Indian diplomats congestion charge arrears in London have crossed £9.2 million, with official figures showing £9,141,875 in unpaid penalty notices as of November 2024.
The dues come despite India concluding a trade deal with the UK and follow years of disputes over whether embassies must pay the capital’s £15 daily congestion fee.
Indian diplomats congestion charge: ‘a service, not a tax,’ says TfL
India, the US and Japan are among missions that refuse to pay, arguing the Vienna Convention exempts them from local taxes.
Transport for London rejects that view, saying the congestion fee is a road-usage service charge, not a tax, and therefore payable. In a letter to High Commissioner Vikram Kumar Doraiswami, TfL reiterated that position and pressed for settlement of the mounting fines.
The congestion charge applies to vehicles entering central London zones on set days and hours. When unpaid, penalties escalate and compound over time. The total now linked to Indian diplomatic plates includes both congestion and related penalty charges.
London authorities say many embassies do pay, and non-payment by a few creates an uneven playing field. The issue has become a diplomatic irritant, raising questions about reciprocity and compliance with local regulations while broader UK-India ties expand.
India maintains that its diplomats are protected from such local levies. TfL insists the scheme is a neutral road-pricing tool, applied to all vehicles. With arrears now above £9.2m, the standoff highlights a gap between diplomatic interpretation and city transport policy that shows no sign of closing soon.
