Oxford's temporary congestion charge ended on Sunday 27 September 2026. On Monday 28 September, a traffic-filter trial took its place at the same six locations. For anyone who remembers the £5 daily charge, the change matters: car drivers can no longer pay to pass those points during operating hours.
What replaced the £5 charge?
The temporary charge helped manage traffic during the extended closure of Botley Road. With that road reopened, Oxfordshire County Council has moved to its planned traffic-filter trial. The camera locations remain, but the option to pay £5 has gone.
During a filter's operating hours, a car generally needs a valid traffic-filter permit to pass, unless an exemption applies. Without one, choose a route that avoids the filter. The council says every part of Oxford remains accessible by car without crossing a filter, although the route to your destination may change.
The change explained by the council
Where are the filters, and when do they operate?
The six filters are points on roads rather than a charging boundary around the whole city. Cameras enforce the restrictions; there are no physical barriers. Their locations and operating hours are the same as under the temporary congestion charge.
| Filter locations | Operating days | Operating hours |
|---|---|---|
| Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement’s Street and Thames Street | Every day | 07:00–19:00 |
| Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way | Monday to Saturday | 07:00–09:00 and 15:00–18:00 |
Check the exact camera points on the council map before setting off. A destination on one of these roads does not necessarily mean you must pass a filter to reach it. Follow current signs and check any other restrictions along your chosen route.
Check locations and times
Electric cars still need to meet the permit rules
Traffic-filter restrictions apply to passenger cars classified as M1, including electric cars. Some motorhomes are also classified as M1, so check the vehicle type rather than assuming a larger vehicle is exempt. Vans, motorbikes, mopeds and lorries are examples of vehicles outside the M1 restriction.
Free permits are available for eligible residents and other qualifying users. Oxford permit-area residents can apply for 100 free day passes per year; Oxfordshire permit-area residents can apply for 25. Other categories include Blue Badge holders, unpaid carers and frequent hospital patients. Eligibility does not replace applying for the appropriate permit.
Check your vehicle and permit eligibility
What happens to an existing congestion-charge permit?
Most temporary congestion-charge permits transferred to the traffic-filter scheme without holders needing to reapply. There are exceptions for the former central permit area: its resident permits transfer to the Oxford permit area with 100 day passes, while its visitor, workplace parking, and sports club, nursery or military training permits expire rather than transfer.
If you held one of those permits, check the council’s correspondence and your online permit account before relying on it. Confirm the vehicle registration and remaining day passes, and check whether another permit category applies if your old permit has expired.
Permit transfer details
What if you drive through without a valid permit?
The council says that during the first six months, the first contravention receives a warning letter. A subsequent contravention can result in a £70 Penalty Charge Notice, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. After the first six months, the first-contravention warning arrangement ends.
A penalty is not a replacement toll or permission to use the route. Plan an allowed journey before you travel, and follow the instructions on any notice you receive.
Enforcement guidance
Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone is a separate scheme
The end of the congestion charge does not end Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ). The ZEZ has its own area, vehicle rules, charges and discounts. Petrol and diesel vehicles, including hybrids, can incur a daily ZEZ charge between 07:00 and 19:00 unless a full discount or exemption applies.
A fully electric car can be free of a ZEZ charge while still needing a permit to pass a traffic filter. Equally, a traffic-filter permit does not settle a ZEZ charge or authorise use of a bus gate. Check each restriction relevant to your journey.
Separate ZEZ rules
What this means for Drive Zone users
Drive Zone’s Oxford temporary congestion-charge coverage ended with the scheme on 27 September 2026. Drive Zone does not monitor the replacement traffic-filter restrictions. The absence of a congestion-charge alert must therefore never be treated as confirmation that your car can pass a filter.
For an Oxford journey now, check the council map, your vehicle category and any permit before travelling. Check the separate ZEZ rules if your route enters its area, and allow time for an alternative route or a park-and-ride journey.
The trial is still being assessed
The traffic filters are operating under an experimental traffic regulation order, which can remain in force for up to 18 months. A six-month consultation opened with the trial on 28 September. Residents, visitors and businesses can share their experiences through Let’s Talk Oxfordshire to help inform whether and how the scheme continues.