Editing London congestion charge (section)

== Present scheme ==

=== Boundary ===
{{Multiple image | direction = horizontal | align = right| image1 =UK traffic sign 677.svg| width1 = 105
| caption1 =Sign indicating the entrance of congestion charge area.| image2 = London CC 12 2012 5018b.jpg| width2 = 145
| caption2 =Sign indicating the exit of congestion charge area.}}
The current congestion charge zone covers the area within the [[London Inner Ring Road]] which includes both the [[City of London]], which is the main financial district, and also the [[West End of London|West End]], which is London's primary commercial and entertainment centre.<ref name="What it is">{{cite news |title=Congestion Charging: in London – What it is |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/03/congestion_charge/exemptions_guide/html/what.stm |publisher=BBC News |year=2003 |access-date=26 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412122132/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/uk/03/congestion_charge/exemptions_guide/html/what.stm |archive-date=12 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Although primarily a commercial area, there are also 136,000 residents, out of a total [[Greater London]] population of almost 9,000,000. There is little heavy industry within the zone.

Starting at the northernmost point and moving clockwise, the major roads defining the boundary are [[Pentonville Road]], [[City Road]], [[Old Street]], [[Commercial Street, London|Commercial Street]], [[Mansell Street (London)|Mansell Street]], [[Tower Bridge Road]], [[New Kent Road]], [[Elephant and Castle]], [[Kennington Lane]], [[Vauxhall Bridge Road]], [[Park Lane (road)|Park Lane]], [[Edgware Road]], [[Marylebone Road]] and [[Euston Road]] (other roads fill the small gaps between these roads). Signs were erected and symbols painted on the road to help drivers recognise the congestion charge area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cclondon.com/signsandsymbol.shtml |title=Signs and Symbols |publisher=[[Transport for London]]|access-date=27 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216092319/http://www.cclondon.com/signsandsymbol.shtml |archive-date=16 December 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Western Extension, introduced in February 2007 and removed on 4 January 2011, included areas surrounded by the following roads starting from the north-westernmost point: Scrubs Lane, Harrow Road, Westway (part of the A40), Park Lane, Vauxhall Bridge Road, Grosvenor Road, Chelsea Embankment, Earl's Court Road and part of the West Cross Route (A3320), but the Westway itself was not part of the zone.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/appendices-to-the-report-to-the-mayor.pdf |title=Congestion Charge Western Extension Consultation |publisher=Transport for London |date=1 September 2008 |access-date=12 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412130149/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/appendices-to-the-report-to-the-mayor.pdf |archive-date=12 April 2015 |url-status=live}}''See page 6: Map of the Congestion Charging zone''</ref>

{{Clear}}

=== Charges ===
In January 2013, Transport for London opened a public consultation to increase the standard charge by 15% by mid 2014, from £10 per day to £11.50, if paid in advance or on the day. The increase was expected to generate an estimated £84&nbsp;million of additional revenue by the end of 2017/18. The consultation process ran from January 2014 to March 2014. According to TfL, the objective of the increase was to recoup inflation over the past three years and ensure the charge remains an effective deterrent to making unnecessary journeys in central London.<ref name=Guardian012014>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jan/06/london-congestion-charge-to-rise-fifteen-per-cent|title=London congestion charge expected to rise by at least 15%|author=Gwyn Topham|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=6 January 2014|access-date=12 January 2014}}</ref>

On 15 May 2020, the Congestion Charge was re-implemented following a period of suspension during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. From 22 June 2020, it will temporarily run from 7:00{{nbsp}}am to 10:00{{nbsp}}pm seven days a week (as opposed to the previous 7:00{{nbsp}}am to 6:00{{nbsp}}pm on weekdays), and the daily charge will rise from £11.50 to £15 per day for a period of one year.<ref name="covidincrease" />

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; text-align:center;"
|+Evolution of the charge<ref name="2005raise">{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/demand-elasticities-for-car-trips-to-central-london.pdf|title=Demand Elasticities for Car Trips to Central London as revealed by the Central London Congestion Charge |last=Evans|first=Reg|publisher=[[Transport for London]]|date=September 2008|access-date=15 February 2015}}</ref><ref name="2014raise">{{cite news|date=28 May 2014|title=London congestion charge to rise|work=[[The Guardian]]|agency=Press Association|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/may/28/london-congestion-charge-rise|access-date=15 February 2015}}</ref>


|-
!Date!!Charge!!Increase!!Increase per year (avg)
|-
| align="left" |February 2003||£5|| – || -
|-
| align="left" |July 2005||£8||60%||26.7%pa
|-
| align="left" |January 2011||£10||25%||4.5%pa
|-
| align="left" |June 2014||£11.50||15%||4.4%pa
|-
| align="left" |June 2020||£15.00||30.4%||5.1%pa
|}



====Fees and penalties====

{{As of|2020|7|27}}, the following penalty charges apply:<ref name="pay2014" />

The standard fee is £15 per day if paid in advance, by midnight on the day of travel, or if registered with Fleet Auto Pay or CC Autopay, an automated payment system which records the number of charging days a vehicle travels within the charging zone each month and bills the customer debit or credit card each month, or £17.50 if paid by midnight the third day after travel.<ref name="pay2014">{{cite web|title=Paying the Congestion Charge|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge/paying-the-congestion-charge|access-date=27 July 2020|publisher=[[Transport for London]]}}</ref> Failure to pay after the third day after travel results in the issuance of a Penalty Charge Notice for £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days, but increased to £240 if unpaid after 28 days.<ref>{{cite web|title=Penalties and Enforcement|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge/penalties-and-enforcement|access-date=27 July 2020|publisher=[[Transport for London]]}}</ref>

====Discounts and exemptions====
Refunds are available to people who pay monthly or annually in advance whose plans change; reimbursements are available to NHS patients assessed to be too ill to travel by public transport, NHS staff using vehicles on official business, and care home employees.<ref name="covidincrease" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Amendments, refunds and reimbursements|url=https://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge/paying-the-congestion-charge/refunds-and-reimbursements|access-date=2020-07-27|website=Transport for London|language=en-GB}}</ref> Residents living within or very close to the zone are eligible for a 90% discount which is charged via CC Autopay.<ref name="d&e">{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge/discounts-and-exemptions?intcmp=2133 |work=Congestion Charging |title=Residents' discount |publisher=[[Transport for London]] |access-date=18 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418173557/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge/discounts-and-exemptions?intcmp=2133 |archive-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live}} ''Click on "Residents' discount" for details.''</ref>

The system gives 100% discounts to registered cars which emit 75&nbsp;g/km or less of [[carbon dioxide]] and meet the [[European emission standards#Toxic emission: stages and legal framework|Euro 5 emission standard]], vehicles with nine or more seats, motor-tricycles, two-wheeled motorcycles (and sidecars), mopeds, accredited breakdown companies, and roadside recovery vehicles.<ref name="d&e"/> [[Battery electric vehicles|All-electric vehicle]]s (BEVs) and eligible [[plug-in hybrid electric vehicle]]s (PHEVs) qualify for a 100% congestion charge discount. A plug-in electric drive vehicle qualifies if the vehicle is registered with the [[Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency]] (DVLA) and has a fuel type of "electric", or alternatively, if the vehicle is a "plug-in hybrid" and is on the government's list of PHEVs eligible for the OLEV grant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge/discounts-and-exemptions?intcmp=4368|title=Discounts and exemptions – Ultra Low Emission Discount (ULED)|author=[[Transport for London]]|publisher=Transport for London |date=February 2015|access-date=15 February 2015}} ''Click on "Ultra Low Emission Discount (ULED)" for details.''</ref> {{As of|2016|02}}, approved PHEVs include all [[Range extender (vehicle)|extended-range vehicles]] such as the [[BMW i3 REx]], and plug-in hybrids such as the [[Audi A3 Sportback e-tron]], [[BMW i8]], [[Mitsubishi Outlander P-HEV]] (passenger and van variants), [[Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid]], and [[Volkswagen Golf GTE]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goultralow.com/what-are-go-ultra-low-cars/types-of-vehicles/plug-in-hybrid/|title=Vehicle technologies – Plug-in hybrids|author=Go Ultra Low|publisher=Go Ultra Low|date=February 2016|access-date=4 February 2016|archive-date=16 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416230722/https://www.goultralow.com/what-are-go-ultra-low-cars/types-of-vehicles/plug-in-hybrid/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) were exempt from the charge but the PHV exemption ended in April 2019, except for PHVs which are wheelchair accessible vehicles.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/decisions/md2397-amendments-congestion-charge-and-ultra-low-emission-zone|title=Mayoral Decision 2397: Amendments to the Congestion Charge and Low Emission Zone|date=17 December 2018|website=Greater London Authority (GLA)}}</ref>

====End of Greener Vehicle Discount====
In November 2012, TfL presented a proposal to end the Greener Vehicle Discount that benefited mainly vehicles with small diesel engines, that avoid the charge because their engines produce emissions of less than 100&nbsp;g/km of CO<sub>2</sub>.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-20400740|title=Congestion charge greener vehicles rule change planned |publisher=BBC News |date=11 December 2012|access-date=20 November 2012}}</ref> The proposal was approved by Mayor [[Boris Johnson]] in April 2013 and the Ultra Low Emission Discount (ULED) went into effect on 1 July 2013. The ULED introduced more stringent emission standards that limit the free access to the congestion charge zone to all-electric cars, some plug-in hybrids, and any car or van that emits 75&nbsp;g/km or less of CO<sub>2</sub> and meets the Euro 5 emission standards for air quality. {{As of|2013|07}}, there are no [[internal combustion]]-only vehicles that meet these criteria. The measure was designed to curb the growing number of diesel vehicles on London's roads. About 20,000 owners of vehicles registered for the Greener Vehicle Discount by June 2013 were granted a three-year [[Sunset provision|sunset period]] before they have to pay the full congestion charge. Other changes were the removal of the option to pay the charge in shops, and the penalty charge was increased to £10.<ref name=ULED>{{cite web|url=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2013/04/uled-20130424.html|title=London to introduce new Ulta Low Emission Discount for Congestion Charge scheme; countering dieselization|publisher=[[Green Car Congress]]|date=24 April 2013|access-date=24 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/apr/24/pollution |title=London tightens up congestion charge in attempt to drive out diesel |work=[[The Guardian]]|date=24 April 2013 |access-date=18 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418174852/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/apr/24/pollution |archive-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php/2013/07/01/london-tightens-congestion-charge-exemptions/ |title=London tightens Congestion Charge exemptions |author=Faye Sunderland |publisher=The Green Car Website (UK) |date=1 July 2013 |access-date=1 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216062939/http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php/2013/07/01/london-tightens-congestion-charge-exemptions/ |archive-date=16 February 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23125082|title=New green discount for the congestion charge comes in |publisher=BBC News |date=1 July 2013|access-date=2 July 2013}}</ref> The sunset period ended on 24 June 2016.<ref name=Sunset2016>{{cite web| url=http://www.nextgreencar.com/news/7701/congestion-charge-sunset-period-ends-today/ |title=Congestion charge sunset period ends today |first=Chris |last=Lilly |publisher=Next Green Car |date=24 June 2016 |access-date=29 June 2016}}</ref> In December 2018, a further tightening of the standards was announced, in part to bring standards beyond that of the ULEZ. This means that since April 2019 only vehicles which are Euro 6, emit up to 75 g/km of {{CO2}} and have a minimum 20 mile zero emission range have qualified for the discount. A further phase from October 2021 will mean that only [[zero-emission vehicle]]s ([[battery electric vehicle|pure electric vehicles]] and [[fuel cell vehicle|hydrogen fuel cell vehicles]]) can qualify, and the discount will be phased out completely from December 2025.<ref name=":0" />

==== T-Charge emissions surcharge ====
An emissions surcharge, known as the Toxicity Charge or T-Charge, was introduced on 23 October 2017. It operated for the same hours as the congestion charge (7:00{{nbsp}}am to 6:00{{nbsp}}pm on weekdays).<ref>{{cite web |last=Chapman |first=Ben |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/t-charge-what-is-it-london-emissions-charge-how-affect-will-pay-congestion-car-diesel-a8014976.html |title=T-charge: What is the new London emissions charge and how will it affect you? |work=The Independent |date=23 October 2017 |access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref> Older cars and vans that did not meet [[European emission standards#Toxic emission: stages and legal framework|Euro 4 standards]] had to pay an extra £10 charge on top of the congestion charge to drive in central London, within the Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ). The charge typically applied to diesel and petrol vehicles registered before 2006, and the levy affected up to 10,000 vehicles. The public consultation on the T-Charge proposals began in July 2016.<ref name=TCharge>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/17/london-to-introduce-vehicle-pollution-charge-in-october-says-mayor-sadiq-khan |title=London to introduce £10 vehicle pollution charge, says Sadiq Khan | first=Rowena |last=Mason | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=17 February 2017 | access-date=23 February 2017}}</ref><ref name=TCharge02>{{cite news | url=http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/95559/london-introduces-new-10-t-charge-to-cut-vehicle-pollution |title=London introduces new £10 'T-charge' to cut vehicle pollution | first= Martin |last=Saarinen | work=[[Auto Express]] | date=17 February 2017 | access-date=23 February 2017}}</ref>

London Mayor [[Sadiq Khan]] announced the introduction of the scheme on 17 February 2017 after London achieved record air pollution levels in January 2017, and the city was put on a high pollution alert for the first time ever, as cold and stationary weather failed to clear toxic pollutants emitted mainly by diesel vehicles.<ref name=NYT02172017>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/world/europe/london-smog-air-pollution.html?_r=0 |title=A Push for Diesel Leaves London Gasping Amid Record Pollution | author=Kimiko de Reytas-Tamura | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=17 February 2017 | access-date=23 February 2017}}</ref>

In December 2017, TfL said that the charge had cut the number of non-compliant vehicles by around 1,000 per day, with the remaining 2,000 paying the £10 charge (a further 3,000 vehicles are eligible for discounts due to Blue Badges etc.).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/tcharge-cuts-number-of-dirty-diesels-driven-into-central-london-by-1000-a3725816.html |title=T-charge cuts number of dirty diesels driven into central London by 1,000|date=22 December 2017}}</ref>

The T-Charge was replaced by the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) on 8 April 2019. For the ULEZ [[Sunset provision|sunset period]] the T-Charge was still levied for uncompliant vehicles on holders of the residents' discount.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pay to drive in London|url=https://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/terms-and-conditions/pay-to-drive-in-london|access-date=2020-07-27|website=Transport for London|language=en-GB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727180407/https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/terms-and-conditions/pay-to-drive-in-london |archive-date=27 July 2020}}</ref>

====Ultra Low Emission Zone====
{{main|Ultra Low Emission Zone}}
The ULEZ went into effect in April 2019 and replaced the T-Charge.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-47815117|title=London's new pollution charge begins|date=2019-04-08|access-date=2019-04-08|language=en-GB}}</ref> It initially covered the same area as the T-Charge and the Congestion Charge Zone but applies 24/7, every day of the year (except Christmas Day), with charges of £12.50 a day for cars, vans and motorcycles, and £100 a day for lorries, buses and coaches. The ULEZ caused a 20% reduction in emissions and resulted in a drop of non compliant vehicles entering the zone each day from 35,578 to 23,054.<ref name=4monthreport>{{Cite web|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/central_london_ulez_4_month_report.pdf|title=Central London Ultra Low Emission Zone - Four month report}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/futurelondon/cleanair/high-pollution-levels-detected-by-40-of-londons-air-quality-sensor-networks-a4196811.html|title=London pollution: High levels detected by 40% of capital's air quality|date=23 July 2019|website=Evening Standard}}</ref> The zone was extended to the [[North Circular Road, London|North Circular]] and [[South Circular Road, London|South Circular]] roads in October 2021 and was extended to the whole of Greater London from 29 August 2023.<ref name=fleetnewsnov2017/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-47814416|title=ULEZ: The politics of pollution|first=Tom|last=Edwards|work=BBC News|date=5 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/ulez-ultra-low-emission-zone-expand-greater-london-sadiq-khan-b986027.html |title=ULEZ to expand across all of Greater London, Mayor Sadiq Khan announces|date=8 March 2022 }}</ref>

===Suspensions, avoidance and evasion===
TfL can and does suspend the congestion charge either in a small local area to cope with incidents and if directed to do so by a police officer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://custserv.tfl.gov.uk/icss_csip/GetDetailInformation.do?entityNum=00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000003076&kbname=SDB&newTabtext=Congestion%20Charging |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605211821/https://custserv.tfl.gov.uk/icss_csip/GetDetailInformation.do?entityNum=00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000003076&kbname=SDB&newTabtext=Congestion%20Charging |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 June 2012 |title=Will I have to pay the Charge if I am diverted into the Zone? |work=Congestion Charge |publisher=[[Transport for London]] |access-date=18 April 2015 }}</ref> The congestion charge was suspended on 7 and 8 July 2005 in response to the [[7 July 2005 London bombings|terrorist attacks on London Transport]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/afx/2005/07/07/afx2128894.html |title=London Bombs Roundup Four terrorist blasts kill at least 37 people Update |work=Forbes |author=AFX News Limited |access-date=26 May 2007 |date=7 July 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503060332/http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/afx/2005/07/07/afx2128894.html |archive-date=3 May 2007}}</ref> The congestion charge was also suspended on 2 February 2009, in response to an extreme weather event (heavy snowfall) in the London area.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7864553.stm |work=BBC News |date=2 February 2009 |title=Heavy snow hits much of Britain |access-date=2 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418175327/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7864553.stm |archive-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Although avoidance has become more sophisticated, compliance with the scheme and terms of payment has improved over the last few years,{{When|date=July 2019}} as is evidenced by the income from penalties dropping by approximately a quarter between 2005 and 2007. However, even after charges were increased, enforcement charges still made up a significant proportion (42–48%) of total revenues.<ref name=tfljune2005>{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/ThirdAnnualReportFinal.pdf |title=Impacts Monitoring – Third Annual Report |date=April 2005 |publisher=[[Transport for London]] |access-date=23 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224074429/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/ThirdAnnualReportFinal.pdf |archive-date=24 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=tfljune2007>{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/fifth-annual-impacts-monitoring-report-2007-07-07.pdf |title=Impacts Monitoring – Fifth Annual Report |publisher=[[Transport for London]] |date=June 2007 |access-date=23 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122090211/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/fifth-annual-impacts-monitoring-report-2007-07-07.pdf |archive-date=22 January 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The 2008 annual report on the operation of the scheme shows that around 26% of penalties go unpaid, because the notice is cancelled on appeal or the amount cannot be recovered, for example if the registered keeper of the vehicle cannot be traced, has died, or is bankrupt.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/sixth-annual-impacts-monitoring-report-2008-07.pdf |work=Central London Congestion Charging |title=Impacts monitoring—Sixth Annual Report, July 2008 |publisher= [[Transport for London]] |date=July 2008 |pages=215–19 |access-date=7 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224073613/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/sixth-annual-impacts-monitoring-report-2008-07.pdf |archive-date=24 February 2014}}</ref>

Several newspapers have reported about the use of copied [[British car number plates|number plates]] to avoid the congestion charge, resulting in vehicle owners receiving penalty notices for failure to pay when their vehicles have not been inside the zone.  Numbers known to be copied are stored in a database and trigger alerts, including police vehicle [[Automatic number-plate recognition|ANPR]] camera alerts, when observed in use.<ref name="bbc20040624">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/3837349.stm|title=Car cloners try avoiding charges|work=BBC News|date=24 June 2004|access-date=23 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418175528/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/3837349.stm|archive-date=18 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="i20030326">{{Cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20030226/ai_n12672682|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210230753/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20030226/ai_n12672682|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 December 2007|title=London congestion charge leads to flood of false number plates|work=The Independent|location=UK|first=Charles|last=Arthur|date=26 February 2003|access-date=23 November 2007}}</ref>

=== Payment by embassies ===
Following pressure from the Mayor of London,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4881442.stm |title=Embassy to pay congestion charge |work=BBC News |date=6 April 2006 |access-date=25 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418175646/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4881442.stm |archive-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> an increasing number of embassies accepted the charge and by 2008 a total of 99 out of 128 embassies had agreed to the charge. Among others, decliners include [[Germany]], [[Japan]], [[Russia]] and the [[United States]], who, by 2015, collectively owed £95&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/f731628a-9f31-11e5-beba-5e33e2b79e46 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/f731628a-9f31-11e5-beba-5e33e2b79e46 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=London embassies run up £95m congestion charge bill|date=10 December 2015|website=Financial Times|last1=Sullivan|first1=Conor}}</ref> The United States and Germany are reported to consider it to be a local tax, from which they are protected by the [[Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations|Vienna Convention]], rather than a toll.<ref name="taxortoll">{{cite news|last=Mulholland|first=Helene|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/nov/19/london-congestioncharging|title=Foreign diplomats owe £23m over London congestion charge|date=19 November 2008|work=The Guardian|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418180512/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/nov/19/london-congestioncharging|archive-date=18 April 2015}}</ref>

In May 2011, Johnson raised the issue with the President of the United States, [[Barack Obama]], who was fined £120 after driving through London in the [[Presidential state car (United States)|Presidential state car]] without paying the toll during a state visit to [[Buckingham Palace]]. The United States subsequently claimed [[diplomatic immunity]]. A TfL spokesperson noted that US embassies do pay tolls in [[Oslo]] and Singapore.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4770293.stm |title=Embassy road toll row continues |work=BBC News |date=14 May 2006 |access-date=25 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418181127/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4770293.stm |archive-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2024 Transport for London estimated that, by the end of 2023, £143 million was owed by foreign embassies in London: since the charge was introduced in 2003, the [[Embassy of the United States, London|US Embassy]] owed the most with £14.6&nbsp;million, followed by [[Embassy of Japan, London|Japan]] at £10&nbsp;million, [[India House, London|India]] with £8.5&nbsp;million, and [[High Commission of Nigeria, London|Nigeria]] with £8.4&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckrrnz2gn3po|title=Diplomats owe more than £143m in London congestion charges |work=BBC News|date=20 May 2024|access-date=21 May 2024}}</ref>