Congestion Charge Rise Sparks New Concerns for London’s Car Clubs

Welcome, Net Zero News readers, Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that major changes to the Congestion Charge will come into effect on 2 January 2026, prompting strong warnings from shared mobility groups about the impact on car clubs across the capital. Under the updated plans, the daily Congestion Charge will increase from £15 to £18, while the current 100% electric vehicle (EV) discount will be reduced to 25%. Car club operators say the combined effect of these changes will significantly increase operational costs. One operator has estimated the impact at around £878,000 over the next five years. CoMoUK Warns of Higher Costs for Users Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK), the national shared transport charity, has raised concerns that the policy could force car clubs to increase prices for customers, making shared mobility less accessible at a time when London is striving to reduce private car use. The only vehicles that will remain exempt from the Congestion Charge are EVs already based inside the charging zone — and only if they are returned to the same parking bay after each trip. CoMoUK says this represents just a small fraction of London’s car club fleet. Richard Dilks, Chief Executive of CoMoUK, said: “While it is positive that some car club EVs inside the zone will remain exempt, this applies to only a handful of vehicles and does little to offset the broader financial burden. These plans add more cost to the capital’s shared car fleet and risk reducing access to car clubs that help cut emissions, congestion, and private car ownership. Our research shows each car club vehicle replaces 31 private cars in London, freeing up street space and improving air quality.” He added that car club members are more likely to use active travel and public transport, supporting London’s long-term sustainability goals. CoMoUK is urging the Mayor and TfL to rethink the approach and avoid treating shared vehicles the same as privately-owned cars, arguing that doing so undermines the capital’s wider transport and climate ambitions.