Discounts and exemptions for Congestion Charge and Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels charge

This 100% discount applies to breakdown vehicles operated by organisations in the European Economic Area that are accredited to BS EN ISO9001:2008 (and in accordance with the specification for applying that standard to the industry).

You can apply for the discount online. You will need to upload copies of your current BS EN ISO9001:2008 certification along with your PAS 43 certification to support your application.

From 7 April 2025, this discount will also apply for the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels charge.

Cost

Once your discount has been approved you can log onto your account and add your vehicles at a cost of £10 per vehicle. Once added the vehicle will be subject to the 100% discount until the expiry date of your discount.

When the discount expires you will need to pay a further £10 to renew each vehicle for another year.

Renewing your accredited breakdown discount

We will notify you when your discount is due to expire. You will be able to renew your discount online once you have received this notification.

If you can provide us with all your accredited breakdown discount documents you can apply online now.

To qualify for the 50% residents' discount for Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels charge, you must live within the East London low income residents' discount zone. This covers the boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Hackney, Havering, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and the City of London.

Our location checker will confirm if your address is within the East London low income residents' discount zone.

You can add a vehicle that is registered with the DVLA to you. You can also add a company or lease vehicle if it's for your sole use only.

The same criteria applies if you are adding a vehicle that belongs to or is leased to someone you live with.

If you don't own a vehicle, you can register if you occasionally use a hire or recognised car club vehicle.

If you have Auto Pay, the 50% resident discount applies to both peak and off-peak charges. Without Auto Pay, it only applies to peak charges.

Documents you need to provide

You need to provide evidence of your identification, address, benefit proof and vehicle.

If the vehicle you want to add to the discount belongs to someone you live with, you'll also need to provide their proof of identification, address and vehicle.

Photo ID

You'll need to provide your photo ID, such as a: 

• Passport
• Driving licence
• Blue Badge
• Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount card

Address documents

To show that you live in the East London low income residents' discount zone you need to provide an image or copy of 2 of the following:

• A current resident's on-street parking permit or a parking permit approval letter (must show the number plate/Vehicle Registration Mark)
• A residential council tax bill (valid for the current year)
• Your income support entitlement letter (no more than 7 months old)
• A bank or credit card statement (no more than 3 months old)
• A formal tenancy agreement or housing association rent documents (dated within the last 12 months)
• A current utility bill, for example a gas, water or electricity bill (no more than 3 months old, mobile phone bills are not accepted)
• Your driving licence (must contain the address you are using to register for the residents' discount)

Benefit proof

To show that you are receiving one of the eligible benefits, you'll need to provide your most recent benefit award letter, Universal Credit statement or Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount card.

Eligible benefits are:

• Income support
• Income-related Employment & Support Allowance
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Carer's Allowance
• Housing Benefit

Vehicle documents

This can be for your own vehicle or for a person you live with.
You will need to provide an image of 1 document from the list below.

Private vehicle:

• Your V5C vehicle registration certificate (log book). (The vehicle must also be registered with the DVLA in your name and at the address you are using to apply for the residents' discount)

Company car:

• A company car authorisation letter - this must be on company headed paper, state your full name, the number plate (Vehicle Registration Mark) and confirm that the vehicle is for your use only. (The vehicle must be registered in the company name with the DVLA)

Lease vehicle:

• Vehicle lease document - this is the document that you signed to lease the vehicle. (The vehicle must be registered in the lease company name with the DVLA)

A company car provided by a lease company:

• Your company's vehicle lease document (this is the document that you signed to lease the vehicle)
  AND
• A company car authorisation letter - this must be on company headed paper, state your full name, the number plate (Vehicle Registration mark) and confirm that the vehicle is for your use only. (The vehicle must be registered in the company or lease name with the DVLA)

All documents must be clear enough to read easily. If we can't read them, we may ask you for more proof. This will delay the registration process.

Renewing your East London low income residents' discount

We will notify you when your discount is due to expire. You will be able to renew your discount online once you have received this notification.

If you can provide the documents required for an East London low income residents' discount, you can apply online now.

Eligible small businesses, charities and sole traders registered in Greenwich, Newham or Tower Hamlets can apply for a £1 discount on the off-peak Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels charge for up to 3 vehicles. The off-peak charge is only available for vehicles registered on Auto Pay.

Eligibility

Small businesses, charities and sole traders that meet the following criteria may apply for a Tunnels business discount.

Small businesses that have:

• Under 50 employees and
• Up to £10.2m turnover or up to £5.1m balance sheet total in the preceding and current financial year and
• Companies House registration as an active company or VAT registered within the Greenwich, Newham, or Tower Hamlets

Charities that:

• Are registered with the Charity Commission and
• Have an operating address within Greenwich, Newham, or Tower Hamlets

Sole traders that:

• Are self-employed
• Own a business registered within Greenwich, Newham, or Tower Hamlets

Documents you need to provide

You will need to upload images or send photocopies of these documents to apply for the discount:

Address documents

To show that your small business, charity, or sole trader is registered within the Tunnels business discount zone, you'll need to provide one of the following:

• Utility bill (dated within the last 3 months)
• Bank/credit card statement (dated within the last 3 months)
• Council tax letter (dated within the last 12 months)
• Business rates letter (dated within the last 12 months)

Vehicle documents

You will also need to provide an image of 1 document from the list below.

If the vehicle is owned by organisation/sole trader:

• Provide the front and second page of the V5C (vehicle log book)

If the vehicle is leased to the organisation/sole trader

• The vehicle lease document showing the number plate (Vehicle Registration Mark) and lessee details

If it's a company vehicle on lease

• Copy of the vehicle lease document in lease company name showing the number plate (Vehicle Registration Mark)

If the vehicle is leased or owned by a small business director, an employee or charity trustee

• Provide the vehicle registration information (V5C or lease document) as above and confirmation on the organisation's letter headed paper that links the trustee, authorised employee or director to the organisation and states that the vehicle is for their use. The letter must be signed and state the vehicle number plate (Vehicle Registration Mark).

Photo ID

You'll need to provide photo ID such as a passport or driving licence for a small business director, charity trustee or sole trader.

Sole trader status

If you are applying as a sole trader, then you will also need to provide proof of your sole trader status. You'll need to provide one of the following:

• Proof of business insurance, employer's liability insurance, public liability insurance, professional indemnity insurance (active at point of application)
• Proof of self-employment from HMRC
• Proof of membership certificate from Federation of small businesses (FSB) or similar reputable trade or professional body
• Proof of a business bank account
• Letter from accountant or solicitor confirming sole trader status (dated within the last 3 months)
• Copy of a submitted tax return/submitted online self-assessment return (dated within the last 12 months)

Get an account

To pay the discounted Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels charge online you need to set up Business London Road User Charging account and sign up for Auto Pay. Your Auto Pay must be on the same account that you use to apply for the discount.

You'll only pay for tunnel crossings that you make and protect yourself from receiving Penalty Charge Notices.

If your vehicle does not meet the ULEZ emissions standards you need to pay the full daily ULEZ charge when driving in the zone.

Find out about Auto Pay.

If you can provide the documents required for a Tunnels business discount, you can apply online now.

If you hold a valid Blue Badge in the European Economic Area, you're eligible to register for a 100% discount, even if you don't own a vehicle or drive. (If you have an organisation Blue Badge or are applying on behalf of another person, for example a child, please see 'Applying for Blue Badge discount on behalf of someone else' below).

You can register up to two vehicles that you would normally use to travel within the Congestion Charge zone. This could be your own vehicle, or one you travel in.

You can apply for a discount online but you'll need to supply certain documents to show you're entitled to the discount.

From 7 April 2025, this discount will also apply for the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels charge.

Documents you need to provide

You need to provide us with a copy of both sides of your Blue Badge plus one of the following proofs of identity:

• DSS benefit entitlement letter (less than 7 months old)
• Current passport
• Current driver's licence
• Pension book/entitlement letter (less than 7 months old)
• Birth certificate (same first and last names as the Blue Badge. Not a Certificate of Registration of Birth)
• Marriage certificate (same first and last names as the Blue Badge)
• Current bank or credit card Statement (no more than 3 months old)
• Deed Poll Certificate (same first and last names as the Blue Badge)

Until we confirm your application is successful you must pay the charge for journeys within the zone.

Cost

You have to pay £10 to register for the Blue Badge discount. This will need to be renewed in line with your Blue Badge expiry date. As long as you renew within 90 days after the expiry date, you will not need to make a further payment.

Renewing your Blue Badge discount

We will notify you when your discount is due to expire. You will be able to renew your discount online once you have received this notification.

If you can provide all of the Blue Badge discount documents required you can apply online now.

Only battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are eligible for the cleaner vehicle discount. From 25 December 2025, the cleaner vehicle discount will be discontinued. From this date, all vehicle owners, unless in receipt of another discount or exemption, will need to pay to enter the Congestion Charge zone during charging hours.

You can apply for a discount online, but you'll need to supply certain documents to show you're entitled to the discount.

Documents you need to provide?

You will need to upload images or send photocopies of the following documents to apply for the discount:

UK-registered

• V5C vehicle registration certificate (logbook) issued by the DVLA

Non-UK registered

• The vehicle registration document issued by your vehicle licensing agency

The document must clearly show that the vehicle is registered as fuel type 'Battery Electric' or 'Hydrogen Fuel Cell'.

Cost

You have to pay £10 to register each vehicle for the discount. This will need to be renewed every year.

Renewing your cleaner vehicle discount

We will notify you when your discount is due to expire. You will be able to renew your discount online once you have received this notification.

The cleaner vehicle discount will end on 25 December 2025. This means that if you renew your discount after 24 December 2024, you will get less than 12 months of discount and the £10 renewal charge will still apply.

If you can provide us with all your cleaner vehicle discount documents you can apply online now.

To qualify for the 90% residents' discount, you must live within the Congestion Charge residents' discount zone.

Our location checker will confirm if your address is within the residents' discount zone.

You may continue to apply if you live within the Congestion Charge residents' discount zone AND:

• Your name is shown on either the Parliamentary or local government electoral register
• Your main or permanent home is in the Congestion Charging zone
• The property is used for residential purposes
• You are at least 17 years old

If you are adding a vehicle it must be registered with the DVLA in your name and at the address you are using to apply for the discount.

OR you can register a company or lease vehicle if it is for your sole use only.

OR if you don't own a vehicle, you can register if you occasionally use a hire or recognised car club vehicle.

Documents you need to provide

You need to provide evidence of both the address and discount vehicle.

Address documents

To show that you live in the Congestion Charge zone you need to provide an image or copy of 2 of the following:

• A current resident's on-street parking permit or a parking permit approval letter (must show the number plate/Vehicle Registration Mark)
• A residential council tax bill (valid for the current year)
• Your income support entitlement letter (no more than 7 months old)
• A bank or credit card statement (no more than 3 months old)
• A formal tenancy agreement or housing association rent documents (dated within the last 12 months)
• A current utility bill, for example a gas, water or electricity bill (no more than 3 months old, mobile phone bills are not accepted)
• Your driving licence (must contain the address you are using to register for the Congestion Charge residents' discount)

Vehicle documents

You will also need to provide an image of 1 document from the list below.

Your own private vehicle:

• Your V5C vehicle registration certificate (logbook). (The vehicle must also be registered with the DVLA in your name and at the address you are using to apply for the Congestion Charge residents' discount)

Company car:

• A company car authorisation letter - this must be on company headed paper, state your full name, the number plate (Vehicle Registration Mark) and confirm that the vehicle is for your use only. (The vehicle must be registered in the company name with the DVLA)

Lease vehicle:

• Vehicle lease document - this is the document that you signed to lease the vehicle. (The vehicle must be registered in the lease company name with the DVLA)

A company car provided by a lease company:

• Your company's vehicle lease document (this is the document that you signed to lease the vehicle)

AND

• A company car authorisation letter - this must be on company headed paper, state your full name, the number plate (Vehicle Registration mark) and confirm that the vehicle is for your use only. (The vehicle must be registered in the company or lease name with the DVLA)

All documents must be clear enough to read easily. If we can't read them we may ask you for more proof. This will delay the registration process.

Cost

There is an annual £10 registration charge for this discount.

To pay the discounted Congestion Charge online you need to set up Auto Pay. You'll only pay for the days that you drive within the zone and protect yourself from receiving Penalty Charge Notices.

If your vehicle does not meet the ULEZ emissions standards you need to pay the full daily ULEZ charge when driving in the zone.

Find out about Auto Pay.

If you can provide the documents required for a Congestion Charge residents' discount, you can apply online now.

To apply for the discount you will need to provide images of your vehicle (front, back and side) showing the number plate (Vehicle Registration Mark) along with a copy of the V5C registration document (log book).

Once we've approved your application and your discount is active, you can drive within the zone for free.

Cost

You have to pay £10 to register each vehicle for the discount. This will need to be renewed annually.

Renewing your motor tricycle discount

We will notify you when your discount is due to expire. You will be able to renew your discount online once you have received this notification.

If your recovery vehicle is registered with the DVLA as tax class 47 and our records show this, you can apply for your discount online without any further evidence.

If our records do not show that your vehicle is registered with the DVLA as a recovery vehicle, we will ask you to submit an image of the V5C vehicle registration certificate (logbook) - the document sent by the DVLA or DVA - to show that the vehicle is eligible for the discount.

From 7 April 2025, this discount will also apply for the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels charge.

Cost

You have to pay £10 to register each vehicle for the discount. This will need to be renewed every year.

Renewing your roadside recovery vehicle discount

We will notify you when your discount is due to expire. You will be able to renew your discount once you have received this notification.

If you can provide us with all your roadside recovery discount documents you can apply online now.

While some 9+ seater vehicles are automatically exempt from certain charges, others will need to apply to receive a discount.

Congestion Charge

If your vehicle is registered the DVLA as a bus (taxation classes 'buses' and 'reduced pollution buses') you are automatically exempt and do not need to register with us for this discount.

Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels charge (from 7 April 2025)

If your vehicle is registered with the DVLA as body type minibus, bus or coach, you won't need to pay the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels charge or register for this discount to use the tunnels. Other 9+ seater vehicle types will need to apply.

Non-UK vehicles

If your 9+ seater vehicle is registered outside the UK but within the European Economic Area, you will need to register with us.

You can apply for a discount online, but you'll need to supply certain documents to show you're entitled to the discount.

Documents you need to provide

You will need to upload images or send photocopies of these documents to apply for the discount:

• A V5C - this is the vehicle registration document (logbook) that the DVLA sends you. If you are from outside of the UK, please send a copy of the vehicle registration document issued by your vehicle licensing agency

You also need to prove that the vehicle has 9 seats or more. Provide a copy of 1 of the following documents:

• The vehicle's MOT certificate
• The vehicle's CIF or COIF (Certificate of Initial Fitness)
• Your insurance document
• Another proof that shows the number of seats

Cost

You have to pay £10 to register each vehicle for the discount. This must be renewed every year.

Renewing your 9+ seater discount

We will notify you when your discount is due to expire. You will be able to renew your discount online once you have received this notification.

If you can provide us with all your 9+ seater discount documents you can apply online now.