£80 trick to avoid paying C-Charge

Motorists are believed to be exploiting a loophole that lets them declare that their car is a cab - exempting them from the £8-a-day toll.

The move costs £82 in advance, followed by a £27-a-year licence fee - creating a potential saving of £1,591 a year over the cost of an annual pass to go in and out of the congestion zone.

Minicab drivers are supposed to pay the charge if they are not carrying fares, but it is almost impossible for Transport for London to check this.

TfL's investigation was prompted by a string of expensive vehicles being registered as cabs in the past year, including sportscars such as Mercedes SLs, Porsche Cayennes and an Aston Martin DB7. Also put down for the scheme were
two £77,000 Maserati Quattroportes, 17 £117,500 Bentley Continentals and three Maybach 62s - which cost £300,000.

There are claims of builders and pickup truck firms registering their vehicles.

The London Private Hire Car Association said that at present it is not necessary to be a minicab operator, or even a licensed minicab driver, to get a vehicle licensed as a cab. Owners must show a valid MoT certificate but no checks are made on the suitability of the car for cab work.

Steve Wright, the association's chairman, said: "We've had concerns for some time. There's no requirement on someone applying to be licensed as a cab to show who they work for. This should be looked at. It is not good for the industry if people abuse the system.

"There are not tens of thousands of illegitimate cabs, but the full extent is not known."

Green motoring experts warned plans to impose a £25-a-day congestion charge on "gas guzzlers" would lead to false registrations soaring.

The change is expected to be implemented in February.

Jay Nagley, of cleangreencars.co.uk, said: "It's an incredible wheeze. Stand by for more Jaguars and Rolls-Royces to be licensed as cabs. Just don't count on one whisking you home."

A TfL spokesman said a small number of expensive cars were registered legally by hotels and chauffeuring firms. But he added: "We are taking this very seriously. We call for anybody who has evidence to get in touch." He said regular checks were made and illegitimate users would be thrown off the register.