About the congestion charge

Why we have this scheme

We designed the scheme to reduce congestion in Oxford while Botley Road is closed, and we cannot start the traffic filters trial. We expect it to improve bus services and make it easier for permit holders to travel by car into and around the city, including:

• community health and care workers
• carers
• Blue Badge holders
• traders 

The objectives of the scheme are the same as for traffic filters. The scheme aims to:

• reduce traffic
• make bus journeys faster and more reliable
• allow for new and improved bus routes
• make walking and cycling safer
• reduce local air pollution
• improve the health and wellbeing of our communities

The scheme order

How long the congestion charge will be in place

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.

Vehicles the congestion charge applies to

The congestion charge applies only to cars (and motorhomes). The DVLA classifies these as M1 vehicles (vehicle type approval). If unsure how your vehicle is classified, use the DVLA vehicle checker to view the vehicle type approval.  

Electric cars are not exempt from the congestion charge.

All other vehicles, such as vans, motorbikes, mopeds, scooters and lorries, can go through the congestion charge locations without charge.

The daily congestion charge

A daily charge is £5.

You only pay once a day. You can drive through multiple charge locations per day or any single charge location multiple times per day.

Cars with permits (including day passes) can go through the congestion locations without charge.

How to pay the congestion charge

If you don't have a permit, you can pay the congestion charge online—you won't need an account. You can pay the charge online by midnight on the day after you drive through one of the six charge locations. If you can't pay online, you can pay by phone. 

Charging days and times

The temporary congestion charge operates all year round, including bank holidays. View the charging days and times. 

How to identify the congestion charge locations

Congestion charging locations are marked by road signs. View a map and a list of the street names.

The blue sign indicates that you are 280 yards (256 m) from the charging location. At this point, you can change your route to avoid it. 

The white signs on both sides of the road mark the charging location. If you pass these signs in a car without a permit, you must pay the charge. 

Below are images of both signs.

Fines for not paying the charge

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras check all vehicles moving through congestion locations. You must pay the daily charge if you go through a congestion charge location without a permit. 

If you do not pay the daily charge, you will receive a £70 fine (reduced by half to £35 if paid within 14 days).

If you do not pay the fine within 28 days, the fine increases by half to £105.

Travelling around Oxford

The congestion charge applies only to cars passing through the congestion charge locations. You can avoid four of the charge locations below by taking a different route:

• St Cross Road
• St Clements
• Hollow Way
• Marston Ferry Road

Plan your route before you travel to avoid passing through the congestion locations.

Residents

There are three residential permit types for Oxfordshire residents. The one you qualify for depends on where you live. View a map of the permit areas.

Car parks

If you do not have a permit, you will have to pay the congestion charge to access these car parks:

• Westgate
• the rail station
• Oxpens
• Worcester Street

How to check if you went through a charging location

You will not be able to check on the payment system if you drove through a congestion charging location. 

If you are unsure whether your route took you through a congestion charging point, you can see the exact locations on this map and view images of the congestion charge signage

Project costs

The cost estimate for the temporary congestion charge is £496,906.

Project funding

The temporary congestion charge scheme largely makes use of the infrastructure, and back-office systems developed for the traffic filters trial, which was approved by the council’s cabinet in November 2022. (See Cabinet 22 November 2022, item 157.)

An additional £0.5 million has been allocated to the project through the Congestion Relief Fund, within the council’s approved capital programme, allocated to the Botley Road mitigation package.

The operating expenditure, including staff costs and maintenance, is being funded from the temporary congestion charge income.

Estimated income generated by the temporary congestion charge

There are significant uncertainties in the income forecast, but net income after operating costs could total £3.5m - £4m per year.  By law this income must be spent on transport schemes and is being used in the first three months to fund free park and ride bus travel.

Scheme assessments and reports

The following assessments and reports supported the report to the council’s cabinet in September 2025, when the decision was made to implement the scheme.

• Congestion hotspots 2024
• Equalities impact assessment
• Climate impact assessment
• Bus speeds March – June 2025
• Modelling and income forecasting report
• Air quality technical note
• Business impacts technical note
• Monitoring plan
• Stage 2 Road Safety Audit Response Report
• Stage 2 Road Safety Audit Response Report Marston Ferry Road
• Consultation report

Further documents and meeting minutes can be found on the cabinet agenda page.