Two separate London charges catch out passengers who don't book through a service that accounts for them upfront: the Congestion Charge and the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). They're often confused, they run on different rules, and unexpected add-ons at drop-off are one of the most common complaints about ad-hoc taxi bookings. Here's how each one actually works.
All prices quoted are estimates and may vary; the final fare is confirmed before your journey and again at booking.
Congestion Charge vs ULEZ — they're not the same thing
- Congestion Charge covers a small zone in central London and only applies during specific hours: Monday to Friday, 07:00–18:00, and weekends and bank holidays, 12:00–18:00. It costs £18 a day if paid in advance or on the day. Outside those hours — including every evening after 18:00 — no Congestion Charge applies at all, any day of the week.
- ULEZ covers the whole of Greater London, operates 24 hours a day, every day, and charges older, more polluting vehicles rather than being about location or time.
A journey can cross into one, both, or neither, depending on route and timing — which is exactly why a same-day estimate that accounts for your specific pickup, drop-off and time of day is more useful than a flat "London taxi price."
Are taxis and private hire vehicles exempt?
Not automatically, and not the same way:
- Black cabs (hackney carriages) with a current TfL taxi licence are exempt from the Congestion Charge.
- Private hire vehicles are not automatically exempt from the Congestion Charge — whether a charge applies depends on the specific vehicle and any active TfL discount scheme.
- ULEZ exemption depends on the vehicle meeting the relevant emissions standard (Euro 6 for diesel/petrol, or zero-emission), not on whether it's a taxi or private hire car.
Rather than asking a passenger to guess, we build any applicable Congestion Charge or ULEZ cost into your estimated fare based on your actual route and pickup time — so it's reflected before you book, not added afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Will I be charged extra if my journey passes through the zone after 18:00? A: No — the Congestion Charge only applies during its operating hours above. A journey through the same streets at 19:30 doesn't attract the charge.
Q: Does ULEZ apply on Sundays? A: Yes. ULEZ runs 24/7, 365 days a year, unlike the Congestion Charge which has no charge on Sunday at all and reduced hours on Saturday.
Q: Do I pay a ULEZ charge for a Heathrow or Gatwick transfer? A: Only if part of the route falls inside Greater London and the vehicle doesn't meet the ULEZ emissions standard. Airport-to-airport or out-of-London legs of a journey aren't affected.
Q: How do I avoid surprises? A: Get an estimated fare for your exact journey before you travel. Because pickup, route and time of day all feed into the number, the estimate already reflects any Congestion Charge or ULEZ cost that applies — there's nothing to add at the destination.
The bottom line
- Congestion Charge = a small central zone, weekday daytime and weekend midday hours only, £18/day.
- ULEZ = all of Greater London, all day, every day, based on vehicle emissions.
- Neither is automatically waived just because you're in a taxi — check your specific journey.
- Compare an estimated fare that already accounts for both before you book, and see our guide to London taxi costs for the fuller pricing picture.