Discounts and exemptions

Proposed changes to the Congestion Charge

As part of proposed changes to encourage active travel in central London, we are not processing new applications for the residents' discount.

Once the proposed changes have been confirmed, we will review any applications made by new residents after 18 May 2020.

If you applied for a provisional residents' discount before 18 May 2020, you can still provide documents to complete your application.

Eligibility

To qualify for the 90% residents' discount you must live within the Congestion Charge residents' discount zone.

Our location checker will confirm if your address is within the residents' discount zone.

You can continue to apply if you live within the Congestion Charge residents' discount zone AND:

• Your name is shown on either the Parliamentary or local government electoral register
• Your main or permanent home is in the Congestion Charging zone
• The property is used for residential purposes
• You are at least 17 years old

If you are adding a vehicle it must be registered with the DVLA in your name and at the address you are using to apply for the discount

OR you can register a company or lease vehicle if it is for your sole use only

OR if you don't own a vehicle, you can register if you occasionally use a hire or recognised car club vehicle.

Documents you need to provide

You need to provide evidence of BOTH the address and discount vehicle.

Address documents

To show that you live in the Congestion Charge zone you need to provide an image or copy of 2 of the following:

• A current resident's on-street parking permit or a parking permit approval letter (must show the number plate/Vehicle Registration Mark)
• A residential council tax bill (valid for the current year)
• Your income support entitlement letter (no more than 7 months old)
• A bank or credit card statement (no more than 3 months old)
• A formal tenancy agreement or housing association rent document (dated within the last 12 months)
• A current utility bill, for example a gas, water or electricity bill (no more than 3 months old, mobile phone bills are not accepted)
• Your driving licence (must contain the address you are using to register for the residents' discount)

Vehicle documents

You will also need to provide an image or copy of 1 document from the list below:

Your own private vehicle:

• Your V5C vehicle registration certificate (logbook). (The vehicle must also be registered with the DVLA in your name and at the address you are using to apply for the residents' discount)

Company car:

• A company car authorisation letter - this must be on company headed paper, state your full name, the number plate (Vehicle Registration Mark) and confirm that the vehicle is for your use only. (The vehicle must be registered in the company name with the DVLA)

Lease vehicle:

• Vehicle lease document - this is the document that you signed to lease the vehicle. (The vehicle must be registered in the lease company name with the DVLA)

A company car provided by a lease company:

• Your company's vehicle lease document (this is the document that you signed to lease the vehicle)

AND

• A company car authorisation letter - this must be on company headed paper, state your full name, the number plate (Vehicle Registration Mark) and confirm that the vehicle is for your use only. (The vehicle must be registered in the company or lease name with the DVLA)

All documents must be clear enough to read easily. If we can't read them we may ask you for more proof. This will delay the registration process.

T-Charge

A residents' discount entitles you to a 90% discount from the T-Charge until 25 October 2021. After that, if your vehicle still doesn't meet the emissions standards you must pay the Ultra Low Emission Zone charge.

Cost

There is an annual £10 registration charge for this discount.

Residents may find it quicker and easier to pay the Congestion Charge with Auto Pay. You'll only pay for the days that you drive within the zone, rather than paying for a weekly, monthly or annual charge in advance.

Find out about Auto Pay.

If you hold a valid Blue Badge in the European Economic Area, you're eligible to register for a 100% discount, even if you don't own a vehicle or drive. (If you have an organisation Blue Badge or are applying on behalf of another person, for example a child, please see 'Applying for Blue Badge discount on behalf of someone else' below).

You can register up to two vehicles that you would normally use to travel within the Congestion Charge zone. This could be your own vehicle, or one you travel in.

You can apply for a discount online but you'll need to supply certain documents to show you're entitled to the discount.

Documents you need to provide

You need to provide us with a copy of both sides of your Blue Badge plus one of the following proofs of identity:

• DSS benefit entitlement letter (less than 7 months old)
• Current passport
• Current driver's licence
• Pension book/entitlement letter (less than 7 months old)
• Birth certificate (same first and last names as the Blue Badge. Not a Certificate of Registration of Birth)
• Marriage certificate (same first and last names as the Blue Badge)
• Current bank or credit card Statement (no more than 3 months old)
• Deed Poll Certificate (same first and last names as the Blue Badge)

You can upload images of these documents as part of your online application, or you can send copies by post or email later on.

Until we confirm your application is successful you must pay the charge for journeys within the zone.

Cost

You have to pay £10 to register for the Blue Badge discount. This will need to be renewed in line with your Blue Badge expiry date. As long as you renew within 90 days after the expiry date, you will not need to make a further payment.

Renewing your Blue Badge discount

We will notify you when your discount is due to expire. You will be able to renew your discount online once you have received this notification.

If you can provide all of the Blue Badge discount documents required you can apply online now.

This 100% discount applies to breakdown vehicles operated by organisations in the European Economic Area that are accredited to BS EN ISO9001:2008 (and in accordance with the specification for applying that standard to the industry).

You can apply for the discount online. You will need to upload copies of your current BS EN ISO9001:2008 certification along with your PAS 43 certification to support your application.

Cost

Once your discount has been approved you can log onto your account and add your vehicles at a cost of £10 per vehicle. Once added the vehicle will be subject to the 100% discount until the expiry date of your discount.

When the discount expires you will need to pay a further £10 to renew each vehicle for another year.

Renewing your accredited breakdown discount

We will notify you when your discount is due to expire. You will be able to renew your discount online once you have received this notification.

If you can provide us with all your accredited breakdown discount documents you can apply online now.

Vehicles with nine or more seats are eligible for 100% discount of the Congestion Charge.

You need to register with us for your 100% discount if your vehicle is not licensed with the DVLA as a bus (taxation classes 'buses' and 'reduced pollution buses').

You also need to register with us if your vehicle with nine or more seats is registered outside the UK but within the European Economic Area. 

You can apply for a discount online, but you'll need to supply certain documents to show you're entitled to the discount.

Documents you need to provide

You will need to upload images or send photocopies of these documents to apply for the discount:

• A V5C - this is the vehicle registration document (logbook) that the DVLA sends you. If you are from outside of the UK, please send a copy of the vehicle registration document issued by your vehicle licensing agency

You also need to prove that the vehicle has 9 seats or more. Provide a copy of 1 of the following documents:

• The vehicle's MOT certificate
• The vehicle's CIF or COIF (Certificate of Initial Fitness)
• Your insurance document
• Another proof that shows the number of seats

You can upload images of these documents as part of your online application, or you can send copies by post or email later on.

Cost

You have to pay £10 to register each vehicle for the discount. This must be renewed every year.

Renewing your 9+ seater discount

We will notify you when your discount is due to expire. You will be able to renew your discount online once you have received this notification.

If you can provide us with all your 9+ seater discount documents you can apply online now.

(Formerly Ultra Low Emission Discount (ULED))

Currently, only vehicles that meet Euro 6 standards (petrol and diesel), that emit no more than 75g/km of CO2 and have a minimum 20 mile zero emission capable range will qualify for the 100% cleaner vehicle discount.

From 25 October 2021, the cleaner vehicle discount will change so that only battery electric vehicles are eligible. Then from 25 December 2025, the cleaner vehicle discount will be discontinued. From this date, all vehicle owners, unless in receipt of another discount or exemption, will need to pay to enter the Congestion Charge zone during charging hours.

Check if you qualify until 24 October 2021

You can check the CO2 emissions of your car on the V5C registration document. If the Euro standard of your vehicle is not shown on the V5C you can check it with the franchised dealer or the vehicle manufacturer.

You also qualify if your vehicle is registered with the DVLA and has a fuel type of 'electric' (you can check this on the V5C registration document the DVLA sent you), or alternatively, if your vehicle is a 'plug-in hybrid' and has been approved as an ultra-low emission vehicle by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles. You can find more information at the Office for Low Emissions Vehicles website.

You can find out more about low emission vehicles on the Go Ultra Low website.

If your vehicle is a 'plug-in hybrid' you will need to supply a conformity certificate as part of your application.

You can apply for a discount online, but you'll need to supply certain documents to show you're entitled to the discount.

Documents you need to provide?

You will need to upload images or send photocopies of the following documents to apply for the discount:

UK-registered

• V5C vehicle registration certificate (logbook) issued by the DVLA

Non-UK registered

• The vehicle registration document issued by your vehicle licensing agency

The document must clearly show that the vehicle:

• Meets the Euro 6 emission standard
• Emits less than or equal to 75g/km of CO2
• Has a minimum 20 mile zero emission capable range

OR

• Is registered as fuel type 'electric'

Petrol hybrid vehicles only

You must also submit a photocopy of the conformity certificate as provided by the vehicle dealership.

You can upload images of these documents as part of your online application, or you can send copies by post or email later on.

Cost

You have to pay £10 to register each vehicle for the discount. This will need to be renewed every year.

Renewing your cleaner vehicle discount

We will notify you when your discount is due to expire. You will be able to renew your discount online once you have received this notification.

If you can provide us with all your cleaner vehicle discount documents you can apply online now.

If you have a motor tricycle which is one metre or less wide, and two metres or less long, it is eligible for a 100% discount.

To apply for the discount you will need to provide images of your vehicle (front, back and side) showing the number plate (Vehicle Registration Mark) along with a copy of the V5C registration document (logbook).

You can upload images of these documents as part of your online application, or you can send copies by post or email later on.

Once we've approved your application and your discount is active, you can drive within the zone for free.

Cost

You have to pay £10 to register each vehicle for the discount. This will need to be renewed annually.

Renewing your motor tricycle discount

We will notify you when your discount is due to expire. You will be able to renew your discount online once you have received this notification.

To qualify for this 100% discount the vehicle must be registered with the DVLA and have a taxation class of 'recovery vehicle'.

You can apply for a discount online, If your recovery vehicle is registered with the DVLA as tax class 47 and our records show this, you can set up your discount without any further evidence.

If our records do not show that your vehicle is registered with the DVLA as a recovery vehicle, we will ask you to submit an image of the V5C vehicle registration certificate (logbook) - the document sent by the DVLA or DVA - to show that the vehicle is eligible for the discount.

Cost

You have to pay £10 to register each vehicle for the discount. This will need to be renewed every year.

Renewing your roadside recovery vehicle discount

We will notify you when your discount is due to expire. You will be able to renew your discount once you have received this notification.

If you can provide us with all your roadside recovery discount documents you can apply online now.