Electric vehicles and congestion charges

A congestion charge is a fee paid by drivers to help reduce traffic in certain areas of a city, usually in and around the city centre.

Technically, London is the only city in the UK with a congestion charge – officially known as the London Congestion Charge. The capital also has two other, separate fees: one for its Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and another for its Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). These are not congestion charges but are aimed at reducing vehicle emissions.

In some other cities, there are charges for driving in Clean Air Zones (CAZ), which are similar to London’s LEZ and ULEZ in that they target vehicle emissions rather than traffic congestion. Therefore, LEZ and ULEZ can be considered types of Clean Air Zone charges, as they are designed to improve air quality by regulating vehicle emissions.

The difference between a congestion charge and a Clean Air Zone charge is that:

• The congestion charge is designed to help reduce traffic.
• The Clean Air Zone charge is designed to help reduce traffic emissions.

However, we’ll use "congestion charge" to refer to all these fees, except when referencing charges in London.

Whether you need to pay a congestion charge or similar fee depends on three factors: where you drive, when you drive, and what you drive. This information is correct as of March 2025, however it is subject to change.

The London Congestion Charge

This is a fee for driving within the Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ) in central London:

Learn more about London's Congestion Charge at the Transport for London website ^{Footnote [1]}.

London’s LEZ and ULEZ charges

The fee for London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ), which mainly targets larger vehicles like buses and lorries. This is in effect 24/7 and focuses on emissions. Depending on your vehicle, you’ll need to meet either Euro 6 or Euro 3 emissions standards to avoid paying in the LEZ ^{Footnote [1]}.

There's the fee for the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). This is like the LEZ fee but with stricter rules. Petrol cars need to meet Euro 4 standards and diesel cars have to hit Euro 6 standards. Vehicles with emissions above permitted levels may be charged a daily ULEZ fee.

Clean Air Zones charges

Following London’s example, seven other cities in the UK have introduced charges for Clean Air Zones. This is correct as of March 2025, however it is subject to change.

You might need to pay to drive in a clean air zone if your vehicle does not meet emissions standards. Let’s take a look at how they work in two different cities – Birmingham and Bath.

Birmingham

The rules here are pretty simple. If a vehicle doesn’t meet the emissions standards, there is a daily fee to drive in the Clean Air Zone for cars, taxis, vans, coaches, buses, and HGVs. Birmingham's Clean Air Zone (CAZ) was launched on June 1, 2021. The charges are £8 per day for cars, taxis, and vans, and £50 per day for coaches, buses, and HGVs.

You can pay the charge online using the Government's payment system or by calling the Government's Clean Air Zone team on 0300 029 8888. Payments can be made up to 6 days before, on the day of travel, or up to 6 days after driving in the zone.

The charges information above is correct as at March 2025, however it is subject to change.

Bath

In 2021, it introduced a Clean Air Zone to help cut emissions in the city centre.

You will only be charged a fee to drive in Bath's Clean Air Zone if you drive a taxi, private hire vehicle, van, light goods vehicle, bus, coach, or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) that does not meet the required emission standards. Cars and motorbikes are not charged in Bath's CAZ, regardless of their emissions, unless they are used as taxis or private hire vehicles.

If you’re driving in another city, you can find out whether you’ll be charged at some local council websites or on the government website dedicated to Clean Air Zones charges ^{Footnote [1]}.

Whether electric vehicle drivers have to pay congestion charges depends primarily on the vehicle's emissions.

For London's Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), the fees are based on how polluting the vehicle is. This is also true for many Clean Air Zones across the country, with some exceptions. If you drive a fully electric EV, hybrid, or other low-emission vehicle, it's less likely you'll have to pay these charges.

Regarding the London Congestion Charge, it applies regardless of the vehicle type if you drive in central London during certain hours. However, battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell cars may qualify for a lower rate with the Cleaner Vehicle Discount, which is set to end on December 24, 2025.

Our car insurance covers your electric vehicles and its accessories as well. Term and conditions apply. And with our comprehensive cover, the RAC can take you to the nearest charge point if you run out of charge. ^{Footnote [2]}