If you are a regular driver to the centre of London you will know about the congestion charges and registering for them. Delivery drivers, tourists, commuters all have to pay these charges although the process is based on automatic number plate recognition and the process itself is automated.
There is a daily charge of ￡10 which can be paid the day before, on the day or the day after. Businesses with fleet vehicles are charged ￡7 per vehicle. There is the autopay option (CC Auto Pay) which regards the number of times a vehicle is registered on the cameras and charges a debit of credit card on a monthly basis. This will remove the need to keep logging in and paying each time you are charged.
The area itself has been reduced from when it was introduced in 2003 and extended in 2007. The western extension was removed in 2011 following on from a public consultation. The zone originally included the whole of the City of London, the financial district and the West End. It was basically the London Inner Ring Road.
TfL (Transport for London) is responsible for the Congestion Charge Zone scheme and the revenue generated from the charges is implemented back into the pot for improving the transport network in London. It is operated and subcontracted to a few different companies.
There are other areas in the UK that have congestion charges and drivers making deliveries need to be aware of these. Durham has a ￡2 charge in travelling on a particular road in the city. Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff, Birmingham and Bristol have all expressed interest in congestion charges but these have not been implemented.
The are countries within Europe that have congestion charging which include Rome, Stockholm and Milan.
There are several reasons to visit London though both professionally and personally. The city centre is thriving with nightlife, entertainment, tourist attractions, monarchy connections like Buckingham Palace, Tower of London and St James Park and also Government attractions like Westminster, House of Commons and even Downing Street. Take a look at the statues in the park and walk down The Mall. Delivery drivers making collections and deliveries are all too familiar with Oxford Street, Leicester Square and even Piccadilly Circus.
If you are staying in London, look for some hotels and take a trip to several attractions and opt for a tourist bus rather than driving through the centre on a regular basis and incuring congestion charge costs.
Michelle Jones works in the transport industry and understands the information on congestion charges and driving around London to collect for a Europe delivery. Delivery drivers can be stuck in traffic when they reach city centres when they are making a delivery to Europe.
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