An information sign
Congestion charging zone entrance
A red disc with a white 'C' marks the entrance to a charging zone. In London it's the Congestion Charge - drive into the central zone during charging hours and you have to pay.
01
What it means
The 'C' means a congestion charging zone starts here. The London Congestion Charge is £18 a day if you drive within the central zone during its hours, currently 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 12 noon to 6pm at weekends and bank holidays (Christmas Day to New Year's Day is free). You pay online or by Auto Pay, not at a barrier - cameras read your number plate.
There's no barrier and no ticket - the sign and the road markings are your warning that you're about to enter a paid zone.
02
Where you'll see it
The boundary of the central London Congestion Charge zone. Other cities run their own charging or clean-air schemes with similar entry signs.
03
On your driving test
Not a test item, but knowing the zone exists matters for real driving in central London - and it's separate from the emissions charges below.
Fines and penalties
The charge itself is currently £18 a day (check tfl.gov.uk before you travel, as rates change). Not paying leads to a Penalty Charge Notice - far more than the daily charge, though reduced if paid quickly. It's a civil charge, no licence points.
Often confused with
Quick answers
Is the Congestion Charge the same as ULEZ?
No - they're separate. The Congestion Charge is a flat daily fee for driving in the central zone during its hours. ULEZ is an emissions charge you pay only if your vehicle doesn't meet the standards; a compliant car pays ULEZ nothing but still pays the Congestion Charge in the central zone.
How much is the Congestion Charge?
Currently £18 a day if you drive in the central London zone during charging hours. Always check the current rate and hours on tfl.gov.uk, as they change.
Sign artwork is Crown copyright, reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0; meanings from the Highway Code (gov.uk).
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