Congestion Charge PCN: how to challenge a Congestion Charge fine
The London Congestion Charge rose to £18 a day on 2 January 2026 — and electric cars, which used to pay nothing, now pay £13.50 with Auto Pay or the full charge without it. Miss the charge and TfL sends a £180 Penalty Charge Notice, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days of service. Here is how to check it and how to challenge it.
Official TfL links
- Challenge a Congestion Charge PCN ↗ — within 28 days of service
- Pay a PCN ↗
- Pay the Congestion Charge ↗ — up to 90 days ahead, or by midnight on the third day after
- Zone map and charging hours ↗
Congestion Charge PCN — key facts
- Daily charge
- £18 paid in advance or on the day; £21 if paid by midnight on the third day after
Source: Transport for London · from 2 January 2026 · verified
- Charging hours
- 7am–6pm Mon–Fri; 12pm–6pm weekends and bank holidays; none from Christmas Day to the New Year’s Day bank holiday
Source: Transport for London · current · verified
- Electric cars
- 25% discount (£13.50) — only if registered for Auto Pay
Source: Transport for London (Notice 02/26) · from 2 January 2026 · verified
- Penalty
- £180 — £90 if paid within 14 days of service; £270 after a charge certificate
Source: Transport for London · current · verified
- Challenge
- Representations to TfL within 28 days of service
Source: Transport for London · current · verified
- Independent appeal
- Road User Charging Adjudicators (London Tribunals), free, within 28 days of a Notice of Rejection
Source: London Tribunals · current · verified
What changed in 2026
If you drive an electric car that used to be exempt and haven’t registered for Auto Pay, you are now charged in full — and a PCN follows if it isn’t paid in time.
- The daily charge rose to £18 (or £21 if paid in the three days after travel) on 2 January 2026.
- The old Cleaner Vehicle Discount ended on 25 December 2025. Electric cars now get 25% off only if registered for Auto Pay; electric vans, HGVs and quadricycles get 50%.
- From 1 March 2027, new applicants for the 90% residents’ discount will only get it for electric vehicles; existing holders keep it for all vehicle types.
- From 4 March 2030, the discount for electric cars on Auto Pay falls to 12.5%.
“No charge was payable” — the ground people miss
The Congestion Charge only applies inside the zone during charging hours. A journey outside 7am–6pm on a weekday or 12pm–6pm at the weekend or on a bank holiday, or between Christmas Day and the New Year’s Day bank holiday, isn’t chargeable. Nor is a vehicle that is exempt or registered for a 100% discount — such as a Blue Badge holder’s registered vehicle (registration costs £10, for up to two vehicles) or a London-licensed taxi. If any of these applied, no penalty charge is payable.
The six grounds for challenging a Congestion Charge PCN
These are the grounds in the Road User Charging (Enforcement and Adjudication) (London) Regulations 2001. There is no “procedural impropriety” or “mitigating circumstances” ground, so lead with evidence that one of these applies.
- You paid the Congestion Charge for that vehicle and day — give the receipt or your Auto Pay record.
- No penalty charge is payable — the journey was outside the zone or the charging hours, or the vehicle was exempt or registered for a 100% discount.
- You were not the registered keeper at the time — you had sold the vehicle, or bought it later.
- The vehicle was used without your consent — stolen, or on cloned plates.
- The penalty is more than the amount that applies.
- You are a vehicle hire firm and the hirer signed a statement of liability.
How to challenge it, step by step
- 1
Check the time, place and vehicle
Compare the date, time and location on the PCN with the charging hours and the zone, and check the images against your vehicle.
- 2
Find the payment or discount record
Your receipt, Auto Pay statement, or the confirmation of a registered discount such as the Blue Badge 100% discount.
- 3
Make a representation within 28 days
Challenge online or by post, choosing the ground that fits. TfL freezes the PCN at the amount outstanding while it investigates.
- 4
Appeal to the adjudicator if rejected
You have 28 days from the Notice of Rejection to appeal free to the Road User Charging Adjudicators at London Tribunals.
Work out your Congestion Charge PCN deadlines
Enter the date on the notice to see the likely service date, the last day to pay £90 and the 28-day deadline.
Open the free calculator →Congestion Charge PCN — frequently asked questions
How much is a Congestion Charge fine?
£180, reduced to £90 if you pay within 14 days of the PCN being served, and increased to £270 after a charge certificate.
Do electric cars pay the Congestion Charge now?
Yes. The Cleaner Vehicle Discount ended on 25 December 2025. Since 2 January 2026, electric cars get a 25% discount (£13.50) only if registered for Auto Pay; otherwise they pay the full charge.
What are the Congestion Charge hours?
7am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 12pm to 6pm at weekends and on bank holidays. There is no charge between Christmas Day and the New Year’s Day bank holiday.
How long do I have to pay the Congestion Charge?
You can pay up to 90 days in advance or on the day of travel (£18), or by midnight on the third day after travel (£21). After that, a PCN can be issued.
Does TfL have to reply to a Congestion Charge challenge within 56 days?
No — the road user charging regulations set no deadline for TfL’s decision and no rule that an unanswered representation is accepted. TfL freezes the PCN at the amount outstanding while it investigates.
Can Blue Badge holders avoid the Congestion Charge?
Yes, with a 100% discount — but only once registered. Registration costs £10 and covers up to two vehicles.
Challenge your Congestion Charge PCN
AppealIQ writes your representation to TfL on the right statutory ground — and an appeal statement for the Road User Charging Adjudicators if TfL rejects it.
1 free letter every month, then £2.99 per extra letter — no subscription. See pricing
Related guides
AppealIQ is an independent service and is not connected to Transport for London or London Tribunals. This guide is general information, not legal advice; amounts and rules are shown with their source and the date we checked them — always go by the notice you received and the official site.