Drivers in major UK city face new £5 daily congestion charge

Petrol, diesel and electric car owners in one major UK city will be forced to pay a £5 daily fee to use the roads as part of a major update coming into effect within days. Drivers travelling in Oxford will have to pay a new daily congestion charge set to be rolled out across four locations from October 29.

The rule means every car owner faces a daunting £5 fee to use the road, with hefty £70 fines in place for those not following the rules. The charging scheme is understood to be temporary, with council officials claiming the new fee is to reduce congestion in Oxford while Botley Road is closed. However, with the road set to be closed until the summer of 2026, council chiefs have warned the charges could remain in place for up to two years.

Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: "This is another important milestone in delivering a cleaner, more accessible Oxford.

"The temporary congestion charge will help reduce queues, improve air quality, and make public transport more reliable. Together with our free park-and-ride offer, this will help everyone move around the city more easily and support local businesses as we head into the busy Christmas period."

The Congestion Charge applies to cars passing through ay of the four locations, these include St Cross Road, St Clements, Hollow Way and Marston Ferry Road.

Oxfordshire County Council has confirmed the new fees only apply to M1 vehicles, considered to be cars and motorhomes.

Electric cars are not exempt from the congestion charge, meaning they pay the same rate as petrol and diesel owners.

Motorists only have to pay the fee once a day, meaning road users can drive through multiple charge locations per day and not be hit with any higher rates.

The council has claimed the new scheme will help to reduce traffic and make bus journeys faster and more reliable. They also suggest the move could make walking and cycling safer, as well as reduce local air pollution.

Oxfordshire County Council adds: "The scheme will remain in place until we introduce the traffic filters trial once Botley Road reopens, which we expect to be August 2026. The maximum time the congestion charge scheme will be in place as a temporary measure is two years."