DRIVING IN LONDON - London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

DRIVING IN LONDON
We have created this useful guide to driving in London, covering any charges that you may
need to pay, as well as any rules that may incur penalties if not adhered to. If you have any
queries please visit http://www.tfl.gov.uk or email us on VCRadmin@goose.co.uk.
THE CONGESTION CHARGE

There is charge for driving a vehicle within the Congestion Charging Zone, shown in red,
between 07:00 and 18:00 Monday to Friday.
Payment can be made in advance, on the day of travel or by midnight of the following day.
The daily charge is £11.50 if paid in advance or on the day of travel, or £14 if paid the day
following the day of travel.
If you do not pay by midnight of the day following the day of travel in the zone, you'll
receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
For more information and to pay the charge please visit:
www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge
THE ULTRA LOW EMISSION ZONE CHARGE
To help improve air quality, an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will be in place in central
London from 8 April 2019. Most vehicles ranging from motorcycles to the largest of lorries
will need to meet new, tighter exhaust emission standards or pay a daily charge to travel
within the area of the ULEZ.
All vehicles registered before 1 January 1973, so including all veteran cars entered in the
VCR, are exempt from the ULEZ.
The daily charge will be £12.50 or £100.00 dependent on size of vehicle. There are large
penalty charges for non-payment.
The daily charge runs from midnight to midnight, 7 days a week, every day of the year,
within the same area as the current Congestion Charging Zone.

For more information on what vehicles are liable for the charge and on how to pay visit:
www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone
From 25 October 2021, the ULEZ area will be expanded to include the inner London area
bounded by the North and South Circular Roads.
RED ROUTES

To help ease congestion on the major routes in London, ‘Red routes,’ marked with either
single or double red lines indicate that cars are prohibited from stopping to park,
load/unload or to allow passengers to board or alight.
A penalty charge may be issued to those seen to offend via a Civil Enforcement Office or on
CCTV.
For more information please visit: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/red-routes/rules-
of-red-routes
PARKING IN LONDON
Q-Park operates 16 refurbished parking facilities in Central London, including car parks in
Oxford Street, Park Lane, Soho, Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Chinatown, Harley
Street, Queensway, Victoria and Knightsbridge. Book your parking to guarantee a space via
the Q-Park website. Check that the car park is suitable for trailers as some car parks have
restricted height or barriers which only allow a single vehicle to enter or exit.

NCP (National Car Parks) runs about 100 car parks in London, including airport car parks.
If you want to plan ahead, visit the Parkopedia website to search for parking spaces at your
destination.

In London streets, parking restrictions typically apply between 08.30 and 18.30 Monday to
Saturday. Always check the signs for exact details of parking restrictions, such as ‘Residents
Only’, in each street. Many of London's roads operate "Pay & Display" schemes, where you'll
need to purchase a ticket and display it on the dashboard or windscreen of the vehicle.

Some London boroughs operate "phone parking" where you can pay for parking on your
mobile phone.

However, you usually need to create an account and register a credit or debit card to do
this.

PARKING FINES IN LONDON

If your vehicle is parked in contravention of parking or traffic restrictions, you will be issued
with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). And in some areas, your vehicle may be clamped. These
parking fines and penalties are administered by the London borough in which the offence
occurs.

Parking fines are generally between £80 and £130. If the fine is paid within 14 days of issue,
a 50 percent discount applies. The fine can usually be paid online, by phone, by post, or in
person. For more information, contact the relevant London borough issuing the fine.

YELLOW BOX JUNCTIONS

Yellow box junctions keep the junction clear for through-traffic to avoid traffic jams. They
also keep a road space free to ensure fire engines always have a clear exit from fire stations.
Yellow box junctions are indicated by criss-cross yellow lines painted on the road. They are
usually found at the junction of two or more roads and occasionally at roundabouts or
outside fire and ambulance stations. A yellow box junction may not have any additional
signage.
You may enter a yellow box junction when your exit is clear and there is enough space on
the other side of the junction for your vehicle to clear the box completely without stopping.
The only time you can stop in a yellow box junction is turning right, if you are prevented
from turning by oncoming traffic, or by other vehicles waiting to turn right.

Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) will be issued to those caught on CCTV stationary in the
yellow box.
For more information please visit: www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/red-routes/rules-of-red-
routes/yellow-box-junctions
Speed Limits in London
A speed limit of 20mph has been imposed on all central London roads managed by
Transport for London (TfL) in a bid to reduce road deaths. Please see map below for a guide
as to speed limits in and around London. Failure to stick to the speed limit will result in
Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs)

BUS LANES

Bus lanes aren't always just for buses. Taxis, motorcyclists and cyclists can use many of them
too. Anyone can use a bus lane outside the hours of operation but be aware some bus lanes
are operational 24/7. It is important to check the sign to see whether you are able to use
the bus lane at any given time.
These hours differ due to the volume and frequency of buses using the route.
Using a bus lane when you are not permitted can delay buses and cause congestion. Penalty
Charge Notices (PCNs) may be issued if you drive in a bus lane.
Veteran Cars officially entered into the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run have been given
dispensation to use all bus lanes between Hyde Park and Madeira Drive APART FROM THE
METROBUS LANES ENTERING AND EXITING CRAWLEY.
For more information please visit: www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/red-routes/rules-of-red-
routes/bus-lanes
AREAS PERMITTING ONLY ULTRA LOW EMISSION VEHICLES
Two London councils, Hackney and Islington, have banned all but the cleanest vehicles from
some areas at peak traveling times, to help reduce the city’s air pollution levels.
Between the hours of 07.00-10.00 and 16.00-19.00 weekdays, only ultra-low emission
vehicles will be allowed on the noted streets where this ruling is enforced. Drivers of petrol,
diesel and older hybrid vehicles will incur a fine if they travel into the CCTV-monitored
areas.
Cowper Street, Singer Street, Tabernacle Street, Paul Street, Willow Street, Blackall Street,
Ravey Street, Rivington Street and Charlotte Road are all affected. It would be prudent to
check your journey prior to departure to ensure you will not be driving in this area, at the
restricted times.

For further details please visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/article/5270/Ultra-low-emission-
streets
The City of London Corporation will be running a similar trial from April 2019 limiting access
to Moor Lane, near Moorgate, to ultra-low emission vehicles only.
DARTFORD CROSSING
The Dartford Crossing on the M25 Motorway east of London consists of two tunnels
(carrying northbound traffic) and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge (carrying southbound
traffic). There is a small charge varying from £2.50 - £6.00 per crossing to travel along this
route, dependant on size of vehicle.
Charges apply from 06.00 – 22.00 every day, including weekends and bank holidays.
Payment can only be made on line and must be completed by midnight the day after you
cross. There are no facilities to pay at the crossing.
For more information and to pay the Dart Charge visit www.gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-
charge