By MinicabTransfer editorial team · Updated
Yes, minicabs pay the Congestion Charge. As of October 2026, Transport for London (TfL) says private hire vehicles are not exempt, so a minicab entering central London during charging hours owes the daily charge of £18. Black cabs are exempt. Whether that charge appears in your fare is up to the operator: some include it, some add it on, so confirm before you travel.
This guide explains the Congestion Charge and the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) from a passenger’s point of view: who pays, when, how much, and how to avoid a surprise on the final price. Figures are as of October 2026, linked to TfL’s own sources. Charges change, so check TfL before relying on an exact amount.
The Congestion Charge in brief
The Congestion Charge is a daily charge for driving within central London’s charging zone during set hours. As of October 2026:
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Daily charge | £18 if paid in advance or on the day; £21 if paid within three days after travel (TfL notice 02/26) |
| Electric cars on Auto Pay | £13.50 (25% Cleaner Vehicle Discount), including private hire vehicles |
| Weekday hours | 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday |
| Weekend and bank holiday hours | Midday to 6pm |
| No charge | Christmas Day to the New Year’s Day bank holiday, inclusive |
| Black cabs | Exempt while licensed by TfL |
| Private hire vehicles | Not exempt, except designated wheelchair accessible vehicles on a booking |
Charging hours are set out in TfL’s Pay to drive in London terms and the Congestion Charge page. It’s a daily charge, so a driver pays once per vehicle per charging day, however many times they enter the zone.
What changed in 2026
Two changes matter for minicab fares. The charge rose from £15 to £18 on 2 January 2026. And the old Cleaner Vehicle Discount, which made electric cars fully exempt, ended on 25 December 2025. Electric private hire vehicles now pay £13.50 a day if registered on Auto Pay, or the full £18 if not. TfL’s notice also says the discount falls to 12.5% for electric cars from 4 March 2030, and that the charge itself could rise each year under a new process, subject to TfL and the Mayor.
Who pays: minicab, black cab or app ride?
| Vehicle | Congestion Charge | ULEZ |
|---|---|---|
| Black cab (London taxi) | Exempt while licensed | Exempt; taxis meet separate emissions standards |
| Minicab or chauffeur car (private hire) | Pays: £18, or £13.50 if electric and on Auto Pay | Pays £12.50 only if the vehicle doesn’t meet ULEZ standards |
| App-booked private hire | Same as any private hire vehicle | Same as any private hire vehicle |
| Designated wheelchair accessible private hire | Exempt only while carrying out a booking for a TfL-licensed operator | Grace period to 24 October 2027, on a booking only |
Sources: TfL notice 02/26 for the Congestion Charge; TfL ULEZ discounts and exemptions for the ULEZ.
App-based services are private hire too, so the same rules apply to them. How each app shows the charge on your receipt is its own policy.
The ULEZ: why most passengers never see it
The ULEZ is separate from the Congestion Charge. As of October 2026, it:
- Covers all London boroughs, not just the centre.
- Runs 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day, with each charging day running midnight to midnight.
- Charges £12.50 a day for cars that don’t meet its emissions standards (TfL ULEZ: where and when).
The key word is non-compliant. A car that meets the standards pays nothing. The minimum is generally Euro 4 for petrol cars and Euro 6 for diesel; electric cars comply. If the car on your journey is compliant, the ULEZ has no effect on your fare. London-licensed taxis are exempt because they have their own emissions rules. If you’re unsure, ask the operator whether the vehicle is ULEZ compliant; you can also check any number plate with TfL’s vehicle checker.
How the Congestion Charge can affect your fare
For a black cab, nothing changes: the cab is exempt and the meter runs as normal.
For private hire, the charge falls on the vehicle, not the passenger, and each operator decides how to reflect it in the price. A quote might handle it in one of three ways:
- Included. The quote already covers it. You pay the quoted fare.
- Added as an extra. The quote is shown without it, and the charge is added if the journey enters the zone during charging hours.
- Not charged separately. Because the charge is daily, a vehicle that has already paid that day costs nothing more to bring back in, and an operator may choose not to pass it on per journey.
None of these is wrong, but they produce different totals. Two quotes that look different may simply treat the charge differently. Compare like with like.
Journeys most likely to be affected
- Pickups or drop-offs in the City, West End, Westminster, Southwark and the South Bank between 7am and 6pm on a weekday.
- Hotel runs to Heathrow, Gatwick or London City that start in the zone during the day.
- Hourly hire days spent in central London: one daily charge for the vehicle, not one per stop.
Journeys that start and end outside the zone, or run entirely outside charging hours, such as an early-morning airport run or a late-night taxi, avoid the charge.
What to ask an operator
MinicabTransfer is a fare comparison and referral service. We don’t operate vehicles or set fares. Fares on the site don’t itemise the Congestion Charge or ULEZ, so ask the operator to confirm what their price includes.
When you request a quote, check:
- Is the Congestion Charge included if my journey enters the zone during charging hours?
- Is the vehicle ULEZ compliant? If it isn’t, who pays?
- What else is included: airport drop-off or parking charges, tolls, waiting time?
- On a return trip, will the charge be applied once or twice?
Get the answer in writing with the confirmed price. The operator, not MinicabTransfer, agrees the final fare with you.
Airport charges are separate. Heathrow and other airports have their own drop-off and parking charges, which are nothing to do with the Congestion Charge. See our guide to the Heathrow drop-off charge.
An example
Say you’re travelling from a Mayfair hotel to Heathrow at 10am on a Tuesday. The journey starts inside the zone during charging hours, so a private hire vehicle on that trip is liable for the day’s charge. Fares between Heathrow and central London start from £74 for a saloon. That’s an indicative figure, and whether the Congestion Charge sits inside or on top of the operator’s final price is for them to confirm. Leave at 6am instead, or travel on a Sunday morning, and the charge doesn’t apply. A black cab on the same Tuesday trip pays no Congestion Charge, but its meter will run for the whole journey. For a fuller comparison, see minicab vs black cab vs Uber.
Frequently confused points
- The charge isn’t per entry. It’s once per vehicle per charging day.
- Electric no longer means free. Since 25 December 2025, electric private hire cars pay too, at a discount on Auto Pay.
- Evenings are free. The charge stops at 6pm every day it applies.
- ULEZ and the Congestion Charge are different. A ULEZ-compliant minicab pays no ULEZ charge at all, but it still pays the Congestion Charge in the central zone.
Ready to compare? Enter your route to see fares on our airport transfers page or Heathrow fares, then request a quote and ask the operator what’s included.