Were you actually charged the Congestion Charge?
The Congestion Charge only applies during charging hours: 7am–6pm Monday to Friday, and 12pm–6pm at weekends and on bank holidays. There’s no charge at all from Christmas Day to the New Year’s Day bank holiday, inclusive. If you drove in outside those hours, you owe nothing for the Congestion Charge (though the ULEZ may still apply). Motorcycles and licensed taxis are exempt.
Can I still pay the Congestion Charge late?
Pay on TfL’s official site by midnight on the third day after you travelled. Because you didn’t pay on the day, the charge is £21 rather than £18.
Missed the deadline? What the Congestion Charge PCN costs
TfL sends a penalty charge notice to the registered keeper: £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days. If you believe it’s wrong you can challenge it:
- Pay or challenge within 28 days. Paying within 14 days halves the penalty.
- Make a formal challenge (representation) to TfL within 28 days of the PCN date, online or by post, with any evidence.
- If TfL rejects it, you’ll get a Notice of Rejection. You then have 28 days to appeal to the independent adjudicators at London Tribunals.
- If you ignore the PCN, a charge certificate increases it to £270, and the debt can be registered with the court and passed to enforcement agents.
What happens if you don’t pay the Congestion Charge fine?
Ignoring a PCN makes it more expensive: after 28 days a charge certificate raises it by 50% (to £270), and unpaid debts can be registered with the court and passed to enforcement agents.
How do I avoid it next time?
Register for TfL Auto Pay if you drive in often — it’s also now the only way electric cars get their 25% discount. For occasional trips, EveryDrive alerts you as you enter the zone and reminds you before the deadline.