Sadiq Khan is planning to hit drivers in the wallet again – this time with a bigger Congestion Charge, a new daily fee for electric vehicles, and a rule change that would let TfL raise the charge automatically every year without asking the public.
Under the latest Transport for London (TfL) proposals, the cost of driving into central London will jump from £15 to £18 a day from January 2026. And for the first time, electric cars will have to pay, losing their exemption.
TfL is also proposing a major behind-the-scenes change: future increases would be linked to inflation and wouldn’t require a new public consultation.
The plans are currently open to public feedback — but only until Monday 11 August 2025.
So what exactly is changing?
£3 more per day for everyone
The standard Congestion Charge will rise to £18 per day. If you pay late (up to three days after travel), the charge increases to £21.
Electric vehicles to start paying
Electric cars, which have so far been exempt, will now have to pay:
- £13.50 per day for electric cars
- £9.00 per day for electric vans and HGVs
From March 2030, those discounts will be halved again, meaning electric cars will pay £15.75. You’ll need to be signed up to Auto Pay to get the discount.
Residents’ Discount only for EVs (for new sign-ups)
At the moment, residents living inside the Congestion Charge Zone get a 90% discount, whatever they drive. From 1 March 2027, only electric vehicles will qualify for that discount — but only for new applicants.
If you’re already registered by that date, you can keep your discount — even if you change vehicles — as long as you renew on time and meet the rules.
Automatic price rises
TfL also wants to change the rules so that it can increase the charge each year in line with inflation (CPI) — without having to consult the public again.
Why is this happening?
TfL says the changes are needed to keep the Congestion Charge effective. When it was first introduced in 2003, traffic in central London fell by nearly a third. But with more people switching to electric vehicles, as well as five years of rising costs, TfL says the system needs updating.
According to TfL, without the Congestion Charge and related policies, there would have been 3 million extra car journeys in London in 2019 alone. According to TfL, last year congestion cost London £3.85 billion, or £942 per driver.
The changes also support the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, which aims for 80% of all journeys in London to be made by walking, cycling or public transport by 2041, and for the city to be net zero by 2030.
What happens next?
The consultation is open until Monday 11 August 2025. After that, TfL will review responses and make final recommendations to the Mayor.
You can read the full details and have your say here: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/congestion-charge-proposals
What do they expect? EVs occupy the same roads pace as a petrol/diesel vehicle and cause tge same amoynt of congestion, so complaining about the congestion charge is just silly.