ULEZ, Congestion Charge & UK tolls — what renters need to know
Driving in the UK means juggling more than roundabouts and left-hand traffic. Clean-air zones and city charges can land on your bill if you are not paying attention — especially in London.
ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) covers most of Greater London. If your vehicle does not meet the emissions standard, you pay the daily charge. Every NOVA Drive car lists its ULEZ status on the booking summary; our hybrid and electric fleet is the easy way to stay compliant.
Congestion Charge applies in central London on weekdays (and some bank holidays). It is separate from ULEZ. Sat-nav will not always warn you before you cross the boundary — we recommend adding the zone overlay to your maps app on pickup day.
Dartford Crossing (east of London) uses automatic number-plate recognition. There is no booth; you must pay online by midnight the day after crossing. We can add autopay to your rental on request.
M6 Toll, Mersey Gateway, and several bridges in Scotland and Wales operate similar ANPR systems. Keep the email receipt — it is your proof of payment if a notice arrives later.
On return, we reconcile any pass-through charges we receive against your deposit. The fastest way to avoid surprises: tell us your route when you book, and we will flag likely tolls on your confirmation.