London drivers, listen up. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and Transport for London, have confirmed that from January 2026 there are some major changes happening to the congestion charge that you’ll need to be aware of. Not only will the price be increasing by 20%but there will be changes to the the Cleaner Vehicle Discount.
How much is congestion charge rising to?
For the first time since 2020, the congestion charge is set to rise from £15 to £18 in January 2026. The change aims to prevent 2,200 extra vehicles from driving through the area on an average weekday, therefore tackling the air pollution that comes with that.
Support for low-income and disabled Londoners will still be in place, offering discounts of up to 100 per cent.
Why is the congestion charge rising?
The congestion charge has been in place since 2003, to ease traffic and as the name would suggest, congestion, in the capital. The updates to the charge aim to help keep the capital greenwhile also ensuring delays when getting around London are kept to a minimum. The changes also ensure public transport doesn’t become more expensive than driving.
What are the changes to the Cleaner Vehicle Discount?
A new tiered system will be introduced. Currently, electric vehicle users don’t need topay for congestion charge, but new changes mean they will now have a 25 per cent discountwith vans and lorries recieving a 50 per cent off the full fee.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, says “Keeping London moving by reducing congestion is vital for our city and for our economy. While the congestion charge has been a huge success since its introduction, we must ensure it stays fit for purpose, and sticking to the status quo would see around 2,200 more vehicles using the congestion charging zone on an average weekday next year. We must support Londoners and businesses to use more sustainable travel, so I’m pleased that substantial incentives will remain in place for Londoners who switch to cleaner vehicles, as we work to build a greener and better London for everyone.”
You can find out more about the changes here.
