London Congestion Charging

FREIGHT
TRANSPORT
ASSOCIATION
London Congestion Charging
An FTA compliance guide
Contents
Introduction
Exemptions and discounts
Basics of the London congestion
charge
Congestion charging and
vehicle purchasing
Pay and Go
Enforcement
Fleet schemes
Preparing for the London
congestion charge
Will you need to pay the London
congestion charge?
Other congestion charging schemes
Fleet scheme - web solution overview
Further information
Introduction
From 17th February 2003 operators of vehicles
entering a designated congestion charging zone in
central London have to pay £5.00 per vehicle per
day. The scheme, started by the Mayor of London,
Ken Livingstone, is run on his behalf by Transport
for London (TfL).
FTA has consistently and fiercely opposed the inclusion of delivery and service vehicles in the congestion charging scheme. The fight for exemption for
commercial vehicles continues after 17th February.
We are also campaigning for an extension of the
100 per cent discount from the charge that currently applies to alternative fuel vehicles to include
cleaner diesel engined delivery and service vehicles.
Whilst we vehemently oppose the charge on behalf
of our members we have also recognised the need
to inform business as to the actions that must be
taken to comply with the scheme and to reduce the
administrative burden on operators. We have therefore been at the forefront in seeking to lessen the
impact of the scheme’s requirements on companies.
We have made a number of gains, including:
– Reduction in the daily charge for delivery and service vehicles from £15.00 to £5.00 (so that commercial vehicles pay the same as the private car).
– The creation of a fleet scheme and inclusion of
light commercial vehicles in it.
2
– A cut-off time for payment of the charge of
10pm (between then and midnight the payment
doubles to £10.00), originally this was to be
7pm.
We have also achieved other concessions from TfL
relating to administration charges and other practical arrangements. In respect of the Terms and Conditions for the fleet scheme we have been instrumental in persuading TfL to make amendments that
have allowed substantial numbers of vehicles that
would otherwise have been excluded to be registered. However, we are also pushing for the threshold for eligibility for the fleet scheme, which is set at
25 vehicles, to be lowered to 10 vehicles and will
inform members of progress with this objective.
Meanwhile, the fight for exemption of delivery and
service vehicles from the charge continues in
London, as in other towns and cities across the UK
that are contemplating the introduction of charging
schemes.
This compliance guide aims to equip operators with
the essential information needed to ensure the
requirements of the London congestion charging
scheme are met. There are also details at the end of
this guide of contact points for further information.
For more details of the range of issues on which FTA
is campaigning in London please contact our
London and South East Regional Office, details of
which are on page 16.
LONDON CONGESTION CHARGING - AN FTA COMPLIANCE GUIDE
vehicle it can move into, out of and within the zone as
many times as necessary during the calendar day.
Basics of the London congestion
charge
A licence costs £5.00 a day for each vehicle. The
enforcement system links the individual registration
number of the vehicle against a database of payments for the charge. If a charge has been paid the
records for the vehicle concerned are wiped within
24 hours for data protection purposes.
The zone
The central London congestion charging zone is shown
on the map below. It is approximately eight square
miles and covers much of the City and west end of
London. There are nearly 180 junctions, monitored by
enforcement cameras, at which drivers can enter the
zone. The zone covers all public roads within the inner
ring road from Marylebone Road in the North, Park
Lane and Vauxhall Bridge in the West, Tower Bridge in
the East and Elephant and Castle in the South. Vehicles
moving along the inner ring road itself do not have to
pay the charge, but if they turn off into the zone the
charge will usually have to be paid.
TfL has an on-line link to the Driver and Vehicle
Licensing Agency (DVLA) to check details of the registered keepers of vehicles.
When will the charge apply?
The scheme operates from 7.00am-6.30pm Monday
to Friday (but not New Year’s Day, Good Friday,
Christmas Day and bank holidays).
How will the zone be identified?
Locations of motorway payment points
Signs in and around the congestion charging zone
identify where it starts and finishes. There is signage
at 11, 4.5, 2.5 and 1 mile distances approaching the
zone boundary. There are no physical barriers or toll
booths but all zone entry and exit points are clearly
marked on the road and with signs.
The following locations are on the motorway
network and will be equipped with machines for
payment of the London congestion charge.
Welcome Break Welcome Break, London Gateway
Service Area, M1 Motorway, Mill Hill, London NW7 3HB
Welcome Break Welcome Break, South Mimms Service
Area, Bignall Corner, South Mimms, Potters Bar,
Hertfordshire EN6 3QQ
Moto M4 Heston, J2/3 M4, Phoenix Way, Heston,
Hounslow, Middlesex TW5 9NB Westbound/Eastbound
Moto J30/31 M25, Arterial Road, West Thurrock,
Grays RM16 3BG
Roadchef Clackett Lane Services, M25, Westerham,
TN16 2ER Westbound/Eastbound (planned)
ROAD
AD
RO
HIGH
STR
EET
CURTAIN RD.
H
DITC
F OLGA
TE S
HOR
E
TO N
NOR
E
EE T
S TR
SG
D
OP
OA
H ST
.
RC
BI
SH
BR
D
OL
BRIDGE
HU
EC
AC
G
E
B RI DG
DO N
HWAR
K
LO N
SOUT
BRID
GE
TOW
ER
ET
H
EW
AY
ID
ER
W
TO
ER
THA
MES
ET
D
GE
US
CA
N
RE
R OA
BRI
DG
ST
ROAD
RO
O
A RK
TH W
SOU
TO
ING
NEW
AD
RO
PE
NT
ON
PL
GT
WA LWORTH
S
EA
E
S T.
PENR
NN
IN
AC
Kennington
E
OS
T
ST
RE
ET
D.
KR
PA
R
ON
GT
NIN
EN
KINGSLAND
T
STREE
LD
FIE
PIT
T RO
AD
EAS
ATE
O RG
MO
GILTSP
UR ST
.
OLD BAI
LEY
C ity
Th am eslink
BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE
ROAD
BLACKFRIARS
ON
RK
G
PA
T
N
KE
NE
T Y ER S
AT
UE
EN
AV
RY
L N.
TER
FE T
NEW
ROA
IS
YL
RE
E
RIS
ST
.
PE
BE
SE
RO
.
RD
RK
YO
BA
ROAD
CE
H IG
ON
NT
PE
OR
LT H
CA
AL
LA
PA
ETH
K
WAL
EET
HA LL
STR
EM
VA UX
ALB ERT
UG
C ALE
N
E
L AMB
NT
KME
BAN
ANK
LLB
H
.
RD
N
NIA
DO
O
GO
NUE
AV E
Y
S B UR
TE
AF
SH
.
T.
ISLI
PS
HN
JO
AD
TH
GR
AN
GE
RD
.
STR E ET
AICA
ROAD
Bermondsey
BERMONDSEY
S PA
RO AD
A R K PA R K
Central London
S OU T H Wcongestion
R O AD
charging zone
ET
RO
ROAD
RE
R
EY
ST
S
DN
EE T
LU PU
NI
ON
T
D
ROA
CE
PA L
A
AM
GH
IN
CK
D
ET
D
OA
BU
AY
TR
AD
RO
EN
RO
W
ROAD
Bricklayers
Arms
ST.
DK
AL
KENT
AT E
OL
IT
NEW
W
SP
RE
JAM
A B BEY
BR
LO
HO
NEWINGTON
UR
L
ST
NE
S TR
YA
EY
UI
ST
NG
LA
D
RO
LO
AN
NO
L
SI
BA
ET
CR
E
D
A
ST
.
RO
N
B
R TL
VE
I
LEBO
NE
RD
.
ARY
DM
OL
S
EN
RD
GA
EX
SS
SU
O
.
OL
RIV
KENNINGTON
PARK
LO
RR
IM
OR
E
RD
.
LONDON CONGESTION CHARGING - AN FTA COMPLIANCE GUIDE
LBA
NY
RO A
D
Road served by bus
Road notROserved
by bus
LL S
RO AD
Road forming Charging Zone Boundary
Underground line and station
Docklands Light Railway line and station
National Rail line and station
National Rail terminus
Interchange station
Riverboat services pier
1.7.0 2
NEATE STREET
3
Reproduced courtesy of Transport for London
RE
AN
ORE S T .
ST
D
M
PT
IEL
GH
M
HF
VA U
O
S M IT
ES
AM
R
ST.
ST
OM A S
B
ST R EE T
AY
TH E HI G H W
TH
TO
CAB L E
CK
RD
DR
D
AL
T.
OT S
DO
TO
ET
TH
MI
PRIN
CE
ET
RE
ST
CH
UR
S
S
EN
ROAD
ROAD
PRESC
ST.
RE
T
W
LL
M O N M O U T H S T.
RO
ERT
A LB
RO
US
RC
CI
CH
D
AE
PR
RD
GA
EX
AD
ST REET
CANNON
SS
RO
EL
COMMERCIAL
S T.
M A N SE
SU
EC
ROA D
T
HI
P
HA
ET
AD
ET
UE
NE W
T
EE
ES
S
ST
PO
RO
RE
D
AG
WHITECHAPEL
EA
SHA
RE
AM
ROA
TR
L S
MIN ORI
MA
ST
LH
E
CIA
H
.
ST
EX
AH
D
VA L L A N C
E
ES
T HO
R
FU
IES ST.
LAN
NT
W
T.
HS
HIG
AM
To wer
Gateway
Hill
ST R EE
ET
ST R E E T
ST
MO
OLD
PEL
HA
BR
TE
GA
LD
EY
Borough
RE
IRE
BU XTO N
K
COMMER
DL
ITEC
WH
ST.
Aldgat e
A
ROA
BRIC
ID
Aldgate
Eas t
LPH
TO
BO
ST.
T
SQUIRR
B R I C K L A NE
M
C
KS
T
EET
STR
ER ST.
T O WE R H I L L
ON DS
A
G
L
CHESH
ET
EE
S TR EE
N
REE
Shoreditch
RE
STR
BE RM
ST
SE
NA
ST
IT
A
T
SPITALFIELD S
T HA M E S S T R E E T
VE
.
D
AR
FENCHURCH
STREETTo wer
AT T
OW
DO
KE N
KENNINGTON
RD
DS
M
D
OA
AL
E A S T C H EA P G
RE
LO WER
UN
V IS
LE ADEN HAL L S TREET
FENCH U RCH
R
TH
CI
ST.
EDLE
T
FOR
D
ER
HO
BE
MINCING
LANE
AL
AD
EY
M
M
S T.
BI
D
L.
WARN ER P
STREET
RY
ST.
S T.
RO
LA
AM
T
STREET
TH
N I N GT O N
ADNE
C OR NHILL
CANNON
STREET
OR
RL
KEN
L
LLI
E
LW
R O AD
POO
L
M
AV.
BE
ET
BU RY
Bank
EET
WA
CE
WAL
I
G W
Elephant
& Castle
AD
K
IN
ON
THRE
KIN
K
Elephant
& Castle
LA N E
PR
C
RO
AC
RO A D
N
BL
Va uxhal l
HA
LANE
LMS
EE
NIN
W
ILL RO
.
LIV ER
CU S
EA
RD
ST
.
LIVERPOOL
STREET
ELDO
N ST
.
LOND
Y
ERT
LU
GO SSE
FINSBU
IR
GR
H
N
CO
Monumen t
H
OL
RS
ET
EE T
STR
MA
FF
ST
ER
CITY
GE
CHAN
STREE
HE YG
OS
ROAD
S T R E ET
NEW
MB
P ROV OST
STR E E T
RK
DO
GE
P O ULTR
S TR
N
EA
K
CALV
LONDON BRIDGE
N
LAMBETH
ROAD
RID
NO
DE
Mansion
House
WA
LO
D
ETH
ROAD
TE
ROAD
LA
KENNINGTON
LB
A P SI
VICTORIA
U NI O N
U
ROAD
MB
B R I D GE
WALL
R
CO
Y
NE
ROA
NEY
HACK
HAC
ET
WORSHI P ST
RE
CITY
CHE
EA
T
RE
FINS
SGA
UTH
ST
SQUAR E
MOORGATE
CAN
QU E E N
Lambeth
Nort h
TER
BU NH
ALDER
INS
HOXTON
H
T
TM
RT
S TR EE
BE
BLACKFRIARS
TON
AL
WA LK
AL
ES
NO
AD
W
Bunhill
Fields
Artillery
Ground
S T.
L U DGAT E H
I LL
NING
XH
SS
RO
G ATE
AD
VA
U
H ER DE
F
s in
N EW
S
D
GR
ET
LONDON
RO
GR
DU CT
FALKIRK
STREET
T
SOUTHWARK
Southwark
KEN
.
N ST
E
LSEA BRIDG
CHE
VE N OR
ET
SO
O
Pimlico
ET
RE
SE
ET
LO
AD
STRE
ER
RO
RD
AT
GE
FO
W
ID
AR
GE
AD
Ba
ID
RO
ck
BR
STRE
E
WH
O
AV
AM
ST.
N ER
ST RE
EC H
LO
GR
S H EP
ER
S
EL
n lo
AT
LUPU
B
We
L AN E
W
PIMLICO
BR
CE N TR
RY
Y
LL
KR
W IC OAD
AR
LN.
CE
WA
ST
ROA
LA
LAMBETH BR.
STRE ET
AD
G RO S
HA
Th e
Vi ctoria
To wer
Gardens
K
ST
.
ST.
UX
MILLBAN
ND
Y
BR. ST.
FARRINGDON ST. NEW
AN
GS
EHALL
R
LA
WA
OE
SH
CH
KIN
E M B A NKM E N T
D
WHIT
MAR SHAM
ER
ST.
GT. SMITH
BE
LG
RA
VE
si n
W
.
ST
Templ e
IA
CTOR
OU
ST.
T UDOR
T
TH
VA
D
RO
RY
N
VI A
WATERLOO
EAST
RO A D
F E RRY
RO A
ON
ST.
RA
OR N
RH
TE
ND
RA
VI
KE
HO
SE
Ba
PT
PL.
M
RD
HA
DFO
H
WESTMINSTER BRIDGE
E Y C O AT PL.
L
UT
E
GU
NTA
MO
BE
YC
Embankmen t
ET
W EL
AD
SO
W
D
Haggerston
Park
PEARSON ST.
SHOREDITCH
Old Street
EE
BARBICAN
.
D
HO LB
AR
MINTERN ST.
G RO VE
Y
MU R RA
R
ST
RO
SQ
Leicester
Square
AR
GR
ET
N
L
Covent
Garden
CH
STREET
Ludgate
Circus
T
LEE
F
G
ST
K
RE
S T RE
O
EL
Chancery
Lane
HOLBORN
A
N
Holborn
Circus
HAGGERSTON
Shoreditch
Park
OLD
Barbica n
Farringdon
HOLBORN
F
ET
BAN
NWELL
AR
AD
OL
ST
Holborn
ST RE
ROAD
D
HO L B O R N
HIG H
E WH
EAGL
ROAD
RO
R
LE VE
CLERKENWELL
SS
OR
LL
IA
GOS
JOHN
G
D
RU
LB
S
LD
BA
Y
S T.
ET
E
HO
EO
A
RO
WESTMINSTER
OR
CIT
E
ELL S T R
AC
ROAD
MA
ad
AMW
PL
TH
COVENT
GARDEN
LO
o
y R
WAY
N
H
ST
ER TO
RO
AM E S
U
AY
S
YM
HA
BR
.
E
ET
EE T
ET
STRE
TR
Y S
TH
S
AV
VICTORI A
ON
DG
RE
K LE
ET
RE
ST
R IV E R
T
RY
CL AV
ST
OA
MEN
BU
C R OS
ET
.
ST
H
ET
ANK
EN
ES
SB
W
RY
BL RE ET
ST
HIG
NT
EC
CL
ES
T
W
SU
T.
LS
CHARING
CROSS
ST
UR
YB
R.
IN
CLERKE
GE
EB
UR
RING
RE
RE
.
EL
OXF ORD
CHA
ST
IT
RE
EMB
D
BU
R
D
PL
RR
ET
FRANCE
Y
TT
T
VIC
AD
Y
FINSBURY
Westminster
WAL
E
CAG
RO
LE
RE
M
OO
L
N
S
SM
ST
RCH
CHU
OLD
RT
FO
AU
BE
SEA
ROA
LI CO
CH
E
A N LS E
EL A B
A G RI
H
G
AR
MS
OU
AL
TO
W IL
E
EY
R
M
ET
UA
HILL
L.
NP
DE
SE
RE
SS
RU
L
E
ST
FA
WATERLOO and
WATERLOO
INTERNATIONAL
PE
H
ET
OO
RD
M
AC
ET
ST.
TO N
ST RE
Russell
RD
Square U IL FO
G
E
PL
AN
PIM
T.
CHELSEA
CHEL
BL
D
WA
UTION
AL
OR
AB
.
N ST
ST RE
ET
A
T
M
L
AL
PARK
V
UE
SLO
ON
EN
IZ
LOW E R
T
AV
S
ET
OT
RO
TR EE
P
STRE
YC
EL
TE
GA
Sloane
Square
RE
OW
N
TO
EA
S Q UA
DRA
Piccadilly
Circu s
Y
.
ST
D
BELGRAVIA
N
PT
N
DN
OM
AD
BROMPTON
T
AF
LL
PA
BRE
SS
EN
SY
BR
SL
AC E
E
South
Kensington
Q.
RO
ON
LO
C A D O GA
RO AD
UR
RE
T
LL
Y
BIRD
NE
ROAD
GAT E
NG TON
TH
UR
EY
A
CC
L
IL
EN
SLOA
EXHI BITIO N
QUE ENS
PL
R OA D
RO MW ELL
HA RRI
OS
Knightsbridge
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
ORT RD.
PRINCE CONS
CO
EL
RO AD
KENS INGT O N
GORE
CONSTIT
Hyde Par k
Corner
SH
GR
KENSINGTON
ST
M
RK
DI
TH
E
DD
ER
M
BE
E
GREEN
RIDG
JU
W
W
RE
CA
e
SB
KNIGHT
.
ST
ER
ET
EY
UA
PI
W
T
RE
EL
SQ
RK
C
PI
Green Park
D
T
GREA
To ttenham
Court Road
EN
BE
NE
RE
AD
O
NE
REG
ET
ST.
LA
ROA
ST
ON
G
T.
EET
RE
EY
NE
RK
The Ser
pentin
INE
E
BR
ST
E
SQ
ET
SOHO
LA
PA
SERPENT
Oxford Circu s
.
ST
SS
LL
ET
STRE
RD
ST
RK
CURZ
KENSINGTON
GARDENS
ST RE
ND
VE
U
N
TO
.
RU
DS
STR
BO
EET
PA
AU DL
GR OS
BR
ST.
NO R
SQ
ON
NEW
OXFO
VER
HANO
STREET
STR
H
ET
SO UT
ST RE
HYDE PARK
MAYFAIR
RD
BLOOMSBURY
AN
ENT
W
IES
PA RK
O AD
ATER R
AYSW
Goodge
Street
D
.
REG
ISH SQ
NE
Bon d
Street
H
E ARC
ATE
B E R LAND G
D AV
D
ET
HA
AN
LA N
L.
ND
CAVE
STRE
GO
S
N GH
AM P
AC
S.
DN
Y
WA
ON
EN
EL
ET
PO RT
ST RE
ACE
D PL
H
EV
TL AN
T
ND IS
LA
RD
OXFO
CU M
E
RN
OU
TB T.
ES S
W
ROA
ER
G R EA
P OR
Marble
Arch
MARBL
WAT
CA VE
NE W
ST.
BONE HIGH
SQ
A
D
E
AC
RR
TE
ER
BAYS
MA RYLE
E
ST
CE
AC
ER
ST
CE
OU
CE
E ST.
E
RR
OU
.
T ST
EET
E
STR
TE
GL
PLA
E
AR
AU GH
CO NN
ER
GW
PL AC
N
Lancaster
Gate
E
KER
ST
ED
RO
R
UA
BA
CE
UR
.
ET
OU
BO
PL
OU R
ST
K
MARYLEBONE
SE YM
EA
OL
PADDINGTON
ST RE
GL
ET
NSHIR
CL
E
E
TR
Paddington
DEVO
G
IGH
Euston Square
AFT
TT
D
YO RK
ON E
ON
LE
DS
EN
AD
VILLE RO
PENTON
ST. PANCRAS
EUSTON
R
GR
ST
TO
A
ER
O
PL AC
R
BA K
ER
E
ST.
UNDE
.
Wa rren
Great
Street
Portland
Street
D
RO
R
Edgware
Road
YL EB
M AR
R OA
TO
SWIN
OB
A
EUS T O N RD
Baker
Street
AD
N
D
Angel
WHITE LION ST.
W
RE
MARYLEBONE
A40
RF
ET
MO
CE ST
W
SS
EU
S
PAS
GL OU
G
RO
D
Edgware
Road
NO
CL
CIR
R
EU
A
RO
E
D
VE
ROA
RO
O
ST
DLE ST.
.
DALE RD
Kings Cross
Thameslink
RE
CL
E
RO
TOLPUD
WHARF
P ENTON VIL LE ROAD
ST
I
D
IR
A
N
G
W ES T W AY
NE
T
O
O
D
L AN
M ID A D
RO
OL
R
SS
Y
EUSTON
ROAD
D
LI
N
WA
DS
ST . P ANCRAS
D
A
R
C
S
SH
ET
L
E
K
TE
RA
ER
AD
RO
U
CIRC
ER
STRE
CIRCLE
RO
O
R
NN
HAMPSTEA
ON
ANY
GT
D
PA
NC
EV
ALB
L IN
EN
AD
RO
ER
EL
OVE
LL
OUT
W
GR
HA
PA
DALE
WN
CRO
D
R OA
Mornington
Crescent
C it
AD
YORK
AD
A licence, not a piece of paper but ‘virtual’, has to be
purchased for any vehicle entering or moving within
the zone during the charging period unless an exemption or discount applies. The charge is per vehicle per
day, therefore as long as the fee is paid for a particular
ON HIGH
ISLINGT
ST.
The congestion charge
Congestion charging symbol
A symbol has been approved to apply to all congestion charging schemes. This symbol, a white ‘C’ on a
red background, will be used in all literature and on
traffic signs so that the boundaries of congestion
charging zones are clear to road users.
Postcodes covering the
London congestion charging zone
There are nearly 24,000 individual postcodes in the
congestion charging zone. We have therefore only
listed the initial parts of these postcodes to indicate
the general areas that are covered. Individual postcodes can be checked on TfL’s congestion charging
website by going to www.cclondon.com and
clicking on ‘Where and when does it operate’.
Please note some postcode areas extend beyond the
charging zone.
SE
SW
SE1 • SE11
SW1A • SW1E • SW1H • SW1P • SW1V
SW1W • SW1X • SW1Y
W1A • W1B • W1C • W1D • W1F • W1G
Traffic signs
W1
WC
WC
EC
EC
EC
EC
W1H • W1J • W1K • W1S • W1T
W1U • W1W
WC1A • WC1B • WC1E • WC1H
WC1N • WC1R • WC1V • WC1X
WC2A • WC2B • WC2E
WC2H • WC2N • WC2R
EC1A • EC1M • EC1N • EC1P
EC1R • EC1V • EC1Y
EC2A • EC2M • EC2N • EC2P • EC2R
EC2V • EC2Y
EC3A • EC3M • EC3N • EC3P • EC3R
EC3V
EC4A • EC4M • EC4N • EC4P
EC4R • EC4V • EC4Y
There are also some smaller postcode areas which
are: W2, E1, EC50, N1 and NW1.
Traffic signs
Signs are erected on the approaches to the zone
and at the boundary of the zone. Markings on the
road advise drivers that they are in the congestion
charging zone. Even if a vehicle is in the zone for
just a few minutes, or never crosses the inner ring
road during the charging period the congestion
charge is due.
Vehicles sent into the congestion charging zone on
a temporary diversion, eg by a policeman following
an accident, are not subject to the charge. However,
they must not leave the diversion route that takes
them out of the zone again.
4
LONDON CONGESTION CHARGING - AN FTA COMPLIANCE GUIDE
Pay and Go
The standard option for payment of the London
congestion charge that applies to most drivers is to
purchase a daily licence for each vehicle entering
the zone. This includes the general public and operators that do not qualify for the fleet scheme or
who choose not to use it.
Drivers can pay the congestion charge either in
advance or on the day of travel before, during or
after their journey. The charge is £5.00 if paid by
10pm on the day of travel. Between 10pm and midnight the charge doubles to £10.00. If the charge is
not paid by midnight a PCN will be issued.
Licences will be available for a single vehicle for a
charging day or for 5, 20 or 252 consecutive charging days. They may be purchased up to 65 days in
advance and will cost £5.00 per day with no discount for advance or bulk purchasing. They can be
paid for by post, telephone, internet, text message
on the day or from some shops and garages.
administrative charge of £10.00). The start date of the
refund must be a minimum of seven charging days
from the date of receipt of the request by TfL. In the
case of the fleet scheme, overcharges and undercharges will be adjusted the following month.
Subject to the time taken to process, which will be a
specified number of working days depending on the
process involved, licences for unexpired full days can
be transferred between vehicles or cancelled for vehicles no longer available to the operator. Transfer of
licences between vehicles may be a quicker option
than cancellation in those cases where it is practicable.
Payment methods
Online:
www.cclondon.com (debit
and credit cards)
Phone:
0845 900 1234 (debit
and credit cards)
Text:
Register on-line or by
phone to be able to pay by
mobile phone text message
on the day of travel, until
10pm
Retailers:
From shops and petrol sta
tions displaying a sign or
the PayPoint logo from
mid-January (cash accepted)
Self-service machines:
located in many major car
parks in the charging zone
(debit and credit cards only)
By post:
Write to Congestion
Charging, PO Box 2985,
Coventry CV7 8ZR
Pay and go transactions
There are no physical barriers around the congestion
charging zone. Drivers do not buy a paper ticket, but
pay to register their vehicle registration number on a
database for travel within the charging zone.
A Fast Track Card is available for pay and go users
containing the individual transaction details and
registration number, protected by a PIN number.
This should mean that individual pay and go transactions can be done more quickly.
Each time the congestion charge is paid by telephone or online, a receipt number will be issued. It
is recommended that a record is taken of this number as it will be needed if there are any queries
about the transaction. For such pay and go transactions a written receipt will also be available, provided it is requested at the time. In retail outlets a written receipt will automatically be provided.
Registered customers with TfL have the option of
selecting a monthly statement which will list all
receipt numbers for purchased charges using the
registered customer’s details.
Licence purchasers will need to have the following
to hand before making a transaction.
– Vehicle registration number
– Date(s) of travel and the period to be paid for
(daily, weekly, monthly or annually)
– Payment details (eg Switch, Delta or Visa)
Refunds, transfers and cancellations
The £10.00 per year registration fee (for registration of
discounts or of vehicles under the fleet scheme) is not
refundable. Those purchasing monthly or yearly
licences on a pay and go basis in advance will be able
to obtain refunds for future days (there will be an
Fast Track Card
A Fast Track Card can be obtained to speed up payments.
It can be used for payments online, by telephone and at
retail outlets displaying the congestion charging sign or
PayPoint logo. It is the size of a credit card and contains
much of the information that would otherwise have to
be repeated for each transaction (it does not contain any
financial information). The vehicle registration number
and customer number are printed on the front.
The details for one or two vehicles can be registered
on a Fast Track Card. Only the details of the primary
vehicle will be stored on the magnetic strip and
printed on the Fast Track Card sent after registration.
Fast Track users can opt to store payment and card
details with their profile for use in paying through the
call centre or website. These will be protected by a PIN
number. If these details have been stored then the text
message service can also be used after registration.
To register for a Fast Track Card, go to www.cclondon.com and click on the ’Register for Fast Track’
button or phone 0845 900 1234. There is no additional charge for the card.
LONDON CONGESTION CHARGING - AN FTA COMPLIANCE GUIDE
5
Fleet schemes
If preferred, a fleet operator can pay the congestion
charge using the pay and go arrangements, ie buy
daily licences. Where the same vehicle is entering
the congestion charging zone on a daily basis, purchase of licences on a weekly, monthly or yearly
basis may be the simplest option. However, in
recognition of the complexities of administering the
scheme for larger fleets TfL agreed, after pressure
from FTA, to establish an account option that allows
operators to manage payment of the charge over
the internet through the opening of a holding
account with TfL. (Details of this online option are
shown in ‘Fleet scheme – web solution overview’ on
page 10.)
The basic criteria for acceptance on the fleet scheme
is that an operator must register at least 25 vehicles.
To cover administration costs fleet operators are
charged £10.00 per vehicle per year for this registration. The usual method of arranging this will be by
direct debit when the first payment is taken and on
an annual basis, subject to amendments to the fleet
details, thereafter. For early registrations the £10.00
fee has been waived (if registered before 26 January
2003) see page 14.
Vehicles for which the operator is the registered
keeper or which are hired or leased to them and
which are used for their business will qualify. No
geographical limit applies. It does not matter
whether the vehicles are expected to enter the
charging zone – they can still be registered to meet
the 25 vehicle threshold. Registered vehicles will not
be subject to enforcement penalties and no £10.00
late payment charge will be levied. Ad hoc vehicles
that the fleet operator may send into London from
time to time (that are not registered on the fleet
scheme) can be paid for using the fleet account.
There are two fleet schemes, the Automated
scheme and the Notification scheme.
Operators using the fleet scheme will need to
deposit with TfL in advance a sum equivalent to
their estimated monthly congestion charge bill.
Operators can have several accounts, eg for different cost centres, or use both the Automated and
Notification schemes provided they put at least 25
vehicles in each.
For both fleet schemes a holding account will be
created. TfL want all companies to make payments
into these accounts by direct debit. Operators prepay monthly with the first month’s payment being
based on their estimates. Subsequent monthly debits from operators’ accounts will be based on actual
vehicle movements. At the end of each month a
statement of vehicle charges will be issued.
There will be no lead time for the addition of vehicles to the fleet account. A template has been developed by TfL/CAPITA for the bulk download of fleet
data with step by step instructions to guide opera-
6
tors through the process. TfL have also promised
that fleet operators will have access to a fleet customer service specialist.
Operators can pre-register vehicles on the fleet
scheme by internet as well as by post. Forms for this
registration are available to download via the internet (see ‘Further information’ for the website
address, page 16).
Pay and Tell – Notification scheme
This fleet scheme is open to all vehicle types but is
aimed at cars. The charge per vehicle is the same as
for pay and go – £5.00 per vehicle per day plus the
fee of £10.00 per vehicle per year to register the
vehicles on the scheme.
Again, a minimum of 25 fleet vehicles must be registered on each account.
Step 1: The operator opens an account by completing an application form providing company
information and details of each vehicle to
be registered. Information also required
includes company headed paper, a signed
direct debit mandate form and signed
Terms and Conditions. The last two items
can be printed off the TfL website. Account
opening will require a £10.00 annual payment for each vehicle registered and a prepayment based on the operator’s estimated
amount of charges for the first month. The
application form itself can be completed
online, but is also available by post.
Step 2: The fleet operator will provide a list at the
end of each month of registered vehicles
that have travelled in the charging zone on
each day that month.
Step 3: TfL then check this against the vehicle number plates captured by the network of cameras. Any charges for additional registered
vehicles captured by the cameras will be
charged to the fleet operator’s account.
Step 4: A pre-payment for the forthcoming month
will be drawn by direct debit from the fleet
operator’s bank account. This amount will
take into account any differences between
the predicted and actual charges for the previous month and the fleet operator’s anticipated charges for the next month.
Pay and Forget – Automated scheme
This fleet scheme is open to light vans, light goods
vehicles and heavy goods vehicles, based on the
body type according to the V5 (DVLA issued vehicle
registration document). It is not available to cars.
Again, at least 25 vehicles must be registered. For
this scheme the daily vehicle charge is £5.50 per
vehicle per day. The increase is, according to TfL, to
LONDON CONGESTION CHARGING - AN FTA COMPLIANCE GUIDE
offset the administration required for the
Automated system and to offset the charges of
vehicles not captured by the camera network.
Step 1: The operator opens an account by completing an application form providing company
information and details of each vehicle to be
registered. Information also required
includes company headed paper, a signed
direct debit mandate form and signed Terms
and Conditions.
The last two items can be printed off the TfL
website. Account opening will require a
£10.00 annual payment for each vehicle registered and a pre-payment based on the
operator’s estimated amount of charges for
the first month. The application form itself
can be completed online, but is also
available by post.
Step 2: Fleet vehicle number plates are captured by
the network of cameras and the appropriate
charges are calculated automatically.
Step 3: A pre-payment for the forthcoming month
will be drawn by direct debit from the fleet
operator’s bank account. This amount will
take into account any differences between
the predicted and actual charges for the previous month and the fleet operator’s anticipated charges for the next month.
Terms and Conditions
Operators joining one of the fleet schemes (Notification or Automated) will have to agree to TfL’s Terms
and Conditions. These contain a number of provisions which operators need to be aware of. In particular attention is drawn to the need to have at
least 25 vehicles registered in order to maintain eligibility for the fleet schemes.
In the case of the Notification scheme the operator
is required to provide TfL with a monthly reconciliation of the vehicles entering the congestion charging zone over the previous period. There are
requirements as to the accuracy of this information
and operators should be aware that they could
cease to be eligible for the fleet scheme if they fail
to provide sufficiently accurate figures to TfL. This
highlights the need for operators using the Notification fleet scheme to have accurate information from
their drivers and managers as to whether vehicles
have entered the congestion charging zone.
FTA has secured important concessions from TfL
over the working of the fleet scheme for settlement
of the London congestion charge. TfL had insisted
that the registered owner of the vehicle entering
central London be responsible for the management
of the fleet scheme. This would have meant that
many retailers and other customers of logistics contractors would have to become involved in paying
the congestion charge even though the vehicle
involved was in all other respects the responsibility
of the logistics contractor. FTA has persuaded TfL to
accept that the logistics contractor can manage the
fleet scheme arrangements so simplifying procedures and keeping administrative costs down (for
Automated accounts only).
This will also include a logistics company or an
organisation using an owner-driver fleet. They will
be able to register for an Automated fleet account,
sign the Terms and Conditions, and register ‘their’
vehicles in the same way as other organisations. The
Relationship Manager for the account would be a
representative from the organisation that operates
the fleet.
LONDON CONGESTION CHARGING - AN FTA COMPLIANCE GUIDE
7
Will you need to pay the London cong
Are you going into, or
moving within the congestion
charging zone Monday – Friday
between 07.00 and 18.30?
START
HERE
Are you
exempt or
do you
qualify for a
discount?
YES
You
nee
YES
NO
NO
What happens
if you don’t?
You do not
need to pay
YOU MUST PAY
THE CHARGE
The fleet scheme
Fleet operators (with 25 or more vehicles) will be able to enter into special payment
arrangements. Vehicles for which the operator is the registered keeper or which are
hired or leased to them and which are used for their business will qualify. No
geographical limit applies. It does not matter whether the vehicles are expected to
enter the charging zone, they can still be registered to meet the 25 vehicle threshold.
Do you operate 25 or
more fleet vehicles?
PA
NO
Buy a
(This
that
by
publ
ope
the f
Two options will be open to the operator but in both cases each vehicle to be
covered by the scheme will have to be registered with TfL and a £10.00 per annum
fee paid per vehicle. Registered vehicles will not be subject to enforcement penalties.
YES
Operators will also need to deposit with TfL in advance a sum equivalent to their
estimated monthly congestion charge bill. Operators can have several accounts,
eg for different cost centres, or use both the Automated and Notification schemes
provided they put at least 25 eligible vehicles in each.
Terms and Conditions are being developed by TfL concerning use of the fleet
scheme. Repeated misuse may result in an operator being barred from the
scheme for a specified period.
YES
MORE
INFO
Do you want to pay
monthly with an account
at TfL (£10.00 per vehicle
per year to register its
details)?
PAY & TELL
Do the 25 or more
vehicles you want to
register include cars?
YES
Notification scheme allows
you to pay monthly £5.00
per vehicle per day (but
operators must notify TfL
monthly of vehicles moving in the zone)
You can join the
fleet scheme
HOW?
NO
Step 1
Step 2
Open an account
with TfL and
register vehicles
for £10.00 each
per year
Pre-pay monthly
estimated charge
at £5.00
per vehicle
per day
NO
PAY & FORGET
NO
Are you prepared
to pay £5.50
per light van or
lorry per day to
‘pay & forget’?
FREIGHT
8
TRANSPORT
YES
Automated scheme
allows you to pay
monthly with your
congestion charging
bill automatically
calculated
(but at £5.50
per vehicle
no cars
per day)
S
HOW?
ASSOCIATION
LONDON CONGESTION CHARGING - AN FTA COMPLIANCE GUIDE
Open
with
regist
for
pe
How do I pay?
estion charge?
PAY & GO
do not need to pay but you may
d to register your claim with TfL
Purchase ‘daily’ licences
The standard option for payment of the London
congestion charge will be to purchase a daily licence
for each vehicle entering the zone. This will apply to
the general public and operators that don’t qualify
for the fleet scheme or who choose not to use it.
Licences will be available for a single vehicle for a
charging day or for 5, 20 or 252 consecutive charging
days. They may be purchased up to 65 days in
advance and will cost £5.00 per day with no
discount for advance payment. They will be obtainable
by post, text message, telephone, internet, self
service machines or from retail outlets.
!
Vehicles
captured on camera
that are not exempt,
discounted or registered
on the fleet scheme will
be subject to a penalty
charge notice if the
appropriate fee has
not been paid
PAY & TELL
Y & GO
The Notification scheme
daily licence.
s the option
will be used
he general
and vehicle
ators not in
eet scheme.)
HOW?
Buy up to 65 days in advance
by post, telephone, text
message, self service machine,
internet or retail outlet
Fleet operators will have the option of paying the
congestion charge on a monthly basis. They will be
charged at the standard £5.00 per vehicle per day
rate. If operators use this option they will need to
notify details of vehicles which have incurred a
charge in a monthly reconciliation. This scheme is
aimed at fleets containing cars, but can also apply
to fleets that include light vans and lorries.
PAY & FORGET
The Automated scheme
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Operator sends list
of vehicles that
have entered zone
to TfL at the end
of the month
TfL reconciles data
with
enforcement
records
Operator
pre-pays for
following month.
Adjusted as
necessary
For those who opt for the £5.50 rate no reconciliation
will be required. It will literally be a ‘pay and forget’
system with operators' accounts being decremented
when the enforcement cameras detect a registered
vehicle. TfL say the additional charge is to compensate for the fact that the cameras are expected to miss some vehicles and to contribute
towards additional administrative costs.
Operators using this scheme will pay
no cars
monthly as with the Notification scheme.
Exemptions and discounts
Exemptions include:
ep 1
Step 2
n account Pre-pay monthly
TfL and
estimated charge
r vehicles
at £5.50 per
10 each
vehicle
year
per day
Step 3
Step 4
Vehicle
registration no.
captured on
camera and
checked with
records. Account
decremented
accordingly
Operator
pre-pays for
following
month. Adjusted
as necessary
• motorcycles
• some local authority vehicles
• emergency vehicles
100 per cent discounts are available, including:
• some recovery/breakdown vehicles
• electric or alternative fuel vehicles
Full lists of exemptions and discounts are available
from TfL’s website (www.cclondon.com)
LONDON CONGESTION CHARGING - AN FTA COMPLIANCE GUIDE
9
Fleet scheme – web solution
overview
Operators have two options for fleet account registration. They can register online via the congestion
charging website – www.cclondon.com – or by
post.
TfL describes the extranet solution, via the congestion charging website, as a secure route to manage
fleet accounts. The following are examples of
screens from this extranet, supplied by TfL.
Complete registration on extranet
A ‘Business and Fleet’ hyperlink
on the web-site will take operators through to pre-register for
the extranet and set up their
company account, identify
administrators and other users
and establish PIN numbers for
each user.
Operators will also be able to
load details of individual vehicles
to be entered on the fleet scheme
or bulk upload fleet details. A
minimum of 25 vehicles will have
to be entered whether the application is for the Automated or
Notification scheme. This screen
shows data in a CSV format (this
is a ‘save as’ option in Microsoft
Excel).
Ongoing management of fleet accounts
Once the registration has been
completed and all the required
hard copies of documents have
been sent to TfL the fleet account
will be activated and the operator
will be able to manage it using
the secure extranet.
10
LONDON CONGESTION CHARGING - AN FTA COMPLIANCE GUIDE
Exemptions and discounts
Resident’s discount
Certain types of vehicles will be exempt from the
London congestion charge or will receive a discount. It is the Mayor’s intention that the exempt
categories will remain largely unchanged with those
vehicles included within the definition not required
to pay the charge. Discounts on the other hand may
be varied according to experience with the operation of the scheme.
Residents of the zone will receive a 90 per cent discount from the charge for one private vehicle only.
Businesses in the zone will not receive any such discount. To obtain the resident’s discount, individuals
will have to prove residency status and vehicle ownership and will have to buy licences for a minimum
of one week (ie 5 x 50p = £2.50). They will have to
pay an annual fee of £10.00 to register their claim
for discount.
There are four distinct groups of vehicle user that
will not have to pay the London congestion charge
– those that are exempt; residents who receive a
discount; groups of people with whom TfL has
arranged a system for claiming back charges; other
discounted vehicles.
Claiming back the charge
Users of the following vehicles will be able to claim
back the full charge from their employers or the
NHS. TfL will then refund these organisations.
TfL has developed various forms for those claiming
discounts and these are available to download via
the TfL extranet site (see ‘Further information’ on
page 16 for details) or by post on request.
– Some vehicles used by NHS staff to carry sensitive, controlled, bulky, heavy or fragile equipment
Exemptions
– Vehicles used by fire fighters for operational
journeys between fire stations
The following exemptions from the London congestion charge may be of interest to operators: users
will not have to register as exempt.
– Motorbikes, mopeds and bicycles
– Emergency services’ vehicles
– NHS vehicles that are exempt from vehicle excise
duty
– Public service vehicles with nine or more seats
that are licensed as buses
– Vehicles used by certain NHS patients attending
hospital appointments
Other discounts
At the time of introduction of the charge it is anticipated that all other discounts will be set at 100 per
cent. The following tables show a full list of the discounts (excepting the resident’s and claimed back
discounts). More detail about discounts likely to be
of interest to fleet operators is shown in the section
on congestion charging and vehicle purchasing
(page 12).
Some discounts have to be registered will TfL with
an annual fee of £10.00 per vehicle (table 1), others
simply have to be registered with TfL (table 2).
TABLE 1
TABLE 2
– Disabled persons or insitutions in receipt of a Blue Badge
or Orange Badge
– Certain vehicles with nine or more seats that are not
licensed as buses
– Electrically propelled vehicles
– Operational vehicles used by the emergency services
(police, fire and ambulance)
– Alternative fuel vehicles
– Specially adapted recovery vehicles
– Breakdown vehicles in use to provide roadside assistance
or recovery services operated by organisations accredited
to BS EN ISO9001:2000, eg AA, RAC or Green Flag
– Operational vehicles used by the eight local authorities
within or partly within the charging zone and the Royal
Parks Agency
– Vehicles used for lifeboat haulage and HM Coastguard
purposes and certain Port of London Authority vehicles
used to attend emergencies on the Thames.
– Certain operational military vehicles
Users of these vehicles must register with TfL and pay
an annual fee of £10.00 per vehicle
Users of these vehicles must register with TfL
LONDON CONGESTION CHARGING - AN FTA COMPLIANCE GUIDE
11
Congestion charging and vehicle
purchasing
To qualify for the 100 per cent alternative fuel vehicle discount from congestion charging, your vehicle
must be powered by an alternative fuel and not
solely by petrol or diesel (bi/dual fuel vehicles are eligible). This is subject to strict emissions criteria
which are set out below.
The TransportEnergy PowerShift Register and the
TransportEnergy CleanUp Register, held by the Energy
Saving Trust, show the emissions’ levels achieved by
different types of vehicles and different types of conversion equipment, and whether they meet the criteria for the 100 per cent congestion charging discount.
To be eligible, a vehicle may either have been manufactured to run on an alternative fuel, or it may
have been converted to run on an alternative fuel,
but the vehicle type and the conversion supplier
must be listed in the appropriate band on the
TransportEnergy PowerShift Register, or listed as
meeting an equivalent standard on the
TransportEnergy CleanUp Register.
approved supplier (or listed as meeting an equivalent emissions’ standard in the TransportEnergy
CleanUp Register).
– A vehicle which is listed as an approved vehicle
type in band 4 of the TransportEnergy PowerShift
Register, and supplied or converted by an
approved supplier (or listed as meeting an equivalent emissions’ standard in the TransportEnergy
CleanUp Register). The minimum requirement for
heavy vehicles (over 3,500kgs revenue weight) to
receive this discount is to meet the band 2 criteria on the TransportEnergy PowerShift Register.
This means that the vehicle must meet Euro III
standards or cleaner for emissions of carbon
monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter,
methane and non-methane hydrocarbons. The
minimum requirement for light vehicles (under
3,500kgs revenue weight) to receive this discount
is to meet the band 4 criteria on the
TransportEnergy PowerShift Register. This means
that the vehicle must have oxides of nitrogen and
hydrocarbon emissions at least 40 per cent cleaner than the Euro IV standard.
To be eligible for the discount your vehicle must fall
into one of the following two categories.
Please note that these standards, as determined by the
Energy Saving Trust, could become stricter in the future
as the technology for low emission vehicles improves.
– A goods vehicle over 3,500kgs revenue weight
which is listed as an approved vehicle type in
band 2, 3 or 4 of the TransportEnergy PowerShift
Register, and supplied or converted by an
Operators applying for the alternative fuel exemption
will need to complete the form as shown below (available by post or can be downloaded from TfL’s
extranet).
12
LONDON CONGESTION CHARGING - AN FTA COMPLIANCE GUIDE
Enforcement
Following a final check at midnight, the computer
will keep the registration numbers of all vehicles
that should have paid but have not done so. A
penalty charge of £80.00 will be issued to the registered keeper of the vehicle. As with parking penalties, this will be reduced to £40.00 for prompt payment within 14 days. Failure to pay the penalty
charge within 28 days will incur an increased penalty of £120.00. Vehicles with three or more outstanding unpaid and unchallenged penalty charges
may be clamped or towed away with the release
being dependent on the payment of all outstanding
charges.
Enforcement cameras are placed around the zone
perimeter and within the charging zone. Automatic
Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology is
used. The number plates are compared with a database of licences paid for or exemptions and discounts. Foreign vehicles that repeatedly evade the
charge may also face clamping and removal if they
are detected in Greater London.
Retention of records from
enforcement cameras
Enforcement cameras will read the number plate of
the vehicle as it enters the charging zone or drives
within it and match it with the database. Once the
number plate is matched showing that the vehicle
has or has not been paid for the records are either
wiped, if no charge is outstanding, or an exemption, discount or exclusion applies or are retained as
evidence for a PCN if a charge is due but has not
been paid.
For pay and go users of central London congestion
charging, the enforcement camera images of their
vehicle and vehicle registration number will be
deleted once they have been ‘matched’ to a congestion charge payment. However, in the case of vehicles registered to a fleet account, images will be
deleted 60 days after the end of the calendar month
in which they were captured, subject to there being
no issues outstanding on the account. The availability of these images may assist in resolving any issues
arising over charges levied on an operator’s fleet
account.
Penalty charges and hire vehicles
TfL has informed us that the liability arrangements
for hire vehicles will be similar to those relating to
parking penalties. Liability will be with the hirer and
not with the hire company. This should prevent customers of hire companies being affected by previous customers failing to pay the congestion charge.
– When a vehicle travels within the congestion
charging zone without paying the congestion
charge a PCN will be issued to the registered
keeper.
– If the registered keeper is a vehicle hire company
and the vehicle was hired to a customer at the
time of the offence, the company will make a
representation to TfL to defer responsibility for
the PCN to the hirer of the vehicle at the time of
the offence.
– TfL will receive the representation. This will stop
the progress of the PCN to the persistent evaders
database. There will be no enforcement actions
(clamping or removal) associated with the PCN.
This last point should particularly reassure subsequent hirers of vehicles against which there are outstanding PCNs.
LONDON CONGESTION CHARGING - AN FTA COMPLIANCE GUIDE
13
Preparing for the London
congestion charge
In the run up to the introduction of the London
congestion charge, the Mayor, Ken Livingstone, has
approved changes to the arrangements for registration of vehicles on the fleet scheme and for some
discounts (alternative fuels, residents and some disabled badge holders). The 20 per cent discount that
had been proposed for all initial payments of the
charge is not now going ahead.
The following changes of interest to operators have
been approved:
– The £10.00 registration fee is waived for:
Information to employees
Once the company response has been decided companies will need to plan an information exercise for
their employees. In the first instance for managers
who will have to implement company policy on the
charge and, as the charge approaches, for drivers of
cars, light vans and lorries. It may be useful for companies to issue stickers for commercial vehicles in
the fleet schemes so that drivers know that the congestion charge has been paid for the vehicle or, if
appropriate, that the vehicle is registered for a
discount (eg alternative fuelled or a breakdown
vehicle).
The following is an example of the sort of information such a sticker could contain.
• all vehicles registered on the fleet scheme
(notification and automated) by 26 January
2003;
• all alternative fuel vehicles (meeting the critera for 100 per cent discount from the
charge) registered by 26 January 2003.
– All subsequent registrations after 26 January of
alternative fuel discounts and annual registration
of vehicles on the fleet scheme are subject to a
fee of £10.00 per vehicle per year.
– Originally Transport for London (TfL) had proposed a special discount for first payments of
the charge of up to 20 per cent. However, this
proposal has been abandoned as the software
required for congestion charging cannot be
adapted in time to make the necessary changes.
Fleet scheme users will pay their estimated charges
one month in advance in all cases. In the run up to
introduction of congestion charging the following
arrangements will apply.
FREIGHT
TRANSPORT
ASSOCIATION
Vehicle registered on
fleet scheme until
/
/
– Registration of discounts and of fleet vehicles
starting at the end of October 2002.
– Advance payments of the first month’s charge
etc, made in January 2003.
– Fleet scheme users will make advance payments
by direct debit in February 2003 for anticipated
charges for March, and so on.
14
LONDON CONGESTION CHARGING - AN FTA COMPLIANCE GUIDE
Other congestion charging
schemes
The only congestion charging scheme currently
operational is in Durham, where the £2.00 coin payment machine is linked to a rising bollard. In
London and Edinburgh the charging mechanism will
be via digital cameras and ANPR technology
although there is no single collection method for
both schemes.
With numerous locations considering congestion
charging schemes there is a danger of a plethora of
different systems. Four locations – Edinburgh,
Leeds, Bristol and the Peak District – are considering
schemes whilst nine others – Glasgow, Newcastle,
York, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham,
Oxford and Cardiff – are monitoring the situation. If
they all operate different charging regimes FTA is
aware of concerns that it will be impossible for UK
industry to move goods effectively and efficiently
across a patchwork quilt of different systems.
FTA is making the case for the need for interoperability of the technology used in different congestion charging schemes. There is a further strategic
recommendation necessary requiring that all congestion charging technology is compatible with the
Government’s proposals for distance based lorry
road charging due in 2006.
FTA has consistently argued that goods vehicles
should be exempt from any congestion charge. A
comparative overview of the main exemptions in
the most advanced schemes highlight the confused
approach to exemptions.
After London the most advanced preparations for a
congestion charging scheme are in Edinburgh. The
Edinburgh scheme will use cameras and ANPR technology. The proposed charge is £2.00 per day and
no exemptions or discounts are planned for commercial vehicles.
Trials of technology to be used for lorry road user
charging and congestion charging are due to take
place in Leeds starting in Summer 2003 and concluding in Summer 2004. The Leeds trial is looking
at the available technology with the aims of ensuring interoperability between lorry road user charging technology, congestion charging technology
and tolled road crossing technology. The trials will
also look at the billing process, types of bills and
administration burdens of such schemes. Trials will
take place using both microwave and GPS systems.
Instead of the congestion charging route other tools
are planned by some local authorities. Nottingham
is planning a Workplace Parking Levy which aims to
target commuters with a levy of £150.00 per year
per parking space, rising to £350.00 per year over
the next 10 years. The levy is intended to come into
operation in 2003/04 and will mean businesses have
to pay for a licence according to the number of
parking spaces they have. It will be up to employers
whether they bear the cost of the levy or pass it on
to their staff.
A number of cities are considering the introduction
of Low Emission Zones which also need to be considered in the context of future vehicle acquisition
strategy.
LONDON
Motorcycles
Some local authority vehicles
Glasgow
Some recovery/breakdown vehicles*
Edinburgh
Electrical or alternative fuel vehicles*
Residents
Newcastle
Durham
Taxis
Buses
Key
*100% discount
York
In place
Introducing
DURHAM
Leeds
Considering
Monitoring
Manchester
Liverpool
Motorcycles
Sheffield
Residents and visitors
Peak District
Disabled persons
Birmingham
Those travelling to locations with off
street parking
Oxford
Cardiff
London
EDINBURGH (still to be finalised)
Bristol
Taxis
Residents
Buses
LONDON CONGESTION CHARGING - AN FTA COMPLIANCE GUIDE
15
Further information
Freight Transport Association
Member Advice Centre - for questions about the London congestion charge
0870 605 0000
www.fta.co.uk
London & South East Region - for information on FTA policy on London issues
Tel: 01892 526171 Fax: 01892 552352
Transport for London
Congestion charging helpline
0845 900 1234
Congestion charging website
www.cclondon.com
Transport for London’s website
www.tfl.gov.uk
TransportEnergy
TransportEnergy website
www.transportenergy.org.uk
HERMES HOUSE, ST JOHN’S ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT TN4 9UZ
TELEPHONE: 01892 526171
FA X : 0 1 8 9 2 5 3 4 9 8 9
W E B S I T E : w w w. f t a . c o . u k
Freight Transport Association Limited • Registered Office • Hermes House, St John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9UZ • Registered in England Number 391957 • January 2003