You pay the London Congestion Charge directly through Transport for London (TfL), either online, via the official app, by Auto Pay, or by phone, and you must do it within three days of driving in the zone to avoid a fine. The daily charge is usually £15 if you pay in advance or on the day, or £17.50 if you pay by midnight of the third day after travel.

How to pay step by step

  1. Go to TfL’s official Congestion Charge page and choose “Pay the Congestion Charge”. You will need your vehicle registration number and the date(s) you drove in the zone.
  1. Either create/sign in to a London Road User Charging account or make a one‑off payment as a guest, then pay by debit or credit card.
  1. Alternatively, download the “Pay to Drive in London” app (Apple/Google Play), add your vehicle, select your travel date(s), and pay in the app.
  1. If you drive in the zone regularly, set up Auto Pay , which records each charging day and charges you automatically at the standard £15 daily rate.
  1. You can also pay by phone by calling TfL (UK 0343 222 2222) and providing your vehicle and card details.

Key rules and deadlines

  • Standard daily charge: £15 if you pay in advance or on the same day.
  • Late (but still on time) payment: £17.50 if you pay by midnight of the third day after travelling in the zone.
  • If you miss that window, TfL issues a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), usually £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days and increased if ignored.

Exemptions and tips

  • Many disabled drivers, motorbikes, mopeds, bicycles, and some other vehicle categories are exempt, but you must check and, where needed, register with TfL in advance.
  • Always use the official TfL site or app , as third‑party “congestion charge” sites can be misleading or add extra fees and may be scams.
  • If the website or app is glitchy, users often report success by trying another browser or device, or by calling TfL directly.
Note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.