# ULEZ, Clean Air Zones, the Congestion Charge and tolls

url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/clean-air-zones-and-road-charges/
updated: 29 September 2026
licence: Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Figures: each source's own licence, listed under Sources.
publisher: [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk)

# ULEZ, Clean Air Zones, the Congestion Charge and tolls



Last updated 29 September 2026.
Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/).





The London **Congestion Charge is £18 a day** and the **ULEZ £12.50** for vehicles that do not meet its standard. The Congestion Charge made net income of £210m in 2024–25. By law, that net income must be spent on transport in London, and Clean Air Zone income on the council's transport policies. The **Dart Charge (£3.50)** is different: its money goes to the Department for Transport and is not tied to the crossing.



Figure as of 22 September 2026. Source:
[Operators and councils](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-a-clean-air-zone), [legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/).





## Key figures



- £18London Congestion Charge, a day

▲
As of 2 January 2026
- £12.50London ULEZ, a day, for vehicles that do not meet the standard

▬
As of 8 April 2019
- £210mCongestion Charge net income

▼
2024–25
- £3.50Dart Charge for a car, one crossing

▬
As of 1 September 2025
- £592Nottingham workplace parking levy, per space a year


As of 1 April 2026




Source: [Operators and councils](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-a-clean-air-zone).






## What do London’s Congestion Charge and ULEZ cost?



£18
London Congestion Charge, a day
▲



In force since 2 January 2026. Source:
[Operators and councils](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-a-clean-air-zone). Checked by hand 22 September 2026.



£12.50
Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), a day
▬



In force since 8 April 2019. Source:
[Operators and councils](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-a-clean-air-zone). Checked by hand 22 September 2026.







**The London Congestion Charge since 2003**








The 2011 and 2014 rises took effect in January 2011 and June 2014; official pages give the year only, so the day shown is the commonly reported one. The 100% discount for electric vehicles ended on 25 December 2025.




**The numbers behind this chart**





| From | Daily charge |
| --- | --- |
| 2003-02-17 | £5 |
| 2005-07-04 | £8 |
| 2011-01-04 | £10 |
| 2014-06-16 | £11.5 |
| 2020-06-22 | £15 |
| 2026-01-02 | £18 |
| 2026-09-29 | £18 |






Figure as of 22 September 2026. Source:
[Operators and councils](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-a-clean-air-zone).






| Scheme | Where | Charge | Year on year | Penalty | Who pays |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| London Congestion ChargeDetails | Central London Congestion Charge zone | £18 a day (paid on the day or in advance; £21 if paid by midnight of the third day after travel) | +£3 (+20.0%) | £180 | Most motor vehicles driven in the zone during charging hours, unless exempt or discounted |
| WhereCentral London Congestion Charge zoneYear on year+£3 (+20.0%)Penalty£180Who paysMost motor vehicles driven in the zone during charging hours, unless exempt or discounted | | | | | |
| Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)Details | All London boroughs (London-wide since 29 Aug 2023) | £12.50 a day (non-compliant cars, motorcycles, vans up to 3.5t) | no change | £180 | Vehicles that do not meet ULEZ emission standards |
| WhereAll London boroughs (London-wide since 29 Aug 2023)Year on yearno changePenalty£180Who paysVehicles that do not meet ULEZ emission standards | | | | | |






### What does this mean for you?



If you drive a vehicle that does not meet the ULEZ standard, how many days a year do you drive in the zone?


Days a year
days



50 days a year in the ULEZ would cost **£625.00** at £12.50 a day. If those days are also in the central zone during Congestion Charge hours, the two together come to **£1,525.00**.



Both are daily charges. The Congestion Charge is £18 if paid on the day or in advance, and more if paid later. Vehicles that meet the standard pay no ULEZ charge.



Figure as of 22 September 2026. Source:
[Operators and councils](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-a-clean-air-zone).








**London Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone**



Ring-fenced by law Transport for London, to be spent on transport under the Mayor's Transport Strategy.



[Greater London Authority Act 1999, Schedule 23, paragraph 16](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/29/schedule/23/paragraph/16)

the net proceeds of the scheme shall ... be available only for application for relevant transport purposes by any one or more of the following bodies, namely— (a) the Authority; (b) Transport for London; or (c) a London borough council.




Legal position as of 22 September 2026. Source:
[legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/). Checked by hand 22 September 2026.






## What do Clean Air Zones in England charge?



A Clean Air Zone charges older, more polluting vehicles to enter. Which vehicles pay depends on the class
of zone: only Birmingham and Bristol charge private cars. Greater Manchester dropped its planned charging
zone in 2025.





| Scheme | Where | Charge | Year on year | Penalty | Who pays |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Birmingham Clean Air ZoneDetails | Birmingham (inside A4540 Middleway) | £8 a day, cars, vans, taxis; £50/day coaches, buses, HGVs | no change | £120 | Non-compliant cars, taxis, vans (£8) and coaches, buses, HGVs (£50); class D includes private cars |
| WhereBirmingham (inside A4540 Middleway)Year on yearno changePenalty£120Who paysNon-compliant cars, taxis, vans (£8) and coaches, buses, HGVs (£50); class D includes private cars | | | | | |
| Bristol Clean Air ZoneDetails | Bristol city centre | £9 a day, cars, taxis, LGVs; £100/day HGVs, buses, coaches | — | £120 | Non-compliant private cars, taxis, LGVs (£9); HGVs, buses, coaches (£100) |
| WhereBristol city centreYear on year—Penalty£120Who paysNon-compliant private cars, taxis, LGVs (£9); HGVs, buses, coaches (£100) | | | | | |
| Bath Clean Air ZoneDetails | Bath city centre | £9 a day, taxis, PHVs, minibuses, vans/LGVs; £100/day coaches, buses, HGVs | — | — | Non-compliant taxis/PHVs, minibuses, vans (£9); coaches, buses, HGVs (£100). Private cars and motorbikes not charged. |
| WhereBath city centreYear on year—Penalty—Who paysNon-compliant taxis/PHVs, minibuses, vans (£9); coaches, buses, HGVs (£100). Private cars and motorbikes not charged. | | | | | |
| Bradford Clean Air ZoneDetails | Bradford (inside and including outer ring road, plus Shipley/Saltaire corridor) | £7 a day, taxis/PHVs; £9 LGVs, minibuses, small campervans; £50 HGVs, buses, coaches | — | — | Non-compliant hackney carriages/PHVs (£7), LGVs/minibuses (£9), HGVs/buses/coaches (£50). Private cars not charged. |
| WhereBradford (inside and including outer ring road, plus Shipley/Saltaire corridor)Year on year—Penalty—Who paysNon-compliant hackney carriages/PHVs (£7), LGVs/minibuses (£9), HGVs/buses/coaches (£50). Private cars not charged. | | | | | |
| Portsmouth Clean Air ZoneDetails | Portsmouth (south-west of city) | £10 a day, taxis/PHVs; £50/day HGVs, buses, coaches | — | £120 | Non-compliant taxis/PHVs (£10) and HGVs, buses, coaches (£50). Private cars, motorcycles and vans not charged. |
| WherePortsmouth (south-west of city)Year on year—Penalty£120Who paysNon-compliant taxis/PHVs (£10) and HGVs, buses, coaches (£50). Private cars, motorcycles and vans not charged. | | | | | |
| Sheffield Clean Air ZoneDetails | Sheffield inner ring road and city centre | £10 a day, taxis, LGVs; £50/day buses, coaches, HGVs | — | — | Non-compliant taxis and LGVs (£10); buses, coaches, HGVs (£50); large campervans may get £10 rate. Private cars not charged. |
| WhereSheffield inner ring road and city centreYear on year—Penalty—Who paysNon-compliant taxis and LGVs (£10); buses, coaches, HGVs (£50); large campervans may get £10 rate. Private cars not charged. | | | | | |
| Newcastle and Gateshead (Tyneside) Clean Air ZoneDetails | Newcastle and Gateshead city centres | £12.50 a day, taxis, vans, LGVs, minibuses; £50/day buses, coaches, HGVs | — | — | Non-compliant taxis, vans, buses, coaches, HGVs. Private cars not charged. |
| WhereNewcastle and Gateshead city centresYear on year—Penalty—Who paysNon-compliant taxis, vans, buses, coaches, HGVs. Private cars not charged. | | | | | |








**Clean Air Zone charges and penalties, and the workplace parking levy (England)**



Ring-fenced by law the council, and only for its local transport policies.



[Transport Act 2000, Schedule 12, paragraph 8(2)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/38/schedule/12)

The share of the net proceeds is available only— (a) for application by the authority for the purpose of directly or indirectly facilitating the achievement of local transport policies of the authority


An earlier limit of ten years on this ring-fence for local schemes was repealed by the Local Transport Act 2008 from 9 February 2009. The ring-fence now has no time limit for local schemes.




Legal position as of 22 September 2026. Source:
[legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/). Checked by hand 22 September 2026.






## How do Scotland’s Low Emission Zones work?



Scotland's zones do not charge to enter: non-compliant vehicles are banned, and the ban is enforced by a
penalty that doubles for each repeat within 90 days, up to a cap.





| Scheme | Where | Charge | Year on year | Penalty | Who pays |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Glasgow Low Emission ZoneDetails | Glasgow city centre | — | — | £60 | Owners of non-compliant vehicles that enter the zone (no pay-to-enter option) |
| WhereGlasgow city centreYear on year—Penalty£60Who paysOwners of non-compliant vehicles that enter the zone (no pay-to-enter option) | | | | | |
| Edinburgh Low Emission ZoneDetails | Edinburgh city centre | — | — | £60 | Owners of non-compliant vehicles that enter the zone (no pay-to-enter option) |
| WhereEdinburgh city centreYear on year—Penalty£60Who paysOwners of non-compliant vehicles that enter the zone (no pay-to-enter option) | | | | | |
| Dundee Low Emission ZoneDetails | Dundee city centre | — | — | £60 | Owners of non-compliant vehicles that enter the zone (no pay-to-enter option) |
| WhereDundee city centreYear on year—Penalty£60Who paysOwners of non-compliant vehicles that enter the zone (no pay-to-enter option) | | | | | |
| Aberdeen Low Emission ZoneDetails | Aberdeen city centre | — | — | £60 | Owners of non-compliant vehicles that enter the zone (no pay-to-enter option) |
| WhereAberdeen city centreYear on year—Penalty£60Who paysOwners of non-compliant vehicles that enter the zone (no pay-to-enter option) | | | | | |








**Low Emission Zone penalties in Scotland**



Ring-fenced by law the council, only to further the zone's objectives, then to repay grants.



[Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, section 27](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2019/17/section/27)

Any monies received from penalty charges in respect of a low emission zone scheme may be applied by the local authority only for the purposes of— (a) facilitating (directly or indirectly) the achievement of the scheme's objectives, and (b) if (and only if) any surplus remains, making any repayments




Legal position as of 22 September 2026. Source:
[legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/). Checked by hand 22 September 2026.






## What do tolls and the Dart Charge cost?




**The Dartford Crossing charge for a car, one-off payment**










**The numbers behind this chart**





| From | Car |
| --- | --- |
| 2012-10-01 | £2 |
| 2014-11-30 | £2.5 |
| 2025-09-01 | £3.5 |
| 2026-09-29 | £3.5 |






Figure as of 22 September 2026. Source:
[Operators and councils](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-a-clean-air-zone).






| Scheme | Where | Charge | Year on year | Penalty | Who pays |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dart Charge (Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing, A282)Details | Dartford Crossing, Kent/Essex | £3.50 a crossing, car (one-off/pay-as-you-go); £2.80 with pre-pay account | no change | £70 | Vehicles using the crossing (motorcycles free). One-off prices: 2-axle vans and goods vehicles £4.20; multi-axle £8.40 |
| WhereDartford Crossing, Kent/EssexYear on yearno changePenalty£70Who paysVehicles using the crossing (motorcycles free). One-off prices: 2-axle vans and goods vehicles £4.20; multi-axle £8.40 | | | | | |
| Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee bridgesDetails | Runcorn-Widnes (Halton) | £2.40 a crossing, Class 2 car/van unregistered (£2.30 video-registered, £2.15 sticker-registered) | no change | £50 | Cars, vans, trucks, buses (local buses and motorcycles free); Halton residents LUDS plan £12/yr |
| WhereRuncorn-Widnes (Halton)Year on yearno changePenalty£50Who paysCars, vans, trucks, buses (local buses and motorcycles free); Halton residents LUDS plan £12/yr | | | | | |
| Humber Bridge Not verifiedDetails | Hull-Barton upon Humber | £2 a crossing, car, non-account (£1.50 with account) | — | — | Cars, vans, HGVs; motorcycles free |
| WhereHull-Barton upon HumberYear on year—Penalty—Who paysCars, vans, HGVs; motorcycles free | | | | | |
| Tamar Bridge and Torpoint FerryDetails | Plymouth-Cornwall | £3 a crossing, car, cash/card (£1.50 with TamarTag); paid eastbound only | no change | — | Vehicles crossing eastbound into Devon |
| WherePlymouth-CornwallYear on yearno changePenalty—Who paysVehicles crossing eastbound into Devon | | | | | |
| M6 TollDetails | West Midlands (M6 relief road) | £12 per journey, Class 2 car, all 3 zones, standard tariff (£10.20 with breeze account); 1 zone £6.90 | — | — | Users who choose the road |
| WhereWest Midlands (M6 relief road)Year on year—Penalty—Who paysUsers who choose the road | | | | | |
| Severn Crossings (M4 Prince of Wales Bridge, M48 Severn Bridge)Details | England-Wales | £0 Free since tolls abolished | — | — | Nobody |
| WhereEngland-WalesYear on year—Penalty—Who paysNobody | | | | | |
| Nottingham Workplace Parking LevyDetails | Nottingham City | £592 per liable workplace parking place per year (employers with 11+ places) | — | — | Employers providing 11 or more liable workplace parking places. Employers with 10 or fewer places need a licence but get a 100% discount. |
| WhereNottingham CityYear on year—Penalty—Who paysEmployers providing 11 or more liable workplace parking places. Employers with 10 or fewer places need a licence but get a 100% discount. | | | | | |








**Dart Charge (Dartford Crossing)**



Paid to a named body the Department for Transport, which counts it against its overall transport spending. It is not tied to the crossing or any other project.



[Transport Act 2000, Schedule 12, paragraph 13](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/38/schedule/12)

the Secretary of State's share of the net proceeds is available only for application for the purpose of directly or indirectly facilitating the achievement of any policies or proposals relating to transport.


The Dart Charge accounts say income is appropriated in aid of DfT spending and is "not hypothecated to specific programmes or projects".




**Local bridge tolls (Mersey Gateway, Tamar)**



Kept by the body that collects it the bridge authority, to pay for building, running and maintaining the crossing.
Not verified



Local charging orders and bridge Acts






**M6 Toll and private parking charges**



Private money, not public private companies. Not public money.



[Private concession (M6 Toll); contract law and the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 (private parking)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/8/section/5)






Legal position as of 22 September 2026. Source:
[legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/). Checked by hand 22 September 2026.






## What do they raise, and what do they cost to run?




**Where the Congestion Charge's net income comes from, 2024–25**



- + Income, including penalties

£342m
- + Less the cost of running it

−£132m
- = Net income, to be spent on London transport

£210m




TfL’s figures include penalty income without splitting it out. Every scheme with published figures is in the table below.




**Show as a table**





| Part | £ |
| --- | --- |
| Income, including penalties | £342m |
| Less the cost of running it | −£132m |
| Total: Net income, to be spent on London transport | £210m |






Figure as of 22 September 2026. Source:
[Operators and councils](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-a-clean-air-zone).






| Scheme | Year | Income | Of which penalties | Costs | Net | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| London Congestion ChargeDetails | 2023–24 | £346m | — | £110m | £236m | |
| Year2023–24Of which penalties—Costs£110mNet£236m | | | | | | |
| London Congestion ChargeDetails | 2024–25 | £342m | — | £132m | £210m | |
| Year2024–25Of which penalties—Costs£132mNet£210m | | | | | | |
| London Congestion ChargeDetails | 2025–26 | £354m | — | — | — | |
| Year2025–26Of which penalties—Costs—Net— | | | | | | |
| Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)Details | 2023–24 | £602m | — | £432m | £170m | LEZ+ULEZ combined |
| Year2023–24Of which penalties—Costs£432mNet£170mNoteLEZ+ULEZ combined | | | | | | |
| Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)Details | 2024–25 | £600m | — | £474m | £126m | LEZ+ULEZ combined |
| Year2024–25Of which penalties—Costs£474mNet£126mNoteLEZ+ULEZ combined | | | | | | |
| Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)Details | 2025–26 | £476m | — | — | — | ULEZ only, charge and enforcement, unaudited |
| Year2025–26Of which penalties—Costs—Net—NoteULEZ only, charge and enforcement, unaudited | | | | | | |
| Bristol Clean Air ZoneDetails | 2025 (calendar) | £6.90m | £12.90m | £6.28m | £13.50m | penalty income derived as total less daily charges |
| Year2025 (calendar)Of which penalties£12.90mCosts£6.28mNet£13.50mNotepenalty income derived as total less daily charges | | | | | | |
| Glasgow Low Emission ZoneDetails | 2024–25 | — | £0.76m | £0.61m | £0.14m | |
| Year2024–25Of which penalties£0.76mCosts£0.61mNet£0.14m | | | | | | |
| Edinburgh Low Emission ZoneDetails | 2024–25 | — | £1.05m | £0.26m | £0.79m | costs = £552,789 total revenue costs less £295,196 grant-funded |
| Year2024–25Of which penalties£1.05mCosts£0.26mNet£0.79mNotecosts = £552,789 total revenue costs less £295,196 grant-funded | | | | | | |
| Dart Charge (Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing, A282)Details | 2023–24 | £131m | £91.00m | £149m | £72.30m | |
| Year2023–24Of which penalties£91.00mCosts£149mNet£72.30m | | | | | | |
| Dart Charge (Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing, A282)Details | 2024–25 | £127m | £128m | £177m | £78.00m | costs include £94.7m impairment of enforcement receivables |
| Year2024–25Of which penalties£128mCosts£177mNet£78.00mNotecosts include £94.7m impairment of enforcement receivables | | | | | | |
| Nottingham Workplace Parking LevyDetails | 2023–24 | £10.32m | — | £0.55m | £9.77m | |
| Year2023–24Of which penalties—Costs£0.55mNet£9.77m | | | | | | |
| Nottingham Workplace Parking LevyDetails | 2024–25 | £10.96m | — | £0.62m | £10.34m | |
| Year2024–25Of which penalties—Costs£0.62mNet£10.34m | | | | | | |





Schemes report in different ways and some not at all. TfL's income figures include penalty income
without splitting it out, and its audited net figure combines the ULEZ with the lorry Low Emission Zone.
Bristol reports by calendar year. Where a scheme's revenue could not be found in an official report, it
is left out rather than estimated.



Checked 22 September 2026. Source:
[Operators and councils](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-a-clean-air-zone). Checked by hand 22 September 2026.





## Are road charges about air and traffic, or money?





### The case for the schemes



- Charges fall as compliance rises, which is the stated aim: a successful zone raises less each year.
- Net income is ring-fenced to transport in London and for Clean Air Zones.
- Pricing road space is the standard economic answer to congestion.





### The case against



- Costs fall on people who cannot afford a newer vehicle.
- Enforcement income can be a large share of the total, as at the Dartford Crossing.
- Dart Charge money is not tied to the crossing, decades after the bridge was paid for.








## Common questions


Where does ULEZ money go?
To Transport for London. Under Schedule 23 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, net proceeds can only be spent on transport purposes under the Mayor's Transport Strategy.Where does Dart Charge money go?
To the Department for Transport, which counts it against its overall spending. The scheme accounts say it is not hypothecated to specific projects.





## Sources for this page





| Source | Publisher | Figures as of | Updated | Licence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Operator, council and TfL pages; TfL and Dart Charge accounts](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-a-clean-air-zone) | Operators and councils | 22 September 2026 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |
| [legislation.gov.uk and official guidance, provision by provision](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/) | legislation.gov.uk | 22 September 2026 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0 (legislation.gov.uk)](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |





Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations
are ours, under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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Published by [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). The figures belong to the publishers listed under Sources and are used under their licences. Figures last updated 29 September 2026.