Congestion Charge, ULEZ and Red Routes on a London Moving Day

A removal van in London does more than drive from one door to another. Depending on the route, it can pass through the Congestion Charge zone, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and a red route, and then cross the Thames at Dartford on the way out. Each has its own rules, and some of them cost money. This guide explains what each one means for a house move and who pays for it.

TfL's figures here were checked on 3 November 2026. TfL changes them from time to time, so check TfL's Congestion Charge page and TfL's ULEZ page before your moving day.

Does the Congestion Charge apply to a removal van?

Yes, if the van is driven inside the zone during charging hours. A removal van is not treated differently from any other vehicle just because it is carrying a house move. The zone covers central London. Many London moves, such as one between two outer boroughs, never go near it.

The charging hours are 07:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday, and 12:00 to 18:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Outside those hours there is no charge. So a weekend move that is done in the zone before 12:00 pays no Congestion Charge. TfL also makes no charge from Christmas Day to the New Year's Day bank holiday, inclusive.

The quickest check is to look up both addresses on TfL's zone page, which has the zone map and a postcode checker. Remember the route as well as the addresses. A van can cross the zone between two addresses outside it, although a sensible route usually avoids that.

How much is the Congestion Charge?

TfL charges £18 a day if you pay on the day or in advance. It is £21 if you pay by midnight on the third day after you travel. These amounts took effect on 2 January 2026, under Mayoral decision MD3442. Before that they were £15 and £17.50.

If the charge is not paid, the penalty is £180. It is cut to £90 if paid within 14 days, and raised to £270 after 28 days.

Who pays the Congestion Charge on an AFS move?

If either your collection or your delivery address is inside the zone during charging hours, we add the Congestion Charge to your quote as its own line. You can see it, rather than finding it hidden in the hourly rate. The line is TfL's daily charge, set by TfL, not by us. If neither address is in the zone, the line does not appear.

This matters when you compare quotes. One company may include the charge in its price, another may add it later, and a third may not mention it at all. Ask each one how it handles the Congestion Charge, and get the answer in writing.

How payment works

On an AFS move, the charge for our van is on your quote, so there is nothing extra to sort out for the van. If you are driving your own car into the zone on moving day, that car is your responsibility. TfL's page explains the ways to pay. You can pay online through TfL, or register for Auto Pay, which is free and pays the charge for you.

The ULEZ is London-wide. TfL says it covers all London boroughs, but not the M25 itself. It runs 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day (25 December). So for most London moves, both addresses are inside it.

Does ULEZ apply to a removal van?

Only if the van does not meet the ULEZ emissions standard. For vans, TfL's standard is Euro 4 for petrol and Euro 6 for diesel. TfL checks the vehicle's declared emissions, not its age. A van that meets it can drive in the zone without paying anything.

A van that does not meet it pays £12.50 for each day it is driven in the zone. This applies to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. Each day runs from midnight to midnight. The penalty for not paying is £180, or £90 if paid within 14 days. The same Euro 6 diesel and Euro 4 petrol minimum applies to vans in England's Clean Air Zones.

Do you pay ULEZ on an AFS move?

No. AFS vans meet the ULEZ standard, so no ULEZ charge is added to an AFS quote. That is true wherever the move is in London.

If you are booking another company, or hiring a van yourself, ask which vehicle will be used and check its registration on TfL's ULEZ page. A van that does not meet the standard adds £12.50 for each day it is driven in the zone.

London has a second emissions zone, the Low Emission Zone. It covers most of Greater London and runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year. It is aimed at heavy diesel vehicles.

For vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, TfL charges £100 a day if the vehicle meets Euro IV (PM) but not Euro VI. It charges £300 a day if the vehicle is below Euro IV (PM). Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes do not pay the ULEZ charge. The LEZ charge must be paid by midnight on the third day after travel.

This matters for larger moves. Our 5.5 Tonne and 7.5 Tonne Lorries are heavier than a 3.5-tonne van, so the question for them is the LEZ, not ULEZ. Our rate card does not set out an LEZ line. If your move needs a lorry, ask for the vehicle and any emissions charge to be confirmed in your written quote. The vehicle guide shows which sizes we use.

Red routes are main roads marked with red lines instead of yellow ones. They exist to keep traffic moving, and they are strict about stopping.

Can a removal van load on a red route?

Not on the red lines themselves. Single and double red lines ban stopping, including for loading. A double red line means no stopping at any time. The Highway Code says that on red routes, specially marked and signed bays show where and when loading and unloading is allowed. So a van can load on a red route only in a marked bay, at the times its sign allows.

TfL's loading rules allow a "reasonable time" for loading. The goods should be ready, and the van must move once loading is done. TfL names furniture as a valid reason to load. TfL gives no fixed number of minutes. Any maximum time is set by the bay's sign.

Read the sign by the bay, not just the road markings. A bay's hours and limits are printed on its own sign, and they can differ from the next bay along the same road. Red boxes can be used only at the times shown, and white boxes all day. The crew will check this, but it helps if you send a photo of the sign when you ask for a quote.

TfL enforces red routes itself, by a Civil Enforcement Officer on the spot or by camera. The penalty is £160, cut to £80 if paid within 14 days.

What if your home is on a red route?

Plan the stopping place first. The options are usually a signed loading bay near your door, a side road off the red route, or a private drive or forecourt. Red routes are TfL's own roads. Yellow lines and pay bays belong to the borough councils. Several London councils we have checked, such as Bromley and Havering, also say red routes are handled by TfL rather than the council. That means a council parking suspension may not be available on the red route itself. TfL's red routes page has its current rules.

Tell us at quote stage if either address is on a red route. A longer walk from the van to the door adds carrying time, and that time is part of the price. How removal companies assess stairs, lifts and access lists what to record.

Yellow lines and kerb marks

Off the red routes, the borough's yellow lines apply. The Highway Code says you must not wait or park on yellow lines during the times shown, and double yellow lines mean no waiting at any time. Loading may still be allowed there, unless there are yellow marks on the kerb. A double yellow kerb mark means no loading at any time. A single kerb mark means no loading at the times on the plate. If no days are shown, the rule applies every day, including Sundays and bank holidays.

Parking suspensions off the red route

On ordinary streets, the usual way to keep a space clear is a parking suspension from the council. Councils set their own notice periods and fees. On an AFS move, the customer arranges and pays for any parking suspension, and it matches our quotation terms. Our guide to parking suspensions on a London moving day explains how to apply and how much notice to give.

If your move leaves London to the east or south and crosses the Thames on the M25, it will probably use the Dartford Crossing. GOV.UK says you usually need to pay between 6am and 10pm, including at weekends and on bank holidays. The charge must be paid by midnight the day after you cross.

These are GOV.UK's charges. Vans and other goods vehicles go by axle count: class C for 2 axles and class D for more than 2. GOV.UK says to count droppable axles whether they are up or down. If the charge is not paid, the fine is £70, cut to £35 if paid within 14 days and raised to £105 if it is not paid.

Who pays the Dartford charge on an AFS move?

We have not set out how tolls are passed on, so do not assume either way. If your route uses the Dartford Crossing or any other toll, ask for it to be shown in your written quote. If you are driving your own car to the new home, the car's crossing is yours to pay. Moving out of London covers the rest of a move beyond the M25.

Road charges are a small part of most London moves, but they are easy to miss when you compare prices. Before you book, check these points with any removal company:

• Is either address inside the Congestion Charge zone during charging hours, and is the charge shown as its own line?
• Does the van meet the ULEZ standard? If not, how many days of charge are in the price?
• If a lorry is needed, has the LEZ been checked for it?
• Is either address on a red route, and where exactly will the van stop?
• Is a parking suspension needed, and who is applying for it?
• Does the route use the Dartford Crossing or another toll, and is it in the quote?

On our rate card, moves are priced by the hour plus mileage, and road charges sit outside those rates. For real London prices and worked examples, read how much house removals cost in London. For how we run a move from start to finish, see our page on house removals in London.

The more we know about both addresses, the fewer surprises there are on the day. When you ask for a quote, send us:

• Both postcodes and your preferred date
• Whether either address is on a red route or in a controlled parking zone
• Where the van can stop, with a photo of any bay sign
• Whether you are applying for a parking suspension
• Floors, lifts and the walk from the kerb to the door

You can request a quote online or message us on WhatsApp at +44 333 772 3714. Your written quote will show the Congestion Charge as its own line if it applies, and you can ask us to confirm anything else, such as tolls, in writing. The final price is confirmed by our team. To start, go to our page on house removals in London.