The United States has racked up almost £15million in unpaid charges from the Congestion Charge, accoridng to new data.
Research published by Transport for London found that the United States had racked up the most Congestion Charge fines of all embassies in the capital city with £14.6million.
The Japanese embassy was placed in second place with another expensive debt of £10.1million, followed by the High Commission of India (£8.6million).
In total, more than £143.5million is owed in total by embassies around London for breaching the terms of the Congestion Charge operating in central London.
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The United States owes more than £14million in unpaid costs
GETTY/PAThe TfL research relates to unpaid fees and fines collected by diplomats between the launch of the scheme in 2003 and December 2023.
Between 7am and 6pm on weekdays and 12pm and 6pm on weekends and bank holidays, drivers are required to pay £15 to drive inside central London.
Some groups are exempt from the Congestion Charge, although this generally only applies to residents, taxis and zero emission vehicles.
In a statement, Transport for London, said: "We and the UK Government are clear that the congestion charge is a charge for a service and not a tax.
“This means that diplomats are not exempt from paying it.
“The majority of embassies in London do pay the charge, but there remains a stubborn minority who refuse to do so, despite our representations through diplomatic channels.
“We will continue to pursue all unpaid congestion charge fees and related penalty charge notices, and are pushing for the matter to be taken up at the International Court of Justice.”
Prior to the start of the coronavirus pandemic, then-Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he called on officials to contact "a number of diplomatic missions and international organisations”.
This was being done to "press for payment" of money owed relating to the Congestion Charge, parking fines and business rates in the capital.
Motorists will not be charged to drive inside the Congestion Charge between Christmas Day and New Year's Day bank holiday.
In July, a week of data collection on the Congestion Charge saw more than 40,000 instances of motorists paying the £15 daily charge.
Almost 70,000 penalty charge notices were also handed out between July 12 and July 19, 2023.
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The Congestion Charge was first launched in 2003
PAThe TfL website states: "The easiest way to pay is by setting up Auto Pay. Exemptions and discounts are also available."
