Congestion Charge Carnage in London

The War on Drivers Just Escalated!

Here we go again. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse for London’s drivers, Transport for London (TfL)has proposed yet another stinger to your wallet – and this one might be the final straw. Under the finite wisdom of our Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, the Congestion Charge is set to be hiked from £15 to a staggering £18 per day from 2 January 2026. That’s a 20% increase, in case you’re counting – but don’t worry, there’s more to this tale of a convoluted tide of motoring misery.

Welcome to London’s Paywall. Because let’s be honest, that’s exactly what this is becoming.

🚗 From Public Charge to Digital Paywall

Remember when you visit some websites, and suddenly you are hit with a paywall before reading the article? Annoying, right? Well, now it’s happening in the real world. London, essentially, is getting its own invisible paywall, and it’s not just irritating – it’s financially crippling.

TfL says this will reduce congestion and emissions. But as someone who grew up in London, I know these streets well, and I’m not entirely convinced that the congestion isn’t being caused by incompetent or deliberate bad traffic management, infrastructure and badly timed roadworks. C’mon this isn’t just about clean air. It’s about cash!

This move is forecast to generate £30 million more in revenue. That’s not congestion control. That’s a fund-raising exercise wrapped in a high-vis vest.

🔌 Electric Vehicles: No Longer Exempt

If you thought switching to an EV would save you, think again. Under the new proposal:

• EVs lose their full exemption from the Congestion Charge
• They’ll now pay £13.50 per day if they’re registered for Auto Pay
• Vans and HGVs will get a 50% discount – but that still means £9 daily

And get this — those discounts won’t last. From March 2030, they’ll be cut further:

• EVs: down to 12.5% off
• Commercial vehicles: down to 25% off

Yes, even the “green” ones are being squeezed. We were told to go electric, and now we’re being penalised for doing the “right thing”!

‘The ULEZ Files’ A Novel

🧾 Resident Discounts? Not Anymore!

One of the biggest bombshells is the scrapping of the 90% discount for residents – but only for new residents moving into the Congestion Charge zone after March 2027, and only if they own petrol or diesel vehicles.

Existing residents seem to have got away with it… for now. But how long before that lifeline is cut too?

📈 Annual Increases Are the New Normal

Here’s the real kicker: unlike previous increases that came sporadically, this new model will see annual price hikes, pegged to inflation. Let that sink in: the charge could become £20, £25, or more by 2030. Want to add in ULEZ (£12.50) and maybe a tunnel toll? You could be looking at £35–£40 just to pop into the city for a fancy pizza.

🚧 Poor Planning = Manufactured Congestion?

London is already one of the most congested cities in Europe. But who’s really to blame? Poor infrastructure planning, endless roadworks, baffling LTNs, bottleneck-inducing cycle lanes, and zig-zagging contraflows.

Is this really about managing traffic? Or are they creating congestion in order to justify the charges?

🎭 A Night Out in the City? Think Again

Let’s say you want to head into the West End for dinner or a show. You’re paying £100+ for tickets, £100+ for food, and now £30+ just to drive in and out? Add rain, cold, and concerns about public transport late at night… and suddenly you’re thinking, “Is it even worth it?”

This isn’t just affecting motorists. It’s strangling the very life out of London’s economy and nightlife. Tourism, hospitality, small businesses – all collateral damage in the war on wheels.

And the more they push, the more people will be pushed away – not just from central London, but eventually from driving altogether. Is that the plan after all?

💬 Let’s Talk

What do you think?

• Are these changes justified?
• Should EVs still be exempt?
• Is this smart urban policy or a straight-up cash grab?

👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
📢 Share this with every London driver you know!

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