Latest news with #CongestionCharge
Auto Express
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
The London Congestion Charge increase is another hammering for the humble motorist
Another week, another kick in the wherevers for the humble motorist. Transport for London has decided the time is right for a rather chunky 20 per cent increase in the capital's Congestion Charge from next January, pushing it up to £18 per day. TfL suggested the hike was timely, in light of increasing inflation, and framed the extra kick aimed at electric vehicles as a good thing. It says replacing the current EV exemption with a 25 per cent discount will prevent traffic levels from getting worse as EV sales rise. But it's just another blatant anti-car measure, following the introduction of tolls on the new Silvertown Tunnel and the Blackwall Tunnel – the latter having been free for more than 125 years. And that's on top of April's VED road tax changes, which hammer EVs through the so-called 'expensive car' supplement – £40,000 pretty much tallies with the average cost of a new car in 2025 – and various other aggressive anti-car moves. At least VED is supposedly under review, and may be addressed later this year. Advertisement - Article continues below Drivers have always understood they need to pay their way, and have repeatedly been seen as a cash cow by Governments. Yet it feels like the authorities are hunting them down more than ever. Oxford seems to be leading the way in wanting to banish private cars, but there are many other examples. In fact, it's not a new thing. Don't get me started on the decision to reverse plans to make the Dartford Crossing free to use once the construction cost had been paid off… There are two things at play here. Firstly, hiking tolls or introducing new ones punishes everyone; costs are rising fast enough without paying £4 each way to drive through a tunnel that has been free of charge for more than a century. But secondly, the penalties for EVs hurt even more, especially at a time when we're supposed to be encouraging their uptake. I've heard the argument that people buying a £40,000-plus car shouldn't need incentives, but they help to get people to buy models that are less polluting than the ICE equivalent. That's almost a sideshow, though, to the pillaging of motorists that the two London charges are symptomatic of. The car is an essential form of transport in a system with too few alternatives, and the continual financial beating of drivers is starting to grate. Do you agree with Paul? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section...
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Drivers set to see Congestion Charge increased to £18 per day
Motorists are set to see the Congestion Charge increase to £18 per day under bold new plans. Drivers across London have been warned they could be forced to pay £18 daily in Congestion Charge costs under the new proposals from Labour Party Mayor Sadiq Khan. Under new proposals, the transport authority is looking to set the daily charge for travelling in the city centre to £18 from January 2026, up from its current £15 fee. Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said in a statement in relation to the consultation from the Department for Transport this week: "Keeping London moving by reducing congestion is vital for our city and for our economy. READ MORE: Drivers over 70 'not legally allowed to drive' after licence error READ MORE: DVLA sends out alert to anyone who passed their driving test before 2015 READ MORE Foreign Office issues 'important' warning for UK tourists 'who have health condition' "The Congestion Charge has been a huge success since its introduction, but we must ensure it is fit for purpose. Sticking to the status quo would see around 2,200 more vehicles using the congestion charging zone on an average weekday next year." He explained that while improving air pollution in the city, TfL also aimed to support Londoners and businesses in using greener and more sustainable travel. "That's why I'm pleased we're proposing that substantial incentives remain in place for Londoners who switch to cleaner vehicles. We encourage everyone to have their say and respond to the public consultation," he added. Christina Calderato, TfL's Director of Strategy, explained that the Congestion Charge has been "hugely successful" in supporting the move to electric vehicles and increasing walking, cycling and the use of public transport. She added: "With these proposed changes, we want to make sure it continues to be effective in managing traffic and congestion in central London while providing ongoing support to those who need to drive in the zone to make the switch to an electric vehicle. "I would encourage people to respond to the consultation to help shape our plans."
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS London Congestion Charge to increase 20% to £18 a day next year
Transport for London is raising the Congestion Charge in the capital by 20 per cent from next year, it revealed today. Drivers in Central London will be required to fork out £18 per day from January 2026, up from the £15 charge currently in place. TfL says the increase will 'help keep London moving, encourage the uptake of electric vehicles and promote sustainable travel across the capital'. However, many drivers in the capital will view it as another effort by London Mayor Sadiq Khan to profit off the back of motorists while attempting to force them off the road entirely. The rise means the daily cost of driving an older car in the capital - when combined with the £12.50 Ultra-Low Emission Zone charge - will amount to an eye-watering £30.50. TfL claims - referencing an Inrix report published earlier this year - that in 2024 alone, congestion in London cost the capital £3.85billion is lost earnings as drivers spent an average of 101 hours stuck at a standstill in jams or in slow-moving traffic. TfL says the increase will 'help keep London moving, encourage the uptake of EVs and promote sustainable travel across the capital' London's transport department said congestion in the capital continues to 'heavily impacts businesses, bus customers and other essential services,' as it outlined its reasons to enforce an increase in the Congestion Charge, which was last hiked during the pandemic in 2020. It went on to defend the move by saying the 20 per cent rise is below the inflation increase for the period since the charge was last hiked. When the charge was previous raised in June 2020 it jumped by 30 per cent from £11.50. And the cost could rise annually, TfL revealed. Its plans unveiled on Tuesday morning also include a proposal to increasing the price of the Congestion Charge annually in line with Tube fares, which is currently inflation plus 1 per cent or a lower amount. These increases would only apply to the Congestion Charge and not the ULEZ. TfL says that without the increase from next year, an additional 2,200 vehicles would use the Charge Charge on average per day, which would increase financial losses and impact the city's air pollution targets. The public consultation - which ends on 4 August - said the rise in the cost of the charge will help achieve the 'Mayor's long-term vision for a cleaner, greener London, through increased uptake in electric vehicles and more journeys taken by public transport'. The price increase will take effect from 2 January 2026. If the charge is not paid within 48 hours, drivers face a penalty of £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days. Drivers of electric cars, who currently travel free in the Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ), were due to start paying the full charge from December. However, the consultation includes a 25 per cent discount for EV owners (down to £13.50 per day), provided they are registered for auto pay. HGVs receive a 50 per cent discount. From 2030, both discounts will be halved, with a 12.5 per cent saving for electric car drivers and 25 per cent discount for HGV operators. The consultation also includes scrapping the 90 per cent Residents' discount for those living within the CCZ boundary and driving petrol and diesel cars. Instead, eligibility for the discount will only be available to new applicants who own an electric vehicle. 'This will help to incentivise the shift to the cleanest possible vehicles and give people moving into the zone time to plan ahead,' TfL said. It added: 'Those who are already registered for the discount ahead of this date will not see any changes, reflecting that they might be reliant on their current form of transport' Drivers of electric cars, who currently travel free in the Congestion Charge Zone, were due to start paying the full charge from December. However, the consultation includes a 25% discount for these motorists from 2 January 2026 Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: 'Keeping London moving by reducing congestion is vital for our city and for our economy. 'The congestion charge has been a huge success since its introduction, but we must ensure it is fit for purpose. 'Sticking to the status quo would see around 2,200 more vehicles using the congestion charging zone on an average weekday next year. 'At the same time we must support Londoners and businesses to use greener and more sustainable travel. That's why I'm pleased we're proposing that substantial incentives remain in place for Londoners who switch to cleaner vehicles. 'We encourage everyone to have their say and respond to the public consultation.' Christina Calderato, TfL's Director of Strategy, added: 'Since it was introduced in 2003, the Congestion Charge has been hugely successful in supporting the move to more walking, cycling and public transport and encouraging the uptake of the cleanest vehicles. 'With these proposed changes we want to make sure it continues to be effective in managing traffic and congestion in central London while providing ongoing support to those who need to drive in the zone to make the switch to an electric vehicle.' The CCZ was originally introduced on 17 February 2023 under Ken Livingstone and cost £5. The Zone covers approximately the area from Kings Cross in the north to Vauxhall in the south, and Paddington in the west to Whitechapel in the east. All roads around the perimeter of the zone are enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras. The charge was doubled to £10 in 2010 and rose again in 2014 to £11.50. During the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak in early 2020, TfL implemented a 'temporary' price increase to £15. However, by June the same year, the increase was made permanent as part of a funding agreement between the Government and TfL. The charge applies seven days a week between 7:00am and 18:00pm Monday to Friday; and 12:00 to 18:00 Saturday to Sunday (and bank holidays). There is no charge on Christmas Day or New Year's Day.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Congestion Charge set to rise by 20% to £18
The Congestion Charge should rise by a fifth to £18, Transport for London (TfL) has proposed. On 2 January, the daily £15 fee for drivers of vehicles in central London will increase, the first such rise since June 2020 when the charge jumped 30% from £11.50. If the charge is not paid within 48 hours, drivers face a penalty of £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days. Drivers of electric cars, who currently travel free in the zone, were expecting to start paying the full charge from December but will now receive a 25% discount provided they are registered for auto pay. HGVs will get a 50% discount. TfL is also proposing to raise fares annually in line with public transport fares, which usually increase with inflation. City Hall said without the changes at least 2,200 more vehicles would drive in the zone each weekday while TfL said the increase would be "effective in managing traffic and congestion in central London". London has the most congested roads in Europe, a title it has held for four consecutive years. Applications for new residents' discounts from petrol and diesel car owners are set to be abolished altogether in March 2027. A public consultation will run until 4 August. Currently, these motorists pay nothing to drive in central London. But from January - provided they are registered for auto pay - electric car drivers will pay £13.50 a day (25% discount) while HGVs, light quadricycles and heavy quadricycles will pay £9 (50% off). In March 2030, the discounts will drop to 25% and 12.5% respectively. TfL had previously announced plans to end the Congestion Charge exemption for electric vehicles altogether. However, a recent report from Stonehaven Global warned that abolishing the discount for electric vehicles could "threaten to undo years of air quality gains and risk an 11% rise in nitrogen oxides across central London". The head of UK and strategy for Clean Cities, Oliver Lord, who was among the critics of the plan to abolish the electric vehicles exemption altogether, said the latest proposals amounted to a "balanced package" and that the mayor had listened. From March 2027 and for new applicants only, the residents' discount will be abolished for anyone not driving an electric vehicle. Currently, residents driving non-electric cars receive a 90% Congestion Charge discount. TfL says: "Those who are already registered for the discount ahead of this date will not see any changes, reflecting that they might be reliant on their current form of transport." No. Drivers of older, more polluting vehicles already pay £12.50 to travel anywhere within the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez), which was expanded to cover all of London's boroughs in August 2023. These latest changes mean if you drive one of these vehicles in central London, it will cost you £30.50 a day. On top of this, if you use either the Silvertown or Blackwall tunnels, that will cost up to £4 each way at peak times. On 17 February 2003, motorists had to pay a charge to drive in central London for the first time, under the mayoralty of Ken Livingstone. It cost £5 and 57,000 had paid by the charge by the afternoon of day one. A western extension to the zone in places such as Kensington and Notting Hill, introduced in 2007, was abolished four years later. By 2011, the cost had doubled to £10 and another £1.50 was added to the fee in 2014. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to End to discounts for zero-emission vehicles Increased congestion charge to become permanent London congestion charge increase begins
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Congestion Charge set to rise by 20% to £18
The Congestion Charge should rise by a fifth to £18, Transport for London (TfL) has 2 January, the daily £15 fee for drivers of vehicles in central London will increase, the first such rise since June 2020 when the charge jumped 30% from £ the charge is not paid within 48 hours, drivers face a penalty of £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 of electric cars, who currently travel free in the zone, were expecting to start paying the full charge from December but will now receive a 25% discount provided they are registered for auto pay. HGVs will get a 50% discount. TfL is also proposing to raise fares annually in line with public transport fares, which usually increase with Hall said without the changes at least 2,200 more vehicles would drive in the zone each weekday while TfL said the increase would be "effective in managing traffic and congestion in central London".Applications for new residents' discounts from petrol and diesel car owners are set to be abolished altogether in March 2027. A public consultation will run until 4 August. What changes for electric vehicles? Currently, these motorists pay nothing to drive in central from January - provided they are registered for auto pay - electric car drivers will pay £13.50 a day (25% discount) while HGVs, light quadricycles and heavy quadricycles will pay £9 (50% off).In March 2030, the discounts will drop to 25% and 12.5% had previously announced plans to end the Congestion Charge exemption for electric vehicles May, a report from Stonehaven Global warned that abolishing this discount for electric vehicles could "threaten to undo years of air quality gains and risk an 11% rise in nitrogen oxides across central London". What about the residents' discount? From March 2027 and for new applicants only, the residents' discount will be abolished for anyone not driving an electric residents driving non-electric cars receive a 90% Congestion Charge says: "Those who are already registered for the discount ahead of this date will not see any changes, reflecting that they might be reliant on their current form of transport." Is Ulez affected? of older, more polluting vehicles already pay £12.50 to travel anywhere within the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez), which was expanded to cover all of London's boroughs in August latest changes mean if you drive one of these vehicles in central London, it will cost you £30.50 a top of this, if you use either the Silvertown or Blackwall tunnels, that will cost up to £4 each way at peak times.
