Charges & zones
What it costs to drive across the river and into London. Rates checked June 2026 — charges change, so always confirm on the official page before you travel.
Charged river crossings
Most central London bridges (Tower, Westminster, Waterloo, Putney and the rest), the Woolwich Ferry and the Rotherhithe Tunnel are free to cross. Only these charge:
Carries the M25 across the Thames between Dartford (Kent) and Thurrock (Essex) — QEII Bridge southbound, tunnels northbound.
| Car / small van (≤3.5t) / motorhome | £3.50 | £2.80 with account |
|---|
| Two-axle goods vehicle (over 3.5t) | £4.20 | £3.60 with account |
|---|
| Multi-axle HGV / coach | £8.40 | £7.20 with account |
|---|
| Motorcycle | Free | — |
|---|
- When
- Charged 06:00–22:00 every day (including weekends and bank holidays). Free 22:00–06:00. No barriers — ANPR cameras read your plate.
- Paying
- Pay by midnight the day after you cross, or up to 30 days ahead. A prepay account saves about 20% per crossing.
- Good to know
- These rates rose on 1 Sept 2025. Non-payment PCN: £70 (£35 if paid within 14 days). Dartford/Thurrock residents can buy a £25/year unlimited pass.
Official details & pay →Twin tunnels under the Thames on the A102 between the Greenwich Peninsula and Tower Hamlets/Newham. Charges began 7 April 2025 when Silvertown opened.
| Motorcycle / moped | £1.50 off-peak | £2.50 peak |
|---|
| Car / small van | £1.50 off-peak | £4.00 peak |
|---|
| Large van | £2.50 off-peak | £6.50 peak |
|---|
| Heavy goods vehicle | £5.00 off-peak | £10.00 peak |
|---|
- When
- Charged 06:00–22:00 every day, both directions, per crossing. Free 22:00–06:00 and on Christmas Day. Peak (Mon–Fri) is northbound 06:00–10:00 and southbound 16:00–19:00.
- Paying
- The off-peak rate needs TfL Auto Pay — without it you pay the peak rate at all times. Pay by midnight on the third day after crossing.
- Good to know
- Same charge for both tunnels, so using both in a day means paying twice. Black cabs, buses and emergency vehicles are exempt; Blue Badge holders get a 100% discount; residents of 12 East London boroughs and the City get 50% off.
Official details & pay →London driving zones
Congestion Charge
£18 / day- When
- Mon–Fri 07:00–18:00; Sat, Sun and bank holidays 12:00–18:00. No charge between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
- Where
- Central London only — roughly Mayfair to Tower Bridge (east–west) and Euston Road to Vauxhall (north–south).
- Who pays
- Almost all vehicles. The daily charge rose from £15 to £18 on 2 Jan 2026, and the old 100% electric-vehicle exemption ended on 25 Dec 2025. EV cars on Auto Pay now get 25% off (about £13.50); electric vans and HGVs on Auto Pay get 50% off (about £9).
- Good to know
- Residents inside the zone get a 90% discount. Non-payment PCN: £180 (£90 if paid within 14 days).
Official details & pay →ULEZ — Ultra Low Emission Zone
£12.50 / day- When
- 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day.
- Where
- All Greater London boroughs, up to (but not including) the M25.
- Who pays
- Older cars, motorcycles and vans up to 3.5t that don’t meet the standard — broadly petrol Euro 4 (most cars from 2006) and diesel Euro 6 (most from Sept 2015). Fully electric vehicles are exempt. It applies on top of the Congestion Charge in the centre.
- Good to know
- Charged once per day no matter how far you drive. Non-payment PCN: £160 (£80 if paid within 14 days). Check your reg on the TfL vehicle checker.
Official details & pay →LEZ — Low Emission Zone
£100–£300 / day- When
- 24 hours a day, every day including Christmas Day.
- Where
- All Greater London (a wider area than the centre; excludes the M25).
- Who pays
- Heavier diesel vehicles only — lorries/HGVs and vans/specialist vehicles over 3.5t, buses/coaches/minibuses over 5t, plus larger vans from 1.2t. The standard is Euro VI for the heaviest vehicles and Euro 3 (particulates) for larger vans. Ordinary cars and small vans are not affected — they fall under the ULEZ instead.
- Good to know
- The charge is £100 or £300/day depending on how far the vehicle misses the standard. Non-payment PCNs are much higher here — up to £500–£2,000.
Official details & pay →Not affiliated with TfL or National Highways. Charges, boundaries and exemptions change — confirm your vehicle and the current rate with the TfL vehicle checker and the official pages above before travelling.