By David Furness
London drivers, brace yourselves for a significant change. A new daily fee of £15 will soon be a reality for those travelling in the city. This development will directly impact your daily commute and financial planning.
Prepare for a significant shift in London’s congestion charge policy. In the coming year, a new congestion charge will be rolled out, affecting a substantial number of vehicles—approximately 100,000. This is a significant change from the current 112,318 vehicles that benefit from Congestion Charge exemptions, a discount that will be discontinued from December 25, 2025.
The Congestion Charge is a £15 daily fee that drivers must pay in certain areas in London for travelling in the city, on top of any Ulez (Ultra Low Emission Zone) fees for non-compliant vehicles.
Electric vehicles currently benefit from a Cleaner Vehicle Discount, allowing them to avoid paying the £15 fee. However, this discount will end next year. As a result, 112,318 vehicles will soon have to pay the £15 fee if they drive within the designated zone during the specified times:
– Monday to Friday: between 7 am and 6 pm
– Weekends: between 12 pm and 6 pm
According to a Freedom of Information request, Transport for London (TfL) charged 43,937 vehicles congestion fees daily last year. Meanwhile, 68,312 cars received a discount, and 57,796 Blue Badge holder vehicles were exempt from paying. The discount was initially introduced to encourage the use of electric vehicles and reduce emissions in the city.
TfL explained that removing the discount is part of a phased approach to improving road traffic emissions in the capital. The new congestion charge is designed to work with the Ultra Low Emission Zone, aiming to reduce air pollution and improve public health in London.
TfL stated that, within 18 months of the discount’s end, the number of vehicles eligible for the Cleaner Vehicle Discount (CVD) will likely increase significantly. So, continuing to provide the CVD would undermine the benefits of the Congestion Charge. TfL said, “Electric vehicles are not exempt from the Congestion Charge but are entitled to a 100% discount. This discount is subject to registration with TfL. Ending (the 100% discount rate) CVD will maintain the effectiveness of the Congestion Charge, which is in place to manage traffic and congestion in the heart of London.”
Have you noticed the confusing language used by Transport for London? TfL is saying that there will be no exemptions. Currently, electric vehicles have a 100% discount, while non-compliant cars have a 0% discount. Therefore, TfL wants everyone to believe they will not remove the Cleaner Vehicle Discount from electric vehicles; it’s just that their 100% discount rate will be ended and replaced with a new discount rate of 0%.
The long-term war on motorists must stop! We have the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone) and the Congestion Charge in London. Now, Sadiq Khan is preparing for the biggest-ever 20mph speed limit rollout. Some drivers purchased electric cars believing they were doing the right thing, but now realise there is no escape from Khan’s war on motorists.
Far-left politicians, such as Sadiq Khan, are pushing for policies that will significantly reduce the number of cars on the road, impacting lower-income drivers. Soon, only the wealthy will be driving in London.
In 2022, Khan proposed implementing a pay-per-mile driving charge. However, he said he would not introduce such a scheme just weeks before the London Mayoral election in May 2024. Despite this, an official transport strategy document has surfaced which contradicts his denials. The document indicates that he is legally committed to implementing a pay-per-mile system.
I suspect that Sadiq Khan has been caught up in net zero mania. Therefore, it wouldn’t be surprising if he imposed an extra tax on all petrol and diesel cars driving in London.
During the London Mayoral election campaign, voters were warned about Khan’s policies regarding motorists, but these warnings were ignored. Londoners elected him for a third term. He now has the power to enact any policies he desires. Unfortunately, due to the influence of the Labour Party and the London Mayor, living in London has become a dystopian nightmare for many.
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Hopefully the British Public will realise what a mistake they made by voting for Starmer’s rabble and gormlessly gave that snivelling weasel Khan a 3rd term