Cities · 6 min read
Congestion Charge and ULEZ: what a London chauffeur fare includes
London runs three overlapping road-charging and restriction schemes, and every one of them touches a chauffeured journey through the centre. The practical question for a passenger is simple — who pays, and does it change my price? In an all-inclusive fare the answer is that the operator pays and the price does not move. Here is what is actually being paid on your behalf.
The Congestion Charge zone
The Congestion Charge applies inside a zone covering the City and West End, on weekdays during charging hours and on weekend afternoons. Any journey that starts, ends or passes through the zone in those windows incurs it once per vehicle per day.
On a SUV.LIMO booking this is paid by the operator and already sits inside the quoted fare. There is no post-trip surcharge and no separate line item.
ULEZ and the wider low-emission zones
The Ultra Low Emission Zone extends far beyond the Congestion Charge zone and operates continuously. A non-compliant vehicle pays a daily charge; a compliant one pays nothing. Our London SUVs are ULEZ-compliant, which means the zone affects vehicle selection rather than your bill.
The separate Low Emission Zone covering heavy vehicles does not apply to passenger SUVs.
Bank junction and timed restrictions
Bank junction in the City is closed to most traffic on weekdays during working hours, which reroutes anything travelling between Cheapside, Cornhill and King William Street. Chauffeurs plan around it as a matter of course, but it is the single most common reason a City pickup point is one street from where you expected.
Similar timed restrictions apply on parts of Tottenham Court Road and around several Square Mile streets. Telling us the building name rather than the postcode lets the chauffeur pick the correct approach and set-down.
What this means for timing
Charging schemes do not slow you down; the traffic they are managing does. Budget the upper end of drive-time ranges for weekday mornings inbound and Friday afternoons outbound, and time airport departures from the airline's check-in cut-off rather than the departure time.
Frequently asked
Will I be charged the Congestion Charge separately?
No. It is included in the quoted fare, along with ULEZ where applicable, tolls, parking, taxes and gratuity.
Are your London SUVs ULEZ-compliant?
Yes. Every vehicle working London meets the ULEZ emissions standard.
Can you pick up inside the Bank junction restriction?
We pick up as close as the restriction allows and tell you the exact set-down street in advance, so there is no confusion at the kerb.
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Last updated 22 August 2026.