Do I pay the ULEZ and London Congestion Charge at Christmas?

With more of us heading into London to see events enjoy days out and visit family over Christmas, motoring journalist and expert Pete Barden looks at if you will need to pay the London Congestion Charge and ULEZ charge when driving in the capital at weekends and on bank holidays.

Find out if you will need to pay up to £30 to drive in London on Christmas Day as you visit friends

What is the London Congestion Charge and what times do I pay it?

The London Congestion Charge is a Transport for London (TfL) payment that drivers must make simply for driving in London.

The Congestion Charge zone operates 7:00-18:00 Monday-Friday and 12:00-18:00 Sat-Sun and bank holidays

The daily charge is £15 if paid in advance or by auto pay, or £17.50 if paid by midnight of the third charging day after travel in the London Congestion Charge Zone

From 2 January 2026, the daily Congestion Charge will increase to £18.00 (if paid on the day) or £21.00 (if paid within 3 days).

Payment for this can only be online, by app or by phone. 

What is the ULEZ charge and what times do I pay it?

If your car does not meet minimum emissions standards when driving within the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), a further £12.50 must also be paid alongside the Congestion Charge.

The ULEZ charge operates from midnight to midnight seven days a week.

Similar schemes are appearing in cities across the UK, such as in Bristol and Oxford, where drivers are also charged depending on emissions.

Is the Congestion Charge and ULEZ payable on weekends?

Yes - both charges apply to 'qualifying' motorists driving in London on all weekends - Saturday and Sunday - aside from the festive period, when the Congestion Charge is suspended for a week, and the ULEZ for Christmas Day.

However, the hours the Congestion Charge operates are shorter at weekends. The charge is payable 12:00-18:00 Sat-Sun and bank holidays

Is the ULEZ and Congestion Charge paid on bank holidays?

Aside from Christmas Day, the ULEZ is paid on all bank holidays. 

The London Congestion Charge is paid on all spring and summer bank holidays, but is suspended over the Christmas period.

The Congestion Charge is payable 12:00-18:00 Sat-Sun and bank holidays

Do I pay the London Congestion Charge on Christmas Day?

The Congestion Charge will be suspended on Christmas Day, so motorists will not need to pay the charge when driving to see friends and family etc. on the big day. 

Please note, Christmas Eve is classed as a normal day, and drivers entering on 24 December will need to pay the charge when grabbing those last-minute gifts.

Will I have to pay the London Congestion Charge over the rest of the Christmas holidays?

If you’re driving in central London over the festive season, you don’t need to pay the Congestion Charge between Thursday 25 December 2025 and Thursday 1 January 2026 inclusive. The daily fee will resume on Friday, 2 January 2026.

During these free days, you can drive in the Congestion Charge zone without paying, but other fees such as ULEZ or tolls may still apply.

However, drivers of older cars must note that the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will be payable on all days across the festive period, other than Christmas Day when it will be suspended for one day. Check if your car is covered by the ULEZ charge here

Will I have to pay the ULEZ over Christmas?

The Ultra Low Emission Zone, which operates across all London boroughs except the M25, will not be suspended on Thursday 25 December only.

The Low Emission Zone, which takes in most of Greater London, will operate as usual, including on Thursday 25 December.

Will I have to pay the ULEZ on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day?

Yes - the ULEZ will be payable as normal on these days in 2025/26. The only day that motorists will not have to pay the ULEZ is Christmas Day itself.

Is the ULEZ and Congestion Charge paid over Easter?

Yes - no treats for drivers, the Congestion Charge and ULEZ apply as normal on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.

Do I have to pay the ULEZ charge if I live in London?

All residents across London will be forced to pay the ULEZ charge if they drive non-compliant cars. The expanded ULEZ zone does not include exemptions for motorists who live in the capital. 

How do I pay the ULEZ and Congestion Charge?

The easiest way to pay is to use the online system where you enter your car registration number and make payment. Pay the London ULEZ or Congestion Charge online here.

You can also pay by phone using these numbers.

UK: 0343 222 2222 (TfL call charges)
International:+44 343 222 2222
Textphone: 020 7649 9123 (impaired hearing)

Lines open:

Monday to Friday: 08:00-20:00
Closed on weekends and bank holidays

When did the ULEZ expand to cover all or London?

The ULEZ expanded to include all of London on 29 August 2023. This saw hundreds of thousands more motorists having to pay the charge just for living in or driving in London if their vehicle does not comply with current requirements - typically if you drive a petrol vehicle more than 16 years old or a diesel vehicle more than 6 years old

The move saw the scheme's previous boundary expand from the North and South Circular roads to encompass all of Greater London from August 29, 2023.

An estimation from Khan's mayoral office says that 135,000 new vehicles would be hit with the daily charge - earning around £1.7million each day for TfL. 

If you live in London or qualify for certain exemptions, you may be able to claim £2,000 for cars and up to £5,000 for a van or minibus if your current vehicle does not reach minimum standards. Find out if you can apply for the London ULEZ scrappage scheme here. 

When is the expanded ULEZ be payable?

From the end of August 2023, you will need to pay it at all times except Christmas Day, as is currently the case. See above for full details and charges. 

Check if your address is included in the expanded ULEZ

Enter your postcode in the tool on this page to see if you will be included in the new ULEZ charging area - if you are you could claim scrappage cash to put towards a new car. 

What is the fine if I forget to pay the ULEZ or London Congestion Charge? And the fine is going up soon

You will not get any reminders if you need to pay the ULEZ or Congestion Charge, so fines are common. 

• Penalty Charge Notice (PCN): £180
  If you don’t pay the Congestion Charge by midnight on the third day after travel in the zone, TfL issues a PCN.

• Discount: Pay the PCN within 14 days and it’s reduced to £90. Transport for London+1

• If You Still Don’t Pay:

  • The charge increases (for example, a charge certificate may be issued and the total due goes up).

  • If still unpaid, TfL can register it as an unpaid debt and pursue further enforcement.

Both ULEZ and Congestion Charge PCNs are civil penalties (not criminal), but ignoring them can lead to enforcement agents being instructed to collect — including vehicle seizure in extreme cases.

Is the London Congestion Charge expanding like the ULEZ?

At present, it is just the ULEZ that has expanded to cover most of Greater London, with the Congestion Charge staying the same for now. However, this could change at any time, so make sure you check back or sign up for our alerts below.