts that need it, how billing works and when it isn’t a fit.
ULEZ & Congestion ChargeULEZ and Congestion Charge exemptions and discounts
Who doesn’t pay the ULEZ or the Congestion Charge: Blue Badge, disabled tax class, taxis, residents and more, with end dates and how to register with TfL.
Clean Air Zones
Forgot to pay the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?
Forgot to pay the Birmingham Clean Air Zone? You have 6 days after driving in to pay the £8 charge. How to pay, the £120 fine and how to challenge it.
Bristol Clean Air ZoneForgot to pay the Bristol Clean Air Zone?
Forgot to pay the Bristol Clean Air Zone? You have 6 days after driving in to pay the £9 charge. How to pay late, the £120 fine and how to challenge it.
Vans & fleetsULEZ and Clean Air Zones for van drivers
Vans pay in more UK clean air zones than cars. Which zones charge vans, how much, the Euro 6 diesel rule, and keeping on top of charges across a fleet.
Clean Air ZonesClean Air Zone exemptions: the national rules and every city
Which vehicles are exempt from England’s Clean Air Zones: the national exemptions, why a Blue Badge isn’t enough, and each city’s local exemptions in 2026.
Clean Air ZonesForgot to pay a Clean Air Zone charge? Here’s what to do
Forgot to pay the Bath, Bradford, Sheffield, Newcastle or Portsmouth Clean Air Zone? You have 6 days. Charges, the £120 penalty and how to challenge it.
Oxford
Oxford traffic filters: locations, times, permits and fines
Oxford’s six traffic filters explained: where they are, what times they run, which cars need a permit, the warning period and the £70 fine.
Oxford Zero Emission ZoneForgot to pay the Oxford Zero Emission Zone?
Forgot to pay the Oxford Zero Emission Zone? You have 6 days after driving in to pay. Here’s how to pay late, the £60 fine and how to challenge it.
Toll crossings
Forgot to pay the Dart Charge? Here’s what to do
Forgot to pay the Dart Charge? You have until midnight the day after you crossed. Missed it? Here’s the £70 penalty, how to pay it and how to challenge it.
Blackwall & Silvertown tunnelsForgot to pay the Blackwall or Silvertown Tunnel charge?
Forgot to pay the Blackwall or Silvertown Tunnel charge? You have until midnight on the third day after crossing. How to pay late, the penalty and appeals.
Mersey GatewayForgot to pay Merseyflow? Here’s what to do
Forgot to pay the Mersey Gateway toll? You have until 11:59pm the day after you crossed. Missed it? The penalty and how to challenge it.
Tyne TunnelForgot to pay the Tyne Tunnel? Here’s what to do
Forgot to pay the Tyne Tunnel toll? You have until midnight the day after crossing. Missed it? The Unpaid Toll Charge Notice and how to challenge it.
Dartford CrossingHave I paid the Dart Charge? How to check
How to check whether you’ve paid the Dart Charge or still owe one, what to do if you can’t tell, and how a Dart Charge PCN works if you missed it.
Dartford CrossingIs a Dart Charge account worth it?
How to log in to your Dart Charge account and check your crossings and payment history, what pre-pay and pay as you go cost, and when an account is worth it.
Penalties & appeals
Bank holidays
The EveryDrive app · iPhone
Never miss a charge deadline again
EveryDrive notices when you drive into a charging zone or through a toll crossing, even with the app closed, tells you whether your vehicle is charged, and reminds you before the payment deadline.
EveryDrivenow
Zone entry detected
AB12 CDE just entered Bristol Clean Air Zone — a charge may apply.
EveryDrive9:00 am
Unpaid Clean Air Zone charge
AB12 CDE at Bristol Clean Air Zone, yesterday, is still unpaid.
Free during the beta, no card needed. iPhone now; on Android, sign up and we’ll tell you when it’s ready.
It never takes payment: you pay the official operator yourself. Installs through Apple’s TestFlight app.