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Oxford's overlapping traffic schemes on one board — the congestion charge, traffic filters, the Zero Emission Zone and the LTNs: what's in force now, what each costs, and what changes in August 2026.
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Oxford's driving rules come from several overlapping schemes, run mostly by the county council, and several of them change on one date: when Botley Road reopens (published as August 2026). This board says what each scheme is, whether it applies to you today, and what's about to change.
In force since 29 October 2025 — ends when Botley Road reopens (published: August 2026).
£5 a day for cars passing any of six charging points around the city centre, at all hours. You pay once a day however many points you pass, and electric cars are not exempt. The penalty for not paying is £70, halved to £35 if paid within 14 days.
It is a stopgap, not a fixture: it stands in for the traffic filter trial while Botley Road is closed, and its surplus funds the discounted park-and-ride deal listed below.
Starts when Botley Road reopens (published: August 2026), then runs as a trial for up to 18 months.
Camera-enforced points on six roads — St Cross Road, Thames Street, Hythe Bridge Street, St Clement's Street, Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way — where private cars can't drive through without a permit; buses, bikes, taxis and exempt vehicles carry on. Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way operate at peak times only (7–9am and 3–6pm, Monday to Saturday); the others run 7am to 7pm.
Unlike the congestion charge you can't pay to pass — driving through without a permit means a penalty, not a toll. Residents can apply for day passes; the numbers, exemptions and maps are on the county's page.
Closed at the railway bridge since April 2023 — published reopening: August 2026.
The closure everything else hangs on. Network Rail's station works shut the road in April 2023 for what was meant to be six months; the rail bridge was finally replaced in February 2026 and the published reopening is August 2026. When it reopens, the congestion charge ends and the traffic filter trial begins.
In force since February 2022, 7am–7pm every day, on a small set of central streets.
Petrol and diesel vehicles pay £2–£10 a day, by emissions band, to drive on the pilot streets — Cornmarket, Queen Street, Bonn Square, New Inn Hall Street, St Michael's Street, Ship Street, Shoe Lane, part of New Road and the west end of Market Street. Zero-emission vehicles pay nothing.
A much larger zone covering most of the city centre has been proposed for years; a decision is expected during 2026 after further consultation. Nothing wider is in force yet.
Permanent since October 2023 — they stay regardless of how the traffic filter trial goes.
Three LTNs — Divinity Road, St Clement's and St Mary's — block through-traffic with bollards or camera-enforced points (taxis and some exempt vehicles can pass the cameras; everyone else gets a penalty). Every address is still reachable by car; the route in may just be longer than it used to be.
August 2026
Botley Road reopens (published date)
Network Rail's current date, set after the February 2026 bridge replacement. It has slipped before — treat it as published, not promised.
August 2026
Congestion charge ends
The £5 charge is explicitly temporary and ends when the traffic filter trial starts.
August 2026
Traffic filter trial starts
Up to 18 months under an experimental traffic regulation order, with consultation running during the trial.
15 August 2026
Discounted park-and-ride ends
£2.50 parking with free bus travel into town, funded by the congestion charge surplus, is currently published to run until 15 August 2026.
During 2026
Decision expected on a much larger Zero Emission Zone
The county is preparing further engagement and consultation on expanding the ZEZ to most of the city centre.
August 2026
Botley Road reopens (published date)
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