Motorists have been warned to expect annual above-inflation increases in the London congestion charge and the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel tolls until the end of the decade. The central London C-charge rose by 20 per cent, from £15 to £18, in January while drivers of electric vehicles lost their 100 per cent exemption, says the Evening Standard.

This means that drivers of electric vans and lorries now pay £9 a day while battery-powered cars, including minicabs, are charged £13.50 a day.

The Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel tolls were introduced by Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan in April 2025 and cost £1.50 off-peak and £4 at peak times, per crossing.

Transport for London’s new finance chief Patrick Doig confirmed on Wednesday that, under TfL’s new three-year business plan, both the C-charge and the tunnel tolls are expected rise each year from 2027 by the RPI rate of inflation plus one percentage point.

Mr Doig said the aim was to ensure that the levies charged to drive a private car in parts of London rose in line with the annual increase in TfL fares for public transport in the capital – the Tube, bus and rail network.

The annual increases are expected to be announced each January before coming into force in the March of that year.

However, he said there would not be similar annual increases in the cost of the ULEZ clean air scheme, which currently costs £12.50 a day.

(Picture: Yay Images)