New statistics indicate that the total unpaid congestion charges owed by diplomats has escalated to £165 million.

The largest debts are attributed to the embassies of the United States (£15.9 million), China (£11.5 million), Japan (£10.9 million), and India (£10.1 million), as reported by Transport for London (TfL).

Among the 146 embassies and high commissions with outstanding fees, Indonesia (£90), Togo (£120), and both the Netherlands and Peru (£180 each) hold the smallest debts.

TfL emphasized that “foreign diplomats and consular staff are required to pay the congestion charge,” yet a representative from the US embassy contended that “our stance is that the congestion charge constitutes a tax from which diplomatic missions are exempt.”

Currently, drivers of non-electric vehicles in central London are required to pay £18 for driving between 07:00 and 18:00 on weekdays, and from noon to 18:00 on weekends and public holidays, with a penalty of £180 imposed for non-payment.

These statistics, disclosed under Freedom of Information laws, span from 2003 — when the charge was initially £5 — to September 30, 2025, by which time it had increased to £15.

The Saudi Arabian embassy recorded the highest number of daily payments (47,538) from 2017 to 2025, although it still owes TfL £260,560.

Following closely are the embassies of Egypt (37,117) and Qatar (33,887), which paid significant amounts yet still have debts of £244,000 and £48,620, respectively. In contrast, the US embassy made only 76 payments during the same timeframe.

A representative from the US embassy stated: “According to international law as outlined in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, we maintain that the congestion charge is a tax from which diplomatic missions are not liable.”

A spokesperson for TfL commented: “We will continue to pursue all outstanding congestion charges and related penalty notices.”