Great news for ‘Greener Vehicle’ drivers: 100 per cent discount from Congestion Charge

On 20 October 2010, Transport from London announced the introduction of a Greener Vehicle 100 per cent Discount from the Congestion Charge with effect from 4th January 2011. You must register with Transport for London to apply for the discount and make an annual £10 payment per vehicle.

The Mayor of London has also decided to remove the Western Extension of the Congestion Charging zone and to introduce a number of other changes to the remaining scheme, which take effect from 4 January 2011.

Greener Vehicle Discount

From 4 January, you'll be able to register with Transport for London (TfL) for the Greener Vehicle Discount (GVD) which will allow a 100 per cent discount for cars that emit 100g/km or less of CO2 and that meet the Euro 5 standard for air quality.  In addition, plug in electric hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) as well as full electric vehicles (EVs) will be eligible for the electric vehicle 100 per cent discount.

What is a Euro 5 vehicle?

Any car first registered with the DVLA as new on or after 1 January 2011 would be considered to meet the Euro 5 standard, but there may be cars registered before this date that also meet the standard.

Review of GVD in 2012

Over the course of the next 12 to 18 months, TfL anticipate that new electric and hybrid electric plug-in vehicles will be brought to market with significantly lower emission levels.  TfL will monitor developments in the market and keep discount criteria under review with the intention of reducing the discount levels to 80g/km or lower when the time is right.  The review of discount criteria will be carried out in 2012.

Charge increase

From 4 January 2011, the daily Congestion Charge is:
•    £10 if paid in advance or on the day of travel
•    £12 if paid by midnight the charging day after travel
•    £9 if registered for Congestion Charging Auto Pay

Removal of the Western Extension

From the end of the charging day on 24 December 2010 the Congestion Charging zone will be smaller. The Western Extension will be removed from the charging zone and you'll no longer have to pay the charge if you drive in this area.

Congestion Charging Auto Pay

Congestion Charging Auto Pay is an automated payment system which will be introduced from 4 January 2011. You can pre-register online from 22 November 2010 but you must first register with TfL for Congestion Charging. An annual £10 registration charge per vehicle applies to sign up to CC Auto Pay.

CC Auto Pay automatically records the number of charging days a vehicle travels within the charging zone each month and takes the charge from a registered debit or credit card on a monthly basis. You can nominate up to five vehicles for each CC Auto Pay account and drivers of these vehicles pay a reduced £9 daily charge.

Because the payment is automated, account holders will not run the risk of receiving any Congestion Charge Penalty Charge Notices for vehicles registered to your CC Auto Pay account, as long as it remains active.

The Alternative Fuel Discount (AFD)

If you have an AFD discount in place on 24 December 2010 you'll continue to receive the 100 per cent discount until December 2012. New registrations for the AFD will close on 24 December 2010.

If you are considering buying a new or current model of car, you can check a vehicle's CO2 emissions (g/km) and Euro Standard on the Vehicle Certification Agency's website.