Congestion Charge Operating Hours 2025
Updated 1 March 2025
The London Congestion Charge does not apply 24 hours a day. Understanding exactly when it operates can save you money — particularly if you can schedule journeys outside charge hours.
Current operating hours (2025)
| Day | Hours | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Monday – Friday | 7:00am – 6:00pm | £15.00 |
| Saturday | 12:00pm – 6:00pm | £15.00 |
| Sunday | 12:00pm – 6:00pm | £15.00 |
| Bank holidays | All day | No charge |
| Christmas Day | All day | No charge |
Outside these hours, you can drive within the CCZ without paying the congestion charge (though ULEZ and LEZ still apply to eligible vehicles).
Key things to know
Overnight travel is free. If you drive into the zone after 6pm, you will not be charged — you can leave before 7am the next morning without incurring a charge either.
Saturday mornings are free. On Saturdays, the charge only applies from noon. Morning errands before 12pm are free of the congestion charge.
Bank holidays are always free. All UK bank holidays are exempt, regardless of which day they fall on. This includes Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday, and Christmas.
The hours changed in 2021. Prior to June 2020, the charge applied Monday–Friday, 7am–6pm only. Weekend charging was introduced in June 2020 and became permanent in 2021.
Auto Pay and daily payment deadlines
- Daily payment: Must be made by midnight on the day of travel (or by midnight the following day if you travelled on a Sunday or a day before a bank holiday).
- Auto Pay: Automatically charged the day after travel. No action required once registered.
Does ULEZ apply at different hours?
Yes. The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year — including bank holidays. It is a separate charge from the Congestion Charge and operates independently.
If you drive a non-compliant vehicle within the ULEZ boundary (which covers all of Greater London), you will be charged £12.50 regardless of the time or day.