What does TfL Auto Pay cover?
Auto Pay covers four London charges: the Congestion Charge, the ULEZ, the LEZ and the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels (TfL). You’re only billed for the ULEZ and LEZ if your vehicle doesn’t meet their emissions standards.
It doesn’t cover charges run by anyone else. The Dartford Crossing has its own Dart Charge account, and Clean Air Zones outside London are paid on GOV.UK.
Does TfL Auto Pay cost anything?
No. TfL says there are no registration or renewal fees. Auto Pay used to cost £10 a year per vehicle, but TfL announced in January 2023 that it was removing that fee.
You only pay the charges you run up. Auto Pay bills the Congestion Charge at £18 a day (TfL), the same as paying in advance or on the day, rather than the £21 you pay if you settle up in the three days after.
Which discounts need Auto Pay?
Several of TfL’s discounts only apply through Auto Pay (TfL discounts and exemptions):
| What you drive | With Auto Pay | Without Auto Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Electric car, Congestion Charge | 25% off: £13.50 a day | £18 (£21 if paid after the day) |
| Electric van, HGV or quadricycle, Congestion Charge | 50% off: £9 a day | £18 (£21 if paid after the day) |
| Car or small van, Blackwall or Silvertown off-peak | £1.55 | £4.20 at any time |
| Car or small van, Blackwall or Silvertown peak | £4.20 | £4.20 |
The electric vehicle discounts drop to 12.5% for cars and 25% for vans, HGVs and quadricycles from 4 March 2030. Residents also need Auto Pay to pay the 90% residents’ discounted Congestion Charge online, and the tunnels’ £1 small-business discount requires it. See our tunnel prices and peak times and electric cars and the Congestion Charge.
How does Auto Pay billing work?
TfL records each charging day your vehicle is detected and bills you once a month.
- You pay by debit card, credit card or Direct Debit. The first payment is taken a month after setup.
- Before each payment, TfL sends a statement saying how much you owe and when it will be taken (Auto Pay terms).
- Charges can take up to 5 working days to show in your online account.
- You can add up to 5 vehicles. Businesses with 6 or more use Fleet Auto Pay, which is also free.
- If a payment fails, TfL warns you before suspending Auto Pay. While it’s suspended nothing is charged automatically, so you must pay another way or risk a penalty.
Do I have to register for the Congestion Charge?
No. You can pay the Congestion Charge or the ULEZ without an account, online, by phone or in the TfL Pay to Drive in London app. You only need an account for Auto Pay, discounts and exemptions (TfL).
How do I register for TfL Auto Pay?
- Create or sign in to a London Road User Charging account from TfL’s Auto Pay page, or use the TfL Pay to Drive in London app.
- Choose ‘Set up Auto Pay’ and add each vehicle’s number plate.
- Add a card or set up a Direct Debit.
You must be 18 or over, or 16 or 17 and added to a parent’s or guardian’s Auto Pay. It covers journeys from the day it becomes active, including ones earlier that day, but not the day before. Pay for an earlier trip separately by midnight on the third day after (see forgot to pay the Congestion Charge?).
When isn’t Auto Pay the right fit?
Auto Pay is a good choice if you regularly drive your own vehicle in London, and electric car drivers need it for the discount. It fits less well when:
- You’re driving a hire, courtesy or borrowed car. Auto Pay works by number plate, and a vehicle can only be on one Auto Pay service at a time. If you add a car you’re not the registered keeper of, the terms say you must tell the keeper they stay liable for charges and penalties.
- You only drive in London once or twice a year. It costs nothing, but you’re leaving payment details with TfL for charges you’ll rarely run up, and some drivers would rather pay each trip.
- Your trips cross several schemes. Auto Pay stops at London’s boundary. The Dart Charge, Clean Air Zones, Merseyflow and the Tyne Tunnel each need their own payment or account.
For those trips, EveryDrive notices when you drive into a London zone, tells you whether your vehicle is charged, and reminds you before the deadline. It can’t see your TfL account, so it can’t tell you what Auto Pay has already covered, and it never takes payment.