London CC & ULEZ 2025: key dates

Summary (for fleet managers)

• Congestion Charge (CC): £15 per vehicle per day. Hours: 07:00–18:00 Monday–Friday; 12:00–18:00 Saturday–Sunday & bank holidays. Suspended 25 December–1 January each year.
• EV discount ends 25 December 2025: fleets lose the Cleaner Vehicle Discount (CVD) → expect full CC costs from 2 January 2026.
• ULEZ (£12.50/day) continues 24/7 for non-compliant ICEs. Zero-emission fleets remain exempt.

What changed & why it matters for fleets

• Budget shift: From January 2026, each EV entering central London incurs a £15 daily charge (unless TfL introduces a new fleet scheme). For a vehicle entering 150 days/year this equals a £2,250 annual cost per EV.
• CVD sunset: Until 24 December 2025, registered EVs pay £0. After that date, registration admin (£10 fee) no longer matters because the discount ends.
• Future risk: TfL consultation hints at a potential £18/day CC — model both £15 and £18 scenarios in fleet budgets.
• ULEZ continuity: No change for EVs — still exempt. Non-compliant ICEs remain a £12.50/day liability (stacking with CC where applicable).

Who is affected

• Urban delivery / service fleets: Daily central London trips mean recurring CC cost per vehicle.
• Corporate fleets with HQ or clients in the CCZ: Even occasional entries stack quickly across multiple vehicles.
• Leasing/broker clients: EV lease deals negotiated in 2025 should include 2026 CC exposure in TCO discussions.

Scenarios for fleet managers

1. 15 EV vans entering the CCZ 100 days/year each → £22,500 annual CC exposure from 2026.
2. Mixed fleet: 5 EVs (exempt in 2025, charged from 2026) + 3 Euro 5 diesels (ULEZ + CC) → 2025 cost: £3,750 ULEZ only; 2026 cost: ~£10,500 combined CC + ULEZ.
3. Occasional access: 1 EV car, 20 trips/year → £300 CC line item to budget from 2026.

Strategic actions (recommended)

• Budget now: Include a £15/day line item in 2026 TCO/WLC models for each EV operating in the CCZ.
• Route optimisation: Re-plan deliveries or visits to reduce entries; batch appointments within the CCZ.
• Client pricing: Pass CC cost as a service surcharge where justified.
• Monitor TfL consultation: Stay alert to fleet-specific discounts or exemptions post-2025.
• Communicate internally: Drivers and dispatchers must know that EVs are no longer “free” in central London after December 2025.

FAQ (fleet-focused)

Do EV fleet vehicles pay the Congestion Charge in 2025?

No — if registered for the Cleaner Vehicle Discount, EVs are free until 25 December 2025. Because the CC is suspended 25 December–1 January, the first payable day is 2 January 2026.

How should I budget for 2026?

Assume £15 per vehicle per entry from January 2026. Model £18/day as a risk scenario based on TfL consultation.

Do I need to keep vehicles registered for the Cleaner Vehicle Discount?

Yes, but only until December 2025. After that, registration no longer provides financial benefit.

What about ULEZ?

ULEZ is separate: non-compliant ICEs still owe £12.50/day, 24/7. EVs remain exempt. Both charges can apply on the same day for ICEs entering the CCZ.

Can fleets expect new exemptions?

Unclear. TfL is consulting on post-2025 rules. For now, assume no fleet exemption and budget conservatively.