London congestion charge could rise to £18 a day under new proposals
London’s congestion charge could rise by 20% next year under new proposals, in the first hike since 2020.
Transport for London (TfL) has started a consultation on behalf of London mayor Sadiq Khan to increase the daily charge from £15 to £18 from January 2026.
The fee was last put up five years ago, with a 30% rise from £11.50.
Combined with the £12.50 ultra-low emission zone charge, owners of older cars would have to pay £30.50 a day to drive in the capital.
TfL said the cost could rise annually by 2026 and the proposed 20% rise is below the inflation increase for the six years it will have been since the last rise.
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The congestion charge applies to central London. Pic: TfL
A second proposal is a new cleaner vehicle discount which will see a 50% discount for electric vans, heavy goods vehicles and quadricycles using Auto Pay and a 25% discount for electric cars using Auto Pay.
Currently, all electric vehicles can drive through the congestion zone for free but that is set to end on Christmas Day this year.
The proposal also suggests electric vehicles should get less of a discount by 4 March 2030, with 25% for the first set of vehicles and 12.5% discount for electric cars.
TfL said the discounts would be applied automatically based on DVLA data so eligible customers will no longer have to register for the cleaner vehicle discount and pay a registration fee.
Electric cars would no longer get a 100% discount under the plans. Pic: XPENG
A third proposal would affect residents not using an electric car, as the current 90% blanket residents’ discount would be removed from 1 March 2027.
TfL said this would be appropriate to “incentivise” residents to own “the cleanest available vehicles”.
However, it said the removal of the 90% discount for non-EVs would only apply to new applicants, so those already registered for the residents’ discount would not have to pay the charge each day.
The consultation, which runs until 4 August on TfL’s “have your say” website, said the changes will make the congestion charge “more effective in managing traffic and congestion”.
“The mayor also has ambitions for London to become a net-zero carbon city by 2030 and for the World Health Organisation’s air quality guidelines to be achieved as soon as possible,” it adds.
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‘ULEZ is not anti-car’, says Mayor
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.”
Ken Livingstone introduced the congestion charge in 2003. Pic: PA
The congestion charge zone was first introduced by Ken Livingstone in 2003 at £5 a day and was doubled in 2010, then rose again in 2014 to £11.50.
The zone is one of the largest in the world, despite it being reduced in 2007 and 2011.
In 2019, the ultra-low emission zone was introduced for vehicles that do not meet the emissions standards, so they must pay both charges.
It was expanded in 2023 to cover the whole of Greater London.
Failure to pay the congestion charge on time can mean a fine of between £65 and £195.
A 53-year-old man has been charged after a car was driven into a crowd at Liverpool FC’s trophy parade.
Paul Doyle, from the West Derby area of Liverpool, has been charged with seven offences, Merseyside Police said.
The businessman, who is a father-of-three, is accused of two counts of unlawful and malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and two counts of causing unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Paul Doyle
Doyle is also accused of two counts of attempted unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and one count of dangerous driving.
He is due to appear before Liverpool Magistrates Court on Friday.
The charges relate to six people, including two children. A wounding charge and an attempted grievous bodily harm charge relate to a child.
A police car was outside Doyle’s four-bedroom detached family home in the West Derby area on Thursday morning.
According to his social media, he has travelled extensively including Japan, Fiji, India and Australia. Doyle has posted pictures of himself competing in triathlons, and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
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New Liverpool incident footage
Thousands of fans were gathered in Liverpool city centre on Monday to celebrate the Premier League champions’ title win when a car struck a crowd on Water Street.
Police said a total of 79 people were injured in the incident, with the youngest aged nine, and the oldest being a 78-year-old.
Seven people remain in hospital in a stable condition.
Forensic officers at the scene in Water Street. Pic: PA
‘Huge volume of evidence’
Chief crown prosecutor for the CPS Mersey-Cheshire, Sarah Hammond, told a news conference on Thursday that the investigation was at an early stage and a “huge volume of evidence” was being reviewed.
“This includes multiple pieces of video footage and numerous witness statements. It is important to ensure that every victim gets the justice they deserve.
“The charges will be kept under review as the investigation progresses.”
Police ‘working tirelessly’
Also at the briefing where the charges were announced was Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Jenny Sims, who said: “I fully understand how this incident has left us all shocked and saddened, and I know many will continue to have concerns and questions.
“Our detectives are working tirelessly, with diligence and professionalism, to seek the answer to all of those questions. When we are able to, we will provide further information.”
The youngest victim injured in the Liverpool parade crash on Monday is nine years old, police have said.
They added that the oldest is 78, with all 79 people injured understood to be British. Seven remain in hospital in a stable condition.
Merseyside Police declined to say what drug the 53-year-old man arrested over the incident is alleged to have taken.
“We wouldn’t go into this detail at this stage of the investigation,” the force said.
Police at the scene in Liverpool. Pic: AP
Forensic officers in Water Street. Pic: PA
Police are still questioning the driver and were granted further time to do so on Wednesday.
Officers have until Thursday evening to question the man from West Derby.
He is in custody on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and drug driving.
Police believe the car which struck pedestrians was able to follow an ambulance crew attending to someone suffering a heart attack after a road block was temporarily lifted.
Hundreds of thousands of Liverpool fans had turned out to celebrate their team’s Premier League title when the incident unfolded on Water Street just after 6pm on Monday.
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‘My boy in his pram, got bounced’
‘The best day of my life turned into worst’
Sky News interviewed a lifelong Liverpool fan who said his five-month-old son was “bounced” 15ft (4.6m) in his pram after they were hit by the vehicle.
The child was not counted in the police’s injury tally.
Daniel Eveson, 36, also said his partner had been driven over.
“The best day of my life turned into [the] worst,” Mr Eveson said.
He added: “Me and my partner were flat on the roof, on the bonnet… we were just both trying to hold on for dear life with Ted next to us.
“And my partner went under the wheels of the car, of the front of the car, and it rolled over her leg, and I just bounced off to the side, but my boy and his pram got bounced totally in the opposite direction – about 15ft down the road.”
Read more:
How the parade crash unfolded
Police given more time to question Liverpool suspect
Why police released ‘unprecedented’ details
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Liverpool to meet with police chiefs and the local metro mayor.
He said he was being kept informed of developments, adding: “The scenes on Monday were just awful, to see how incredible joy at an amazing achievement turned to horror in a moment.”
Messages of support have been sent to the people of Liverpool, including from the King who said: “I know that the strength of community spirit for which your city is renowned will be a comfort and support to those in need.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales said they were “deeply saddened” by the incident.
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