Sadiq Khan launching new driving changes today as thousands face daily road charges for first time

Although the Congestion Charge is not in place on Christmas Day itself, the exemption officially expires today, meaning electric vehicle drivers will start feeling the impact as soon as charging resumes.

The change was approved by Sir Sadiq Khan in November, with the Mayor stating that the CVD was always intended to be temporary.

More than 112,000 vehicles are currently registered for the Cleaner Vehicle Discount, compared with just over 20,000 when the scheme launched.

London's Mayor explained how keeping London moving by reducing congestion would be "vital for our city and for our economy".

"While the Congestion Charge has been a huge success since its introduction, we must ensure it stays fit for purpose, and sticking to the status quo would see around 2,200 more vehicles using the congestion charging zone on an average weekday next year," he warned.

From January 2, 2026, a new, tiered discount system will replace the full exemption, with EV owners needing to sign up to Transport for London's Auto Pay system to qualify for any reduction at all.

TfL will also increase the standard daily Congestion Charge from £15 to £18 if paid on the day or in advance, and to £21 three days after travel.

Electric car drivers who register for Auto Pay will receive a 25 per cent discount, reducing the daily charge to £13.50. Electric vans, lorries and quadricycles will receive a bigger 50 per cent discount, to pay just £9.

However, the authority stated that anyone who fails to sign up for Auto Pay will lose all discounts and will be charged the full £18.

The Congestion Charge zone operates between 7am and 6pm on weekdays, and from noon to 6pm on weekends and bank holidays.

Conservative London Assembly member Susan Hall has accused the Mayor of targeting motorists and questioning whether the policy was about raising money rather than tackling congestion.

This was denied by Sir Khan, who said the purpose was to reduce congestion, rather than tackle emissions, unlike the Ulez.

Paul Barker, editor of Auto Express, said: "With the Congestion Charge changes starting, drivers need to be aware now because the costs will add up fast if they do nothing. For electric vehicle drivers in particular, going from paying nothing to potentially £90 a week will come as a real shock.

"EV buyers have already lost their exemption from the luxury car tax, and now this. Removing the Congestion Charge exemption will hit ordinary drivers hard – especially those who moved to an EV specifically to avoid such charges and reduce their environmental impact."

From March 2030, electric cars will only get a 12.5 per cent discount, while vans and heavy vehicles will see their discount slashed to 25 per cent.

From March 2027, only residents driving electric vehicles will be able to apply for the 90 per cent Residents' Discount. Existing residents already receiving the discount will be allowed to keep it, regardless of what they drive, as long as they renew each year.

The Mayor has also updated guidance to allow Congestion Charge rises in line with Tube fares without a full public consultation, subject to approval from TfL and City Hall.

Christina Calderato, TfL's Director of Strategy, said: "If we want to ensure that London remains a thriving city for everyone to enjoy, then it's vital that traffic and congestion are kept under control and managed effectively.

"The changes to the Congestion Charging scheme play a key role in allowing us to do that, while striking a careful balance that enables drivers, businesses and other organisations to continue transitioning to cleaner vehicles and more sustainable forms of transport."